The Acceptance Ladder: Climbing From Curse To Gift with Stephen Nawotniak

We explore how perspective turns pain into purpose, from hospitalization and stigma to practical tools that make tough days workable. Stephen shares the Acceptance Ladder, reframing self-talk, and small habits that change how we move through depression and bipolar.

• two lies of depression and how to challenge them
• medication as intensity-softener, not magic cure
• negative self-talk as opinion rather than fact
• fulfillment over happiness as a daily aim
• zero days, rest breaks and night-before prep
• identity shift from I am to I have
• community stigma vs self-stigma and selective disclosure
• the Acceptance Ladder from curse to gift
• turning pain into purpose through service and craft
• children’s books that guide an inner journey
• personal growth vs illness management framing

If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who needs real, usable tools. Subscribe for new episodes, leave a review to help others find the show, and tell us: which rung of the Acceptance Ladder are you on today?

In this message, Michael shares what it meant to our team to hear about Fonda Miller's passing.

Chapters

• 0:00 Authenticity, Grief, And Purpose
• 1:50 Meet Stephen: Trek, Diagnosis, And Work
• 2:58 Hospitalization And The Two Lies Of Depression
• 5:46 Medication, Perspective, And Self-Talk As Opinion
• 6:54 Daily Function: Rest Breaks And Zero Days
• 9:17 Fulfillment Over Happiness
• 9:55 Identity Shift: I Have It, I’m Not It
• 12:55 Reframing Negative Self-Talk For Everyone
• 15:53 From Stigma To Self-Acceptance
• 18:14 The Acceptance Ladder Explained
• 21:13 Children’s Books And Finding Self Within
• 24:04 Speaking, Resources, And Perspective Shift
• 26:15 Closing Reflections And Takeaways