Love, Happiness and Success with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

If burnout and stress are following you home from the workplace, you’re not imagining it. When your personal life starts shrinking, it’s often because your mind never truly leaves work. And if you can’t set boundaries at work mentally, your body stays in fight-or-flight after hours. In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Guy Winch Ph.D., an internationally renowned psychologist who advocates for integrating the science of emotional health into our daily lives. We’re talking about what happens when work hijacks your mind, your energy, your relationships, and your ability to actually be present in your own life. If you’ve been trying to figure out how to stop thinking about work, how to leave work at work, or how to set boundaries at work in a way that truly protects your personal life, this episode is for you. We unpack why burnout is not just about long hours, but about rumination, emotional overload, and staying mentally switched on long after the workday ends. Dr. Guy shares practical ideas for burnout recovery, including how to stop ruminating after hours, shift out of autopilot, and create simple transition rituals that help you reconnect with yourself and the people you love. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 When Work Follows You Home 04:52 Dr. Guy Winch’s Burnout Wake-Up Call 10:11 Why You Can’t Stop Thinking About Work 15:19 How to Stop Ruminating After Hours 21:56 How Burnout Hurts Relationships 31:17 How to Leave Work at Work 36:37 Why Autopilot Makes Burnout Worse 39:44 What Burnout Recovery Actually Looks Like 42:59 When Burnout Starts Affecting Love 48:58 Dr. Lisa’s Takeaways and Next Steps If this conversation felt a little too familiar, I’d love to offer you a next step. At Growing Self, we help people work through burnout, relationship stress, and the patterns that keep life feeling harder than it needs to. You can schedule a free consultation by answering three quick questions. It’s private, secure, and designed to help you find the right support for you. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.comStrawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at strawberry.me/LHS.

Knowing how to love yourself sounds simple, but for many people, it feels confusing, frustrating, and just out of reach. You may understand that self love matters, but still find yourself stuck in patterns of self-criticism, relying on others for validation, or wondering why it’s so hard to feel okay on the inside. If that’s true for you, you’re not alone. In this episode of Love, Happiness and Success, I’m revisiting an essential conversation about how to love yourself in a way that is grounded, practical, and actually works. Because self love is not a feeling you wait for. It’s something you build through the way you treat yourself every day. We talk about what self love really is, and what it isn’t. You’ll learn why love is a choice, not a feeling, and how that shift changes the way you approach boundaries, self-talk, and daily decisions. We also explore the inner critic, where it comes from, and why relying on external validation can leave you feeling unstable in relationships. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to love yourself in real life, including how to become more emotionally safe with yourself, take care of your wellbeing, and support your own growth over time. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why self-love feels confusing and hard to define 08:30 Why love is a choice, not a feeling 22:40 Romantic love, self-love, and common misunderstandings 38:30 What self love actually looks like in daily life 48:50 Boundaries, self-care, and protecting yourself 58:30 Where the inner critic comes from 01:05:00 Parenting, teens, and how self-love is taught 01:09:30 Therapy, coaching, and how self-love grows over time If you’ve been struggling with self love or feeling stuck in patterns of self-criticism, you don’t have to figure this out alone. This kind of work takes time, intention, and support. If you’re ready to learn how to love yourself in a more consistent and meaningful way, I’d love to connect with you. You can schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my team. It’s a private, supportive space where you can talk about what’s been feeling hard, what you’ve been experiencing internally, and what you want to feel instead. We’ll help you get matched with the right therapist or coach so you can build self compassion, strengthen your sense of self worth, and create a healthier relationship with yourself. You don’t have to keep doing this alone. 💗 xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.comStrawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at strawberry.me/LHS

If you’re craving real closeness, this episode on friendships is for you. Because feeling lonely isn’t really about not having people in your life,  it’s about not feeling known. And that’s where emotional intimacy and real connection begin. Many people wonder, “Why do I feel so lonely even though I have friends?” or struggle with the quiet ache of feeling lonely even with friends. In this conversation, we’re exploring why adult friendship can feel surprisingly complicated, and why making friends as an adult often requires skills we were never taught. My guest, Barnet Bain, is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and teacher whose new book, How to Be a Friend (in an Unfriendly World), grew out of a Columbia University course he created for psychologists. Together, we’re talking about the real reason adult friendships can feel hard, why so many people struggle with how to make friends as an adult, and the powerful friendship skills that help create emotional intimacy and lasting connection. You’ll hear why feeling lonely even with friends is more common than you might think, how our modern world can unintentionally make adult friendship harder to sustain, and why building meaningful relationships is less about finding the right people and more about developing the inner skills that make connection possible. As you listen, I’d love for you to reflect on this: if you’ve been wondering why do I feel lonely even though I have friends, what might change if you shifted the focus from finding better friends… to becoming the kind of friend who creates deeper connections? Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why You Feel Lonely Even With Friends 04:44 The Friendship Skills No One Teaches Us 08:38 What Healthy Adult Friendship Really Requires 19:02 Why the World Feels More Disconnected 28:11 Friendship as a Practice (And Why It Matters) 34:48 Why Trying to Fix People Blocks Emotional Intimacy 44:16 How to Make Friends as an Adult 50:09 How to Build and Maintain Real Friendships 53:39 The Power of Being Fully Present If this conversation resonates and you’re realizing how much you want deeper, more meaningful relationships in your life, you don’t have to figure it out alone. You can schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my team at Growing Self. It’s a private, supportive space where you can talk about what’s been going on in your relationships and what you’d like to feel different. From there, we’ll help you get matched with the right counselor or coach so you can build stronger connections and feel more supported in your life. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.comStrawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at strawberry.me/LHS.

