Marlena Fiol Podcast | Making Peace with Questions that May Never Be Answered
Hello again my Dear Readers!
I am honored to share this recent interview with fellow PhD and author, Marlena Fiol. Below are some excerpts and the podcast you can download, as well as a link to her site. Please enjoy our conversation, and thank you so much for your continued support!
— Liz
Marlena Fiol, “Making Peace with Questions that May Never Be Answered” – My Interview with Liz Scott
Published Jun 12, 2020 by Marlena Fiol
I am pleased to bring you the thinking of today’s guest, Elizabeth Scott. Liz is a psychologist in private practice in Portland, and she is the author of This Never Happened, a memoir about her childhood journey with narcissistic parents and her relentless search for the truth for belonging and for a deeper understanding of her own life.
We will be discussing a range of topics, such as the meaning of forgiveness, the deep human need for belonging, and the important work of rewriting our childhood scripts.
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The following is a taste of my conversation with Liz.
Q: What does it feel like to be a child who doesn’t feel like she belongs in her family?
“I just felt very unmoored. I kind of floated from one thing to another to try to develop a clear sense of myself.”
Q: What’s your understanding of what people mean when they say, “I forgive you?”
“I think forgiveness is about letting go, which I also believe is kind of a universal challenge for all of us in so many different ways, letting go. Letting go of what I wish I’d had but didn’t, letting go of my resentment about that, letting go of wishing that they were different people, all of it.”
Q: Are some acts simply unforgivable?
“Yes, I do. I think that you can still let go in some ways and not forgive, because I do think that there are some things that are unforgivable. ”
Q: Does it always need to be said or can forgiveness sometimes emerge organically without explicit verbalizing?
“I think there’s so often the subtext that both people are aware of, right? It’s just it’s in the room, it’s in the relationship all the time. I often think of it as, you know, the thought bubble in a cartoon. And I think that in the healthiest relationships, people speak that thought bubble.”
When asked if there’s one last thing she’d like our listeners to hear, Liz says, “Just be brave because the truth will set you free. I really believe that.”
Another interesting little tidbit to share: This Never Happened was chosen 2019 Foreword Indies finalist. Alas, it did not win the big prize — but the consideration is always such a deep honor! For more info and to purchase through the vendor of your choice, click the image. Thank you so very much for your love and support!
