Home
Categories
EXPLORE
True Crime
Comedy
Business
Society & Culture
History
Sports
Health & Fitness
About Us
Contact Us
Copyright
© 2024 PodJoint
00:00 / 00:00
Sign in

or

Don't have an account?
Sign up
Forgot password
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/ce/d2/62/ced26229-552b-307d-2d31-36b8523959c0/mza_1105362727774832551.jpg/600x600bb.jpg
Mastering Midlife with Heidi
Heidi Gustafson
76 episodes
5 days ago
Ever feel guilty for needing a little breathing room, saying no, or wanting something just for you? You’re not alone — and it’s not because you’re selfish. It’s because you were trained to feel that way. In this episode, we’ll bust the lie that being a “good woman” means being self-less, and uncover what it actually means to take care of yourself without apology. You’ll learn: The hidden conditioning that made you equate self-care with selfishness — and how to break it.Why guilt flares up the...
Show more...
Self-Improvement
Personal Journals,
Education,
Society & Culture,
Relationships
RSS
All content for Mastering Midlife with Heidi is the property of Heidi Gustafson and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Ever feel guilty for needing a little breathing room, saying no, or wanting something just for you? You’re not alone — and it’s not because you’re selfish. It’s because you were trained to feel that way. In this episode, we’ll bust the lie that being a “good woman” means being self-less, and uncover what it actually means to take care of yourself without apology. You’ll learn: The hidden conditioning that made you equate self-care with selfishness — and how to break it.Why guilt flares up the...
Show more...
Self-Improvement
Personal Journals,
Education,
Society & Culture,
Relationships
Episodes (20/76)
Mastering Midlife with Heidi
75. The Guilt Detox: How to Stop Feeling Selfish for Putting Yourself First
Ever feel guilty for needing a little breathing room, saying no, or wanting something just for you? You’re not alone — and it’s not because you’re selfish. It’s because you were trained to feel that way. In this episode, we’ll bust the lie that being a “good woman” means being self-less, and uncover what it actually means to take care of yourself without apology. You’ll learn: The hidden conditioning that made you equate self-care with selfishness — and how to break it.Why guilt flares up the...
Show more...
5 days ago
17 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
74. 5 Hard Truths About Being the ‘Nice One’ — and Why People Pleasing Pushes Others Away
What if your “niceness” is actually pushing people away? In this powerful episode, I unpack a viral Reddit post where one woman asked, “Please just help me understand why people pleasers are disliked.” The 29 pages of raw, honest responses revealed painful truths about what people-pleasing really looks like from the outside — and why it keeps us stuck in guilt, exhaustion, and disconnection. I break down five hard truths about people-pleasing — how it can come across as fake, create weak boun...
Show more...
2 weeks ago
17 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
73. Tired of Feeling Drained After Every Conversation? 3 Ways to Protect Your Peace from Toxic People
Do you walk away from certain people feeling small, anxious, or wondering what you did wrong? That’s not an accident — it’s the effect of toxic energy slowly eroding your peace and confidence. Here’s the truth: you don’t feel horrible because you messed up. You feel horrible because their behavior crosses boundaries - boundaries you were never taught to create and hold - and and it chips away at your self esteem. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why toxic people twist your “no” into g...
Show more...
1 month ago
15 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
72. Afraid of Seeming Selfish? The Dark Side of People Pleasing: How to Stop
Do you bend over backwards to avoid being called selfish? For people pleasers, that word feels like the worst insult of all — and it’s exactly why so many of us swallow our truth, say yes when we mean no, and lose ourselves in the process. But here’s the dark truth: the very behaviors we think make us “nice” are actually manipulative — and they’re keeping us stuck. In this episode, I share: The hidden ways people pleasers morph and control situations without realizing itWhy constant apologizi...
Show more...
1 month ago
16 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
71. Keep Saying Yes When You Mean No? 5 Steps to Finally Set Boundaries Without Guilt.
Do you feel guilty, selfish, or even wrong every time you try to set a boundary? You’re not alone. For so many women, people pleasing has been conditioned into us since childhood — and breaking free from it is the only way to protect your time, energy, and peace. In this episode, I’ll share why saying no feels so hard, how people pleasing is NOT who you are (it’s just a habit), and the five steps that helped me finally set boundaries without guilt. Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen: Th...
Show more...
2 months ago
21 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
70. Exhausted From Always Feeling ‘Not Good Enough’? Retrain Your Inner Critic with 2 Simple Steps
Are you your own worst enemy, bullying yourself with negative self talk? Do you feel overly self-critical despite being nice to everyone else? If your inner voice is filled with negative thoughts, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle of feeling “not good enough.” In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your inner critic is so harsh (and why it’s not your fault)A simple technique to calm negative thoughts in just minutes a dayHow to retrain your inner voice with 2 easy s...
Show more...
2 months ago
19 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
69. Don't Trust Your Gut? Why People Pleasers Struggle to Say “I Changed My Mind” | How to Start Speaking Up for Yourself
Ever said 'yes' to something and then felt guilty when you needed or wanted to change your mind -- even when it no longer felt right? This exact thing happened to me recently. In this episode, I share why people pleasers (even recovering ones like me) struggle to change our mind and say no when we already said yes, how pushing people manipulate your guilt, and why changing your mind and trusting your gut is so important for your inner peace and self respect. If you’ve ever stayed in a situati...