Premarital counseling isn’t a “just in case” thing. It’s one of the smartest ways to protect a happy relationship before real life stress hits. These premarital tips can prevent years of communication problems and quiet resentment later. Want a stronger marriage? Start building emotional intimacy before you’re in crisis mode. Most couples don’t struggle because they stop loving each other. They struggle because no one ever taught them the skills that help love last. In this episode of Love, Happiness and Success, I’m talking with my colleague Jesse Stanley about what premarital counseling actually is, why it matters, and how learning relationship skills early can change the trajectory of a marriage. We explore some of the most important premarital counseling questions couples should ask before marriage, including how to talk about money, conflict, expectations, emotional intimacy, and the family patterns each person brings into the relationship. If you’ve ever wondered what premarital counseling is, or whether premarital and marital counseling can help couples build a stronger foundation before problems begin, this conversation will give you a very real and practical perspective. Jesse Stanley is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a military background who creates a judgment-free environment where growth and healing flourish. He helps individuals and couples build deeper, more satisfying relationships, navigate major life transitions, recover from heartbreak, manage stress, and create happier, more fulfilling lives. Episode Breakdown 00:00 Why Love Isn’t Enough for a Healthy Marriage 03:24 How Premarital Counseling Strengthens Relationships 10:44 What Good Premarital Counseling Should Cover 17:32 The Issues Couples Overlook Until It’s Too Late 20:18 How to Talk About Hard Things Without Blowing Up 31:40 What to Expect From the Premarital Counseling Process 47:43 Why Premarital Counseling Is Preventative Care for Marriage If this conversation resonated with you and your partner, I’d love to help you take the next step. At Growing Self, you can answer three quick questions and book your free consultation with the right expert for your relationship. It’s private, secure, and only takes a couple of minutes. Many couples start here when they want stronger communication, deeper emotional connection, and a healthier foundation for their future together. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com Strawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at strawberry.me/LHS.

Maybe you’ve had this thought late at night, or in the middle of yet another difficult conversation: How do you know when to call it quits in a relationship? Not because you hate your partner. Not because everything is terrible. But because something about the relationship feels unsustainable, and you’re wondering whether this is a rough season you can grow through… or a sign that the relationship may actually be over. In this episode of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast, we’re talking about one of the most painful and confusing crossroads people face in love. How do you tell the difference between relationship struggles that can lead to growth and the kinds of patterns that signal deeper relationship red flags? When is it worth trying to repair things, and when might it be healthier to move on? We’ll also talk about why many couples assume change isn’t possible before they’ve actually tried the right kind of help, what real relationship growth can look like, and how practical realities like finances, children, or co-parenting concerns can make the decision to leave feel even more complicated. If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “Should I stay and try to work on this… or should I break up?”, this conversation will help you look at your situation with more clarity and compassion. Episode Breakdown: 00:01 When to Call It Quits in a Relationship 09:02 The “Mixed Bag” Relationship 15:53 Growth Opportunity or Deal Breaker 27:37 Can Couples Counseling Save a Relationship? 46:04 Relationship Red Flags 57:37 Leaving a Relationship and Feeling Guilty 01:04:20 Finances, Children, and Feeling Stuck If this episode stirred up questions about your own relationship and you’d like thoughtful support while you sort through them, I’d love to offer you something that can really help. You can book a free consultation with me or a member of my team at Growing Self. Think of it as a private, supportive space where you can talk about what’s really been going on in your relationship and what you hope will feel different moving forward. Answer three quick questions so we can help match you with the right counselor or coach for you. Thousands of people have transformed themselves, their relationships, and their lives through this work. You can too. It’s private, secure, and only takes a couple of minutes to get started. Let’s find the right support for you. 💗 xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts.   Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com Strawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at strawberry.me/LHS.

If you’re avoiding boundaries because you don’t want to seem selfish, this will flip the script. Healthy boundaries can create more emotional intimacy, reduce unhealthy feelings, and stop the burnout and stress spiral. So many kind, caring people get stuck in a pattern of saying yes when they really mean no. They’re not weak, and they’re not doing anything “wrong.” They’re often afraid of conflict, afraid of disappointing someone, or afraid of losing a relationship. And that fear can pull you into the people pleasing cycle: over-giving, exhaustion, resentment, and eventually that sharp “No” that comes out of nowhere and leaves everyone feeling hurt. In this episode of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast, we’re talking about how to set boundaries in a way that protects your relationships instead of damaging them. You’ll learn what healthy boundaries in relationships actually look like, why boundaries are not about controlling anyone else’s behavior, and how to set a boundary with clarity and kindness — even when someone else has big feelings about it. If you’ve been wondering how to stop people pleasing, or you’re trying to figure out what are healthy boundaries in a relationship, this is a practical place to start. As you listen, notice where you’ve been making your needs smaller to keep the peace, and what might change if your boundaries became an act of love for both of you. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Boundaries Protect Relationships 04:26 Why Setting Boundaries Feels So Hard 06:45 The People-Pleasing Cycle 11:19 The Paradox: Boundaries Create Intimacy 15:53 Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive Communication 18:10 The Real Secret to Healthy Boundaries 27:36 Requests vs Boundaries 36:40 How to Start Practicing Boundaries 39:06 The 3-Step Boundary Process 45:46 What Their Reaction Tells You About The Relationship 50:36 Resources and Next Steps If this episode is hitting close to home, maybe you’re recognizing people pleasing patterns, or noticing how hard it’s been to set boundaries in a relationship, I want to offer you something that can make this easier. You can book your free consultation with Growing Self as a kind of “first step” for yourself. It’s private, secure, and only takes a couple of minutes. You’ll answer three quick questions so we can help you find the right support and match you with the best counselor or coach for what you’re working on. If you’re practicing setting healthy boundaries in relationships, you don’t have to do it alone. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of Love, Happiness, and Success: Shopify: The all-in-one platform to build and grow your online business. Explore exclusive listener discounts at shopify.com/lhs Working Genius founder Patrick Lencioni is on a mission to create self understanding and connection by helping people understand their genius and that of others. Listen to our conversation, then discover your strengths and get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com Strawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at strawberry.me/LHS

