Truly great friendships are worth their weight in gold and stand the test of time. When I think of my ‘great friendships’, I think of my family of choice. I think about the natural connectedness of the ‘villages’ we lived …
Category: Relationships
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Friendships
What are the elements of a healthy friendship? Sometimes, it can be challenging to spot the warning signs when we are in a toxic friendship. We might feel that we are relying on that person for connection, validation or support. …
How SHAME Can Stop People Apologising:
Everyone has a different relationship with shame, depending mainly on how they were raised. Shame says, “I’m a terrible person”, and guilt says, “I did a terrible thing.” When you have DONE something wrong, you can repair it. When you …
4 Step Apology
This might sound like: “I’m sorry I didn’t call to let you know I would be late for the show. That was thoughtless of me. Next time I’ll be sure to let you know. Can you forgive me?” Remember, when …
Apologising
Please note that this doesn’t say, “I must apologise all the time to keep the peace.” Owning our part is powerful. Even if we only own a tiny part. Think back to the last time someone owned their part of …
How to Respond to an Apology When It’s Not Okay.
Answering these questions might aid you in finding your next step forward. We all make mistakes. The magic is in the repair. You are allowed some time and space while taking care of yourself and getting clear about your needs. …
What To Say If You Made A Mistake Or Regret How You Behaved.
We all mess up from time to time. Remember, it is not the conflict that defines a relationship. The magic is in the repair. How well do you repair? When we have made a mistake, we have usually done something …
The SUBMIT Response
We can only begin to heal from the ‘submit’ response when we are out of the abusive environment that caused it. Safety is the main priority, and if we are not safe, our nervous system is not safe to relax …
10 Ways the FAWN Response Might Show up in Relationships
The Fawn response can be exhausting. We can use up a lot of energy trying to stay connected to feel safe in the relationship. Sometimes to our detriment. It can be challenging to get enough objectivity to make a rational …