#96 How to Reconnect After Distance Without Losing Yourself: Scripts + Skills for Repairing a Friendship After Silence
Have you ever pulled away from someone, but then found yourself unsure how to reconnect when things changed for you? These scripts can help you reconnect.
#95 Stay in Your Lane: What’s Yours to Carry—And What Isn’t? All About Boundaries
Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling strangely heavy, like you just picked up someone else’s emotional baggage without even realizing it? You were just trying to help, to be supportive, to be the good one. But somewhere along the way, you stopped being with the other person and started doing their emotional labor for them. If you’re someone who feels deeply, listens well, and wants people to feel safe around you, this message today is for you.
#94 How to Love Someone Without Letting Them Off the Hook
On the podcast recently, caller Cathy grappled with the question of how to stay in connection with her brother, after he had done so much harm in her family.
This wasn’t a simple disagreement. This was a relationship thick with complexity – love, grief, betrayal, outrage. Her brother had caused real damage, some of it permanent. And now, as he reaches out in his final years, she finds herself stuck between two truths:
I love him. And I don’t condone what he’s done.
How do we love someone without letting them off the hook?
#93 Too Much, Too Loud, Too Honest? Try Soft Power.
I’ve lost track of how many times someone has said it, either directly or indirectly. You’re too much. You’re a lot. You could be a little more tactful. Maybe just… tone it down?
And I’ve also lost track of how many times I’ve tried. Tried to keep my tone neutral. Tried to swallow my opinions. Tried to “pick my battles.” Tried to show up “less.”
But here’s what I’ve learned: most of us who’ve been labeled “too much” are not the problem. What we are is passionate. Clear. Fierce. Often protective. And deeply committed to something we believe matters.
The problem isn’t our intensity.
The problem is when that intensity leaks out in ways that others experience as controlling, shaming, or overwhelming, especially when we’re dysregulated or feeling unseen.
#92 What to Do When Everyone Wants Something Different – and You Don’t Want to Disappear
What can I do when I know what I want, but everyone wants something different?
#88 10 Phrases to Help You Reconnect When Conversations Go Sideways
What if every awkward silence, every emotional hijack, every misstep, is simply a chance to circle back? To help you reconnect? To build trust, not erode it?
#87 Feeling Undermined? How to Reclaim Your Power
Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling undermined, small, dismissed, or questioning yourself? Maybe you shared something personal, only to have the other person immediately take the other side or explain away your experience? It can leave you feeling undermined, like your voice doesn’t matter.
But here’s something important to understand—feeling undermined isn’t actually a feeling at all. It’s an interpretation of what we think someone is doing to us. It’s a way of describing an experience that doesn’t feel good, but it doesn’t name the emotion itself.
And this distinction matters. Because when we can get clearer on what’s actually happening inside of us—when we can name the real emotions and needs at play—we stop giving our power away and start reclaiming it. Here’s a practical roadmap to help make this shift towards reclaiming our power.
#84 Responding with Love When Kids Act Up
Responding with Love When Kids Act Up means no fixing, rescuing, or minimizing their feelings. Discover practical strategies to help kids process frustration, sadness, and anger while building their resilience and emotional intelligence. Read more for compassionate, actionable parenting insights.
#83 Making Peace With Being Misunderstood: When You’re the “Villain” in Their Story
Struggling with being misunderstood? Sometimes, no matter how much we explain, others see us as the “villain” in their story. In this blog post, we explore why defending yourself often backfires, how to recognize the real need beneath someone’s blame, and making peace with being misunderstood—without losing yourself in the process.
#82 What to Do When Relationships Disappoint You
Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, our relationships with other people fall short of what we long for. When this happens, it’s natural to feel sadness, anger, or even a sense of betrayal. But beneath these feelings lies an important question: How do we navigate the pain of unmet expectations without closing ourselves off from connection? What meaning do we make of these moments, that can serve to fortify our strength and protect us as we move forward?