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “Why can’t I just relax in this relationship?” Nothing dramatic has happened. There hasn’t been an affair. No obvious betrayal. And yet you feel on edge. You double-check. You scan for signs. You wonder if something is wrong, even when everything seems fine. Trust issues in relationships do not always start with a fresh wound. Sometimes they are rooted in past hurt. Sometimes they grow out of relational trauma you thought you had already worked through. And sometimes they show up as relationship anxiety that refuses to settle down, even with a good partner. In this episode of Love, Happiness and Success, we’re talking about what trust issues actually are and what they are not. We’ll unpack why hypervigilance, reassurance-seeking, and worst-case thinking can quietly strain a healthy relationship, and why that reaction makes sense when you understand what your nervous system has been through. We’ll also explore the difference between a real red flag and a trauma trigger, how attachment patterns shape your sense of safety, and what it truly takes to deal with trust issues in a way that builds secure connection instead of pushing love away. As you listen, gently ask yourself: Is this fear about what’s happening right now, or about something that happened before? You deserve to feel secure, confident, and emotionally safe in your relationships. Learning how to deal with trust issues is not about becoming less sensitive. It is about becoming more grounded and more secure in yourself. Episode Breakdown 00:00 Why trust issues in relationships show up even when nothing is wrong 06:59 Signs of trust issues and relationship anxiety 09:18 How trust issues strain healthy relationships 21:27 Relational trauma and the roots of trust issues 33:14 Attachment styles and trust patterns 42:46 How anxiety spirals, the cereal box example 47:23 Therapy for trust issues, CBT, and couples counseling 56:36 Building secure trust from the inside out If this conversation is stirring something up for you, that makes sense. Working through trust issues and relationship anxiety takes insight, practice, and sometimes support. You can schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my team. It’s a private, secure space where you can tell us what’s really been happening in your relationship, what’s feeling hard, and what you wish felt different. We’ll help you get matched with the right counselor or coach so you can feel more grounded, more understood, and more confident in your ability to build secure, healthy love. You don’t have to keep managing trust issues on your own. 💗 xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com Strawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at ⁠strawberry.me/LHS⁠.

If you’re living in constant stress, you might be shrinking the part of your brain that helps you think clearly. In this episode, Dr. Majid Fotuhi breaks down burnout, brain fog, and why “everything feels hard.” You’ll get a practical recovery plan built around sleep, movement, stress regulation, and neuroplasticity. And how to stop rumination before it rewires your brain in the wrong direction. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, scattered, forgetful, or like you’re constantly behind, this conversation may shift how you understand stress and burnout. Chronic stress and burnout don’t just affect your mood,  they impact brain health, memory, attention, and decision-making. When your brain isn’t functioning well, everything feels heavier than it needs to. We talk about brain fog causes, how poor sleep disrupts your brain’s nightly cleaning system, and why elevated cortisol over time can shrink the hippocampus. We also explore ADHD symptoms and attention struggles through a new lens. Are you dealing with true ADHD, or the effects of sleep deprivation, digital overload, and chronic stress? You’ll hear practical ADHD tips, how to get rid of brain fog, and simple ways to build real stress resilience. This episode also dives into rumination and negative neuroplasticity, how repetitive negative thoughts strengthen neural pathways that reinforce burnout. The good news? The brain is malleable. You can interrupt those patterns and strengthen new ones. As you listen, I’d love for you to consider: What if feeling better isn’t just about changing your thoughts — but about strengthening your brain? And what small shift this week could begin healing stress and burnout at the root? Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Stress and Burnout: Why Everything Feels Hard 04:00 Brain Fog Causes and Early Signs of Burnout 09:04 Sleep and Brain Health 21:23 ADHD Symptoms or Chronic Stress? 30:23 Rumination and Negative Neuroplasticity 42:06 Creating Space to Reduce Stress 52:26 The Five Pillars of Brain Health If you’re recognizing yourself in this conversation — feeling foggy, overwhelmed, or stuck in stress loops — I’d love to invite you to schedule a free consultation with me or someone on my team. Think of it as a reset conversation. A private, secure space where you can share what’s been weighing on you and what you want to feel different. You’ll answer three quick questions so we can match you with the right counselor or coach. It only takes a couple of minutes to book a consultation, and it’s my way of helping you take a supported first step toward clearer thinking, stronger stress resilience, and better brain health. Let’s find the right support for you. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com Strawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at strawberry.me/LHS.

