As a young writer and performer, Sara Benincasa found her voice doing stand-up comedy. For years, it seemed better than therapy. But slowly, doubts surfaced. While the external validation she received made her feel successful and even loved, something was missing. In this episode of Meditative Story, Sara shares how she came to look inward, instead of outward, for richer feelings of worth.  Sara Benincasa’s monthly podcast, "Well, This Isn't Normal," is about mental health and stress relief. Find it on Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. More about Sara Benincasa:  Her website: SaraBenincasa.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/SaraJBenincasa Find her weekly newsletter, Saratonin: SaraJBenincasa.Substack.com She writes essays here: SaraJBenincasa.Medium.com Sara’s Patreon includes the newsletter, access to private essays, and an exclusive weekly podcast: Patreon.com/SaraBenincasa Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.com/sarabenincasa Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgD See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.