Meet Megan Murk
Early Riser, Optimizer, and Head of Coaching at Octave (She / Her)



‘Mind over matter’ and ‘Don’t let it bother you’ were messages I heard a lot growing up, and it made me think you were supposed to be able to go about your day, do everything and never experience anything other than positive emotions (especially when in really challenging circumstances).
The more I tried to not be bothered, the more bothered I became. I spent a lot of time in middle school, high school, college and part of grad school, trying to outrun stress, anger and frustration with productivity, exercise, discipline and focus. It helped me to accomplish a lot; to juggle work, school, a couple of big moves, and a social life, but ultimately it left me feeling very burnt out with my internal and external circumstances.





Fortunately (unfortunately at the time), when I was 23 I blew out my knee playing pickup basketball; old shoes and a slippery court lead to hyperextending my knee and tearing my ACL, MCL and meniscus in one fell swoop. Because I was laid up on the couch, I was no longer able to keep up with my methods for out-running emotions (literally), and came to understand how much these practices were aimed at avoiding and staying numb to emotions I didn’t think I should have, or know how to feel.
Leading up to, and after my first knee surgery, I learned about ‘presence’ in new, and sometimes very uncomfortable ways. With the help of a great therapist, I learned I had feelings, and that that was normal to feel. I learned my emotions, past and present, were valid, and how to hold, experience, and move through them. And ultimately, I learned that I have to fill my own cup before I can fill anyone else’s. (Which has proven to be an integral part of entering a ‘helping profession.’)



‘Self-care’ felt awkward at first, as I was so accustomed to tuning in to the needs of those around me rather than my own, but in time I came to understand the value and importance of filling my own cup with daily practices, routines, deep personal work, and thankfully growth as well. In the 10 years since this pivotal juncture of time, I have learned that for me, filling my cup means savoring times of quiet, mindfully being present in my environment, and minimizing distractions when connecting with others.
In today’s society ‘self-care’ sounds expensive — that it means massages, vacations, and costly products advertised on Instagram. And while those things can be nice to enjoy at times, there are a lot of other ways to experience the nurturance that comes from showing yourself care, in whatever ways that are meaningful and pleasant to enjoy. The pictures shown here exhibit what that is for me.






Photos shot by Megan on a Fujifilm single use camera.

This is an ongoing series inspired by #HalfTheStory, a global community that encourages individuals to share parts of their lives that exist outside of the standard social media story. Each week, we’ll be sharing one unfiltered story from an Octave team member to celebrate the hidden human talents, passions, beliefs, and struggles that connect us on a deeper level.
Octave Health is the nation’s first practice supporting all aspects of emotional well-being. The company offers personalized plans using the right combination of therapy & psychiatry, coaching & classes to best fit clients’ lives in a safe space that provides confidence and calm. Grounded in science, the Octave community enables clients to experience profound change that is just as measurable as it is meaningful. https://www.findoctave.com
#HalfTheStory is a non-profit pioneering research about the impacts of social media on mental health and provides educational resources to reduce the rates of suicide and depression in schools across the US. https://halfthestoryproject.com/