How do you improve emotional intelligence when you were never really taught what to do with your feelings in the first place? Emotional intelligence shapes your happiness, your relationships, your leadership, and your ability to manage stress — yet most people were never shown how to build emotional intelligence skills in a practical way. In this episode of Love, Happiness and Success, we’re talking about exactly how to improve emotional intelligence step by step, and how to develop emotional intelligence skills that create real change. Not as a personality trait you either have or don’t, but as a set of learnable skills that directly impact emotional regulation, self-awareness, career success, and the quality of your relationships. You’ll learn why emotional intelligence often matters more than technical expertise at work. In fact, emotional intelligence at work is one of the strongest predictors of long-term career success and leadership effectiveness. We’ll explore how strengthening emotional vocabulary changes the way you think and feel, why managing your internal reactions is the foundation for stronger communication, and how emotional intelligence supports resilience under stress. Together, we’ll walk through the four core components of emotional intelligence — self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management — and what it actually looks like to strengthen each one in real life. If you’ve ever felt reactive, shut down, emotionally overwhelmed, or unsure how to handle difficult conversations, this episode will help you slow down, get clearer, and show up differently. Emotional intelligence isn’t about being more emotional. It’s about understanding your emotions, regulating them wisely, and creating emotional safety in the relationships that matter most. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Emotional Intelligence Matters 06:58 Emotional Intelligence and Career Success 11:34 The Four Components of Emotional Intelligence 13:43 Self-Awareness: Naming Emotions and Understanding Triggers 27:38 Tools to Improve Emotional Intelligence (Mindfulness, CBT, Feeling Wheel) 32:15 Emotional Regulation and Self-Management 38:53 Social Awareness and Relationship Management 46:07 Relationship Management: Emotional Safety, Trust, and Communication That Works 50:42 How Emotional Intelligence Builds Long-Term Success If you’re listening and thinking, “I want these emotional intelligence skills, but I’d love support while I practice them,” I have something for you. Our Clarity & Confidence Coaching Program is a low-cost coaching service designed to help you build self-awareness, strengthen emotional regulation, and show up with more clarity and confidence in your relationships and career. Thousands of people have transformed themselves, their relationships, or their careers through Growing Self. You can too. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius founder Patrick Lencioni is on a mission to create self understanding and connection by helping people understand their genius and that of others. Listen to our conversation, then discover your strengths and get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com Strawberry.me — Career coaching that helps you gain clarity, build a strategic plan, and take confident steps toward the career you want with expert support. Get 50% off your first coaching session at strawberry.me/LHS.

If you love your partner but your sexual intimacy is gone… you’re not hopeless. You’re normal. Let’s talk about sex, intimacy, and the real skills that rebuild sexual connection in long-term love. Because emotional intimacy doesn’t automatically create desire,  and you can deepen intimacy on purpose. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why don’t I want sex anymore?” or felt the quiet ache of a lack of intimacy in marriage, you’re not alone. Many couples care deeply about each other. They function well as teammates. And yet when it comes to intimacy in marriage, something feels distant or flat. Maybe you’re in a marriage without intimacy and wondering how to improve sex life without forcing it. Maybe you’re trying to figure out how to increase sexual desire, especially if your drive has faded. Or maybe you’re the partner feeling rejected and unsure how to reconnect. The truth is that improving intimacy in marriage isn’t about waiting for spontaneous chemistry to return. Sexual desire shifts in long-term relationships. Stress, exhaustion, resentment, hormonal changes, and the mental load of adult life all impact connection. When there is no intimacy in marriage, it often reflects burnout and disconnection,  not incompatibility. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Nicole McNichols, an internationally renowned human sexuality professor, author, and speaker whose course The Diversity of Human Sexuality is the most popular in the history of the University of Washington, enrolling over 4,000 students annually. Together, we unpack how to improve sexual intimacy using research-backed tools. We talk about how pleasure fuels desire, how to increase sexual desire in female partners and anyone experiencing low drive, and why improving intimacy in marriage requires intention, not magic. You’ll learn how to improve sex life through small shifts in novelty, playfulness, and communication that make connection feel natural again. We also address resentment. If emotional safety has eroded over time, rebuilding sexual intimacy may need to start with repairing the friendship first. When couples strengthen communication and physical intimacy together, relationships often begin to feel alive again. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Sexual Intimacy Fades in Long-Term Relationships 03:34 How to Improve Sexual Intimacy With a Growth Mindset 08:52 Emotional Intimacy vs. Sexual Desire in Marriage 11:14 How Pleasure Increases Sexual Desire 18:17 How to Increase Sexual Desire (Responsive Desire Explained) 20:20 How to Improve Sex Life by Planning Intimacy 31:08 Rebuilding Attraction and Intimacy in Marriage 43:06 When Lack of Intimacy in Marriage Is About Resentment Rebuilding sexual connection can feel vulnerable. And sometimes the most powerful next step isn’t trying harder,  it’s getting support. If you’d like help improving intimacy in marriage or learning how to increase sexual desire in ways that feel safe and sustainable, you can schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my team. It’s a private, secure space where you can share what’s been happening and what you hope will feel different. You’ll answer three quick questions so we can match you with the right expert. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it’s a meaningful first step toward feeling closer, more connected, and more confident in your relationship. Let’s find the right support for you. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

