We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!

Kerry Washington Opens Up: Mental Health Struggles, Her Spiritual Connection & The Secret That Changed EVERYTHING

2025/5/7

The School of Greatness

AI Deep Dive Transcript

People

Kerry Washington

Topics

Kerry Washington: 我在电影《暗影力量》中饰演一名雇佣兵，这与我近年来在疗愈旅程中获得的力量和无畏感息息相关。通过写作回忆录，我坦诚面对童年创伤和压力，最终治愈并理解了成长过程中感受到的疏离感。坦诚面对家庭秘密，并与家人一起直面真相，反而增强了我们家庭的凝聚力，让我在电影中能够更充分地展现力量和无畏。虽然我在之前的角色中也展现了力量，但这次在《暗影力量》中，我通过身体训练和格斗技巧的学习，在细胞层面感受到了力量，这是一种全新的体验。在大学时期，我经历了焦虑和压力，通过祈祷寻求帮助，开启了我的精神之路。我长期与饮食失调作斗争，通过祈祷寻求帮助，意识到寻求帮助和治愈是可以被接受的。我40多岁时才得知自己是通过精子捐赠的方式受孕的，这个秘密一直被父母隐瞒，这让我在很小的时候就感到与父母之间存在疏离感，并认为自己不够好。童年时期，由于父母隐瞒了我的身世，我将这种不安归咎于自己，认为自己不够好。我努力追求卓越，但现在我尝试在不觉得自己不够好的前提下追求卓越和伟大。从大学时期开始接受心理治疗，我就一直在努力让自己感觉足够好，而父母告诉我真相后，让我能够更轻松地接纳真实的自己。尽管我和父母的关系很好，但在得知真相之前，我总觉得缺少一些东西。当父母坦白真相后，我经历了各种情绪，包括感激、愤怒和焦虑。父母在合适的时机告诉我真相，这让我能够更好地理解为人父母的艰辛，以及父母的不完美之处如何塑造了我的成长。那些我们认为会摧毁我们的事情，最终可能成为我们最大的礼物。 Lewis Howes: (访谈主持人的问题和引导性发言，此处省略)

Deep Dive

Shownotes Transcript

Leave an Amazon Rating or Review for my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!)

Acclaimed actress Kerry Washington drops her Hollywood facade to reveal the startling truth about growing up with a family secret that shook her identity to its core. She opens up about discovering in her forties that she was conceived through a sperm donor—a revelation her parents had kept hidden her entire life. Through therapy, spiritual practice, and brutal honesty, Kerry transformed this family mystery into her greatest source of strength, allowing her to step fully into her power both on-screen in her new action film "Shadow Force" and in her personal life. This vulnerable conversation exposes how Kerry's journey from feeling "not enough" to embracing her authentic self offers a blueprint for anyone seeking to break free from their own limiting beliefs.

Official Trailer for Shadow Force)

Kerry’s book Thicker than Water: A Memoir)In this episode you will learn:

How Kerry transformed her family's shocking DNA revelation from potential destruction to profound healing
Why therapy became Kerry's sanctuary where she learned to separate excellence from feelings of inadequacy
The unexpected way Kerry's eating disorder recovery opened her spiritual path
How Kerry approaches marriage as a "third entity" requiring conscious investment from both partners
The critical difference between pursuing greatness from a place of deficiency versus from joy and purpose

For more information go to https://www.lewishowes.com/1768)

For more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960

More SOG episodes we think you’ll love:

Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson – greatness.lnk.to/1767SC)

Eric Thomas – greatness.lnk.to/1696SC)

Sarah Jakes Roberts – greatness.lnk.to/1606SC)

Get more from Lewis!

Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!)

Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on Spotify)

Text Lewis AI)

YouTube)

Instagram)