What happens when the world sees you as a hero, but you feel lost inside? Abby Wambach, a trailblazer in women’s soccer, shares how facing life’s challenges after retirement helped her discover truth, healing, and self-love.
Summary: Abby Wambach spent years chasing excellence as a world-class athlete, only to find that winning gold didn’t bring the inner fulfillment she craved. In this powerful conversation, she reflects on addiction, shame, identity, and the hard-earned lessons of self-love. Her honesty reveals a new kind of strength. One rooted in vulnerability and the courage to be fully seen.
This episode was supported by a grant from The John Templeton Foundation on Spreading Love Through The media.
How To Do This Practice:
- Acknowledge the belief that achievement or perfection will make you feel whole.
- Notice when success doesn’t bring lasting happiness, and let yourself feel that disappointment.
- Share your struggles honestly, even the ones you're ashamed of.
- Choose to live openly instead of hiding parts of yourself to fit others’ expectations.
- Ask yourself where your beliefs about worthiness and shame come from.
- Keep coming back to love and accept yourself, especially the parts you were taught to hide.
Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.
Today’s Guests:
ABBY WAMBACH is a two time World Olympic gold medalist, FIFA world champion, and bestselling author. She is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and a six-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award.
Follow Abby on Instagram here: @abbywambach
Order her book We Can Do Hard Things here: https://treatmedia.com/
Listen to Abby’s podcast here: https://wecandohardthingspodcast.com/
Related The Science of Happiness episodes:
Why Going Offline Might Save Us: https://tinyurl.com/e7rhsakj
The Contagious Power of Compassion: https://tinyurl.com/3x7w2s5s
How Awe Helps You Navigate Life’s Challenges: https://tinyurl.com/2466rnm4
Related Happiness Breaks:
Take a Break With Our Loving-Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5
Making Space For You: https://tinyurl.com/yk6nfnfv
A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/485y3b4y
Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.
Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap
Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/25p25ctd
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