If you’re the one everyone relies on, your boundaries might be the reason you’re burning out. This is for the high achiever who’s carrying too much, feeling stressed, and quietly running on empty. And yes—this includes how to set boundaries at work without guilt or conflict. Somewhere along the way, many capable people start to confuse their value with their availability. You become the reliable one. The strong one. The person who can handle it. And before you know it, you’re overextended and quietly exhausted from overfunctioning. If you’ve been wondering how to set boundaries without guilt, how to stop overfunctioning, or how people pleasing and boundaries get tangled together, this conversation will give you clarity and practical direction. I’m joined by Ginny Priem, keynote speaker, Master Certified Professional Life Coach, bestselling author, and host of the Unsubscribe Podcast. We talk about the signs of stress in the body, trusting your intuition, boundary pushback, and what to do when boundary busters resist your growth. You’ll learn how to set boundaries at work without conflict, how to communicate limits calmly, and why boundaries aren’t about controlling others, they’re about deciding what you’re willing to participate in. As you listen, consider: Where have you equated your worth with how much you can carry? Episode Breakdown: 00:00 How High Achievers Start Overfunctioning 07:22 Signs of Stress in the Body 14:13 Trusting Your Intuition When Something Feels Off 23:51 How to Set Boundaries Without Guilt 29:45 The Unsubscribe Framework: Block, Mute, Swap, Manage 33:48 Setting Boundaries at Work Without Conflict 45:45 Final Reflections on Boundaries and Burnout If you’re ready to move from insight into action, I’d love to invite you to schedule a consultation with someone on my team at Growing Self. You can answer three quick questions so we can help you schedule a free consultation with the right expert for where you are right now. It’s private, secure, and only takes a couple of minutes. Let’s find the right support for you. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs  to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts.Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

How to love yourself after a breakup can feel impossible when your self-esteem is shattered and your ex still lives rent-free in your nervous system. When a relationship ends, especially a painful or toxic one, it doesn’t just break your heart — it can break your trust in yourself. You may find yourself obsessing over your ex, checking their social media even though it hurts, replaying conversations, or wondering what was wrong with you. Low self-esteem after a breakup often isn’t just about rejection. It’s about the shame of feeling like you abandoned your own boundaries trying to keep someone who couldn’t love you back. In this episode, we’re talking about what it really takes to repair your self-esteem and rebuild your sense of personal power. I’ll walk you through why heartbreak recovery can feel like withdrawal from an addiction, how attachment loss hijacks your brain, and why the most painful thought is often not “They left,” but “Why did I let this happen?” If you’ve been trying to figure out how to love yourself after a breakup while still feeling pulled toward someone who wasn’t good for you, this episode will help you understand what’s happening and how to shift it. We’ll explore five concrete steps to repair your self-esteem: recognizing self-betrayal patterns, understanding the addictive pull of contact and validation, seeking support instead of isolating, recommitting to loving yourself through behavior, and creating a plan for the moments when you’re tempted to go backward. Real self-esteem is earned through action: every boundary you set, every time you resist checking their profile, every moment you choose dignity over desperation. That’s how you repair your self-esteem. That’s how you rebuild confidence. That’s how you love yourself after a breakup in a way that lasts. As you listen, you might realize you’ve been trying to heal through them. What actually helps is rebuilding your relationship with yourself. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Self-Esteem Collapses After a Breakup 07:04 Low Self-Esteem After Breakup: Rejection and Shame 21:10 Breakup Recovery and the Addiction to Your Ex 34:49 Five Steps to Repair Your Self-Esteem 51:20 How to Stop Obsessing Over Your Ex and Rebuild Confidence If this episode is stirring something up for you, I want to offer you something personal. You can schedule a free consultation with me or someone on my team. Think of it as a steady first step toward rebuilding yourself. You’ll answer three quick questions so we can help you find the right expert for your unique situation. It’s private, secure, and only takes a couple of minutes. Thousands of people have transformed themselves and their relationships through Growing Self. Let’s find the right support for you — and help you repair your self-esteem in a way that feels grounded, strong, and sustainable. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of Love, Happiness, and Success:   Shopify: The all-in-one platform to build and grow your online business. Explore exclusive listener discounts at shopify.com/lhs Working Genius founder Patrick Lencioni is on a mission to create self understanding and connection by helping people understand their genius and that of others. Listen to our conversation, then discover your strengths and get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

If you’re trying to improve marriage and it feels like you’re doing it alone, this is for you. When your spouse is checked out and every “we need to talk” goes nowhere, it’s exhausting. Maybe you’ve asked for date nights. You’ve suggested couples therapy. You’ve tried to discuss communication problems and you’re met with “I don’t know,” “No,” or silence. In this episode, we’re talking about why that happens… and what actually helps. Feeling lonely in your marriage can make you question everything. You may be wondering what to do when you’re the only one trying in a relationship, or whether your partner is emotionally checked out for good. It’s easy to assume that if your spouse refuses couples counseling, there’s nothing left to work with. But relationships are systems. When one part changes, the system shifts. I’m joined by Dr. Lee H. Baucom, Ph.D., author, pastoral counselor, life coach, and creator of the Save the Marriage program. With more than 30 years of experience helping couples in crisis, Lee specializes in situations where one partner is resistant or disengaged. Together, we unpack the pursue-withdraw cycle, why chasing your partner often backfires, and how small, invitational shifts can begin rebuilding connection. We also talk about the myth that “it takes two to tango,” the three levels of connection in marriage, and how to approach a partner who seems emotionally unavailable without escalating pressure. And we explore the harder question: when do you stop trying? How do you know you’ve done what you’re willing to do? Episode Breakdown: 00:00 What to Do When You’re the Only One Trying in a Relationship 03:10 Why Couples Drift Apart Over Time 09:46 How One Person Can Change a Struggling Marriage 13:12 The Three Levels of Connection in Marriage 21:48 The Pursue-Withdraw Cycle and How to Stop Chasing Your Partner 33:09 How to Rebuild Hope in a Failing Relationship 42:19 Practical Steps to Reconnect With an Emotionally Checked-Out Partner 50:02 When to Stop Trying in a Marriage 55:54 Resources for Couples in Marriage Crisis If you’ve been carrying that heavy feeling of being the only one fighting for your marriage, you don’t have to figure this out alone. Clarity doesn’t come from another argument. It comes from one grounded conversation with someone who understands relationship systems and can help you sort through what’s possible and what your next step needs to be. If that would feel helpful, I’d love to invite you to schedule a free consultation with me or someone on my team at Growing Self. You’ll answer three quick questions so we can help you find the right support for you. It’s private, secure, and only takes a couple of minutes. Let’s find the right support for you—whether that means couples counseling, discernment work, or individual coaching to help you stop chasing and start feeling steady again. You deserve clarity. You deserve support. And you deserve to feel less alone in your marriage. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs  to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts.Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

When communication in a relationship starts to feel harder than it used to, it’s easy to wonder whether something is wrong, with your partner, or with the relationship itself. Many couples reach this point during the power struggle stage in relationships, when differences feel sharper, conflict escalates more quickly, and emotional safety can start to feel shaky. In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Thais Gibson, and we’re talking about why relationship power struggles are not a sign of failure, but a normal part of the stages of love. We explore what’s really happening beneath the surface when couples feel stuck in recurring conflict, including how the anxious avoidant relationship cycle can quietly take over communication and leave both partners feeling misunderstood or disconnected. Together, we unpack the myth that “good relationships should feel easy,” and talk honestly about normal relationship conflict, what’s expected, what’s workable, and what actually helps couples move forward. Thais shares practical frameworks for repairing after conflict, communicating needs more clearly, and rebuilding emotional safety in relationships, especially when old triggers and attachment patterns are getting activated. As you listen, I invite you to notice where you and your partner might be caught in the cycle, and what could shift if conflict became a doorway to understanding, growth, and repair instead of something to fear or avoid. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why the Myth That “Good Relationships Should Be Easy” Creates Conflict 03:12 The Stages of Love and How Relationships Change Over Time 05:33 The Power Struggle Stage in Relationships Explained 10:06 Why Triggers and Polarity Drive Relationship Power Struggles 16:21 The Anxious–Avoidant Relationship Cycle 17:40 Conflict and Repair Skills That Build Trust 29:36 Building Emotional Safety During Relationship Conflict 35:22 Communication Habits That Help Couples Move Forward If this conversation helped you recognize patterns in your relationship, especially around conflict, emotional safety, or feeling stuck in the power struggle stage, I want you to know you don’t have to navigate this alone. As a gift to you, you’re warmly invited to schedule a free consultation with me or a trusted member of my team at Growing Self. This is a private, secure conversation where you can share what’s really been happening in your relationship and what you’re hoping could feel different. You’ll answer three quick questions so we can thoughtfully match you with the right counselor or coach, someone who understands the kinds of dynamics Thais and I talked about today and can help you move toward clarity, connection, and repair. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it’s simply an opportunity to explore what support might look like for you. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs  to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

There is a particular kind of frustration that comes from knowing yourself well enough to recognize a pattern, and still feeling unable to stop it. You understand what you are doing. You may even understand why. And yet the behavior keeps showing up anyway. In this conversation, I’m sitting down with licensed marriage and family therapist and mental health educator Kati Morton to talk about why habits that no longer serve us can be so hard to change. Not because we lack insight or discipline, but because many of these patterns began as emotional coping habits. At one point, they helped us feel safer, more connected, or more in control. Over time, they quietly turned into ways we stay stuck. We explore how early relationship experiences shape perfectionism and control patterns, why self-sabotaging behaviors make sense once you understand the nervous system’s role in survival, and how shame keeps habits locked in place rather than motivating change. Kati shares why willpower is rarely the solution, and what compassionate habit change actually looks like when you stop trying to override yourself and start listening instead. We also talk about what happens when these patterns show up inside relationships, how to raise concerns without controlling or shaming your partner, and why understanding the function of a habit matters far more than trying to eliminate it. This episode is about breaking habits that keep you stuck by learning how to meet the underlying need in a healthier, more sustainable way. As you listen, I invite you to reflect on this question: What has this behavior been doing for me, and what might become possible if I approached myself with more curiosity and less judgment? Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why willpower is not enough to change habits 03:49 How early relationship blueprints shape behavior 08:51 Perfectionism, people pleasing, and self-abandonment 12:25 Conditional love and control patterns 18:06 Nervous system regulation and survival responses 24:04 Emotional coping habits outside of relationships 31:03 Why shame reinforces habits 37:54 Addressing the root instead of cutting off symptoms 44:27 Supporting change in relationships without control 50:53 More from Kati Morton If this episode brought clarity to patterns you have been struggling with, and you would like support as you work toward change that actually lasts, I want to extend a personal invitation. You can schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my team. This is a private, secure space where you will answer three quick questions so we can help match you with the right counselor or coach for what you are navigating right now. Think of it as a thoughtful starting place, not a commitment. Just support, perspective, and help finding the right next step. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs  to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

If you’ve been dating for a while and you’re starting to feel tired, discouraged, or quietly wondering why this seems so much harder than it should be, you’re not imagining things. Modern dating can wear people down, the endless swiping, first dates that go nowhere, the emotional energy it takes just to stay open and hopeful. Many of the people I work with start to doubt themselves, not because anything is wrong with them, but because the process itself is exhausting. In this episode, I’m joined by Tim Molnar, a dating coach and former sociology professor, to talk about dating burnout recovery and how to approach dating with more clarity, intention, and emotional steadiness. Instead of pushing harder or checking out completely, we explore how to date more thoughtfully,  in ways that protect your mental health and help you stay connected to yourself along the way. We talk about why modern dating mental health struggles are so common, how swipe culture and endless choice can distort decision-making, and why so many good people end up feeling depleted rather than excited. Tim shares a research-backed, intentional dating strategy that helps you make better decisions sooner, reduce emotional drain, and focus your energy where it actually matters. If you’ve been trying to date without losing yourself — your values, your peace of mind, or your sense of hope — this episode offers a calmer, more grounded way forward. As you listen, you might reflect on this question: What would change if dating felt less like a test of your worth and more like a process you could approach with intention and self-trust? Episode Breakdown 00:00 Dating Burnout and Self-Doubt in Modern Dating 02:17 Tim’s Journey to an Intentional Dating Strategy 07:24 Why Modern Dating Impacts Mental Health 12:52 The “Third Door” Approach to Dating Without Burning Out 16:05 Expanding Your Social World Without Losing Yourself 21:15 Why Dating Apps Create Burnout and Inertia 25:49 Real-World Connection, Rejection, and Emotional Risk 36:29 Making Better Dating Decisions Earlier 39:43 The 80/20 Approach to Dating Without Burnout 43:40 Chemistry vs. Compatibility in Healthy Relationships 46:22 What Research Says Predicts Long-Term Relationship Success 50:47 The Power of the Slow Burn in Dating If dating has started to feel heavy, confusing, or emotionally draining, and you’d like a thoughtful place to land as you sort through what you need next, I want you to know there’s support available to you. I’d love to invite you to schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my Growing Self team. This is a private, secure space where you’ll answer a few simple questions so we can understand what’s been weighing on you and thoughtfully connect you with the right counselor or coach — someone who understands dating burnout, relationship decision-making, and how to help you stay open to love without losing yourself. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. This is simply an opportunity to feel understood, supported, and less alone as you find a calmer, more intentional way forward. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs  to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

If therapy feels like talking in circles, you’re not un-helpable. Your therapy might be the wrong kind of help. In today’s episode we’re talking about the big fat elephant in the therapy room: The disconnect between what therapists actually do, and what people are expecting to get out of it. Listen to get clarity about what therapy is actually designed to do, and more importantly what therapy is not—and how to choose the right support. The truth is that evidence based psychotherapy can be a literal life-saver. If you’re dealing with mental health issues, getting connected with a good, competent therapist can make all the difference between suffering, struggling, and having a nice life. Psychotherapy is valid, important, and effective for the treatment of mental health conditions.  But what about the 50% of people who show up for therapy who aren’t dealing with a mental health condition? Who are there to learn, grow, and develop themselves so that we can get traction in our lives, and have support to get where we want to go?  Those people? So many of them walk away from therapy feeling frustrated, stuck, or even wondering if they’re the problem. In this episode, I’m getting real about why therapy sometimes falls flat—and how you can reclaim your growth by understanding the actual purpose and process of therapy vs coaching. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why traditional therapy sometimes feels like “talking in circles” (and why it’s not your fault) What therapists are really trained for (hint: it isn’t always growth or day-to-day challenges) The major differences between therapy, mental health therapy, relationship therapy, and coaching—and how to know which one you need Red flags and disconnects to listen for during your first session How to interview a psychologist or counselor so you actually get results (not just insight) When coaching is more effective than therapy for life, relationship, and career issues What to know about insurance and why it matters if you’re not getting “treatment” Xoxo,  Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby PS: On this show you’ll hear me talk about my coach training program for therapists, and the opportunity to work with one of them at a deeply discounted rate ($49!). Learn more and see if this is right for you. Special thanks to this month’s sponsors: Shopify: The all-in-one platform to build and grow your online business. Explore exclusive listener discounts at shopify.com/lhsWorking Genius founder Patrick Lencioni is on a mission to create self understanding and connection by helping people understand their genius and that of others. Listen to our conversation, then discover your strengths and get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

There’s a particular kind of emotional stuckness that’s hard to explain until you’ve lived it — the constant thinking about someone, replaying conversations, scanning for meaning in small moments, and slowly realizing that your inner world has begun to revolve around another person. That’s the experience we’re talking about today. In this episode, psychologist Orly Miller joins me for a thoughtful conversation about limerence vs love, and why intense longing can sometimes cross a line into something that feels more consuming than connecting. We talk about what limerence actually is, how it differs from healthy romantic attachment, and why it can be so difficult to move out of once you’re in it. For anyone quietly wondering how to stop limerence, this conversation offers clarity, language, and relief without judgment. As you listen, I invite you to notice how uncertainty, hope, and emotional focus may be shaping your experience of love,  and what might shift if more of that energy were returned to you, rather than staying fixed on someone else. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Loving Too Much: When Longing Becomes Painful 01:42 How Limerence Shows Up in Real Life 08:52 What Limerence Is (and What It Isn’t) 11:00 Limerence vs Love: Why Healthy Love Moves Forward 17:55 The Three Ways Limerence Can Exist 20:47 Hope and Doubt: What Keeps Limerence Alive 22:34 When Limerence Becomes Unhealthy 33:06 Inside a Limerent Episode 42:52 Why Healing Isn’t About the Other Person 44:54 Reclaiming Yourself and Moving Forward When patterns like these start to come into focus, it can bring relief, and also raise questions about what comes next. If this conversation stirred something for you and you’d like thoughtful support while you sort through it, I’d love to invite you to schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my Growing Self team. This is a private, secure space where you’ll answer a few simple questions about what’s been happening in your relationships and emotional life, and what you’d like to feel differently. From there, we’ll help you get matched with the right counselor or coach so you can move forward with clarity, self-trust, and care,  instead of staying stuck in patterns that no longer serve you. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs  to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

Struggling with a dead bedroom? Talking about sex can feel more vulnerable and more terrifying than almost any other conversation in relationships, but it's the key to bringing back the spark. In this episode, you'll learn how to talk about sex with your partner in ways that strengthen emotional intimacy, reignite sexual intimacy, deepen connection, and help couples communicate without shame, fear, or defensiveness. If you’ve ever wanted more closeness or desire in your relationship but felt frozen when it came time to talk about sex, you’re not alone. For many couples, learning how to talk about sex with your partner feels risky—even when love is strong and the longing for connection is real. Fear of rejection, conflict, or hurting each other can keep these conversations stuck beneath the surface, quietly eroding intimacy over time. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tara, a Kinsey-certified sexologist and tenured professor of sexual and relational communication, to talk about how to communicate better about sex in ways that actually build safety, trust, and closeness. We explore why sexual conversations feel so charged, how cultural conditioning shapes desire and avoidance, and what helps couples rebuild trust sexually after long periods of distance, rejection, or disconnection. You’ll hear practical guidance for starting these conversations gently, expanding what sexual intimacy can look like in long-term relationships, and taking responsibility for your own sexual self—without blame or shame. As you listen, I invite you to reflect on this question: What might become possible in your relationship if talking about sex felt safer, clearer, and more connecting than it does right now? Episode Breakdown 00:00 Why Talking About Sex Feels So Hard in Relationships 06:30 The Cost of Avoiding Conversations About Sex 15:00 How Sexual Communication Affects Intimacy and Connection 22:00 How to Talk About Sex Without Fear or Defensiveness 27:30 Understanding Your Sexual Self Before Communicating Needs 30:00 Redefining Sexual Intimacy Beyond Penetration 33:00 How to Ask for What You Want Sexually (Without Hurting Your Partner) 39:00 Navigating Sexual Differences in Long-Term Relationships 47:00 Rebuilding Sexual Trust and Attraction After Distance 52:40 The Core Skill: Knowing What You Want and Communicating It If this conversation stirred something for you—maybe a desire to feel closer, more confident, or more understood—you’re invited to schedule a free consultation with me or a member of my team. It’s a private, secure space where you can share what’s been happening in your relationship and what you’re hoping will feel different. You’ll answer three quick questions so we can thoughtfully match you with the right counselor or coach for your needs. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it’s designed to help you find support that fits, whether you’re working on communication, rebuilding sexual trust, or finding your way back to connection. Consider this a gentle next step and an open door, if and when you’re ready. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs  to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com

When love and relationships turn into constant conflict, the problem isn’t that you’re bad at communicating; it’s that you’re negotiating without a strategy. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby sits down with negotiation expert Rebecca Zung to unpack how communication breaks down in narcissistic relationships and what it really takes to negotiate effectively in a marriage or partnership marked by high conflict. If you’ve ever found yourself explaining, accommodating, or giving more and more in the hope that things will finally calm down, only to feel resentful or powerless later, this conversation is for you. Rebecca shares why negotiation is not just a legal skill, but a relationship skill and a self-worth skill, especially when you’re dealing with someone who is unpredictable, manipulative, or unwilling to meet you halfway. We talk about how to negotiate with a narcissist without losing yourself, including why mindset and preparation matter more than saying the “right” thing in the moment. Rebecca explains how common negotiation tactics like over-giving, people-pleasing, and JADE-ing (justify, argue, defend, explain) quietly undermine your position, and how clarity around your values, boundaries, and walk-away points can change the entire dynamic. You’ll also hear practical strategies for staying grounded and strategic in high-conflict relationships, setting boundaries without escalating conflict, and using leverage in ways that protect your energy, your self-respect, and what matters most to you. As you listen, I invite you to reflect on this: Where have you been negotiating against yourself just to keep the peace? And what might shift if you approached these conversations with more clarity, intention, and respect for your own needs? Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Negotiation Is a Relationship Skill 01:38 Rebecca Zung’s Personal Path to Negotiation Expertise 09:31 The First Negotiation Is With Yourself 13:26 Why Mindset Determines Negotiation Outcomes 18:24 Over-Giving, People-Pleasing, and Resentment 28:18 The Five I’s of Negotiation Leverage 43:30 Never JADE: How to Stop Giving Away Your Power 46:43 Setting Boundaries in High-Conflict Relationships If this episode resonated, and you’re realizing that navigating a high-conflict relationship requires more than just trying harder or explaining yourself better, I want you to know that support is available. I’d love to invite you to schedule a free consultation with my team at Growing Self. This is a private, secure space where you can share what’s been happening in your relationship and where you’re feeling stuck or drained. You’ll answer a few quick questions so we can thoughtfully connect you with the right counselor or coach, someone who understands high-conflict dynamics and can help you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and self-trust. You don’t have to keep negotiating without a strategy, and you don’t have to do this alone. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self Special thanks to this month’s sponsors of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast: Shopify — The all-in-one platform for building and growing your online business. Visit shopify.com/lhs to explore their tools and access exclusive listener discounts. Working Genius — A powerful assessment that helps entrepreneurs and leaders focus on what they naturally do best. Get 20% off with code LHS at workinggenius.com