Show more...
2 months ago
12 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
68. Tired of Pretending & Perfecting Just to Be Liked? 2 Steps to Stop People Pleasing & Be Yourself
Are you afraid that if people saw the real you, they’d walk away? If you’ve ever felt like you had to wear a mask just to be accepted, this episode is for you. I spent over 50 years shape-shifting into who I thought others needed me to be—just to avoid rejection. But all that time, I was quietly rejecting myself. In this episode, I share the two powerful shifts that helped me finally drop the mask, stop people-pleasing, and start living as the real me—without apology. We’ll talk about: the hi...
Show more...
3 months ago
17 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
67. People Pleasing: How to Break Free Without Guilt; 20 Things I Refuse to Feel Guilty About in Midlife
Are you constantly feeling guilty for saying no, putting yourself first, or just needing a break? I used to feel that way too. Guilt whispered that I was selfish, lazy, or letting people down. So I kept over-giving, over-doing, and over-apologizing… until I finally said "enough." I faced decades of saying yes when I meant no, repressing my own needs, and living under the weight of other people’s expectations. In this episode, I’m diving into the 20 things I finally stopped feeling guilty abou...
Show more...
3 months ago
23 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
66. Are You Subtly Trying to Prove You’re Good Enough? 15 People-Pleasing Behaviors Keeping You Stuck in Guilt & Self Doubt
Are you the one always trying? Always giving? Does your inner voice whisper, "No matter what - it's never enough!" So you try harder and give more. You may think you're just being helpful, easygoing, or kind—but underneath it all, you might be working overtime to prove you're good enough. In this episode, I’ll walk you through 15 people-pleasing behaviors that are secretly fueled by fear, guilt, and the deep need to be seen as “good.” Learn why these habits lead to burnout, resentment,...
Show more...
4 months ago
15 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
65. People Pleasing Is a Trap and ‘Sorry’ Is the Bait; What to Say Instead of Apologizing
What if saying “sorry” isn’t kindness — but self-doubt in disguise? And what if the key to less doubt and more respect is simply choosing a new way to speak? In this episode, I'm showing you why "sorry" isn't creating the connection you think it is—and why it's actually making things worse. Here's what you'll learn: Why apologizing when you've done nothing wrong destroys your confidenceHow saying "sorry" is a trap to avoid feeling guiltyWhy over-apologizing pushes people away instead of...
Show more...
4 months ago
20 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
64. Why You Feel Invisible When You’re Always the Helper, Fixer, or Peacekeeper; This Disconnects You From Your Value
Do you show up one way with others, but feel completely different inside, maybe even the polar opposite of what others see in you? In this episode, I’m revealing what causes us to be this way and how this disconnection leaves us feeling small and invisible. Listen to hear: how the pain of always being what others needed (the helper, the dependable one, the peacekeeper, the “good” girl) disconnects us from ourselves,why it feels safer to be what others want, andhow learning to put other peopl...
Show more...
5 months ago
16 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
63. Love Isn’t Earned & Neither Is Your Worth or Value: How People Pleasers Mistake Approval for Love
Do you say yes when you REALLY wanna say no — just to avoid disappointing someone? Or say no, but then immediately feel guilty? Yeah… the guilt? It’s not about that moment — it’s about a deeper belief you probably don't realize you’re carrying. In this episode, we’re unpacking why so many women end up chasing approval without realizing it… and how that need to be liked or seen as “good” keeps us stuck in people-pleasing patterns that feel like love, but aren’t. We’ll cover: Why disappoi...
Show more...
5 months ago
14 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
62. Why People Pleasers Overshare; Regain Your Inner Peace & Power in 4 Steps
Do you ever walk away from a conversation thinking, “Why did I say all that?” You’re not alone — and there’s nothing wrong with you. Oversharing is a sneaky people-pleasing habit that feels like connection… but usually leaves us feeling exposed, regretful, or misunderstood. I'm breaking down why we do it — and how to quit this habit to take back your peace and power. In this episode you’ll learn: 5 hidden reasons people pleasers overshare (and none of them mean you’re broken)How your urge to...
Show more...
6 months ago
15 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
61. The Price of Being Nice: 5 Hidden Dangers of People Pleasing
Have you spent your life being "nice" and putting others first, even at the cost of your own happiness and peace of mind? If the answer is yes, it's time to rethink your approach. Tune in to discover how embracing kindness over niceness can rejuvenate your life. In this episode, you’ll learn: The hidden dangers of being too nice and how it can lead to unhealthy relationships and personal dissatisfactionThe difference between being nice and being kind, and how this distinction can transform yo...
Show more...
6 months ago
18 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
60. Tired of Feeling Responsible for Everyone Else’s Happiness? 15 Habits to Stop
If you're someone who bends over backwards to keep the peace, this episode is for you! Tune in to learn how you can stop carrying the emotional weight of everyone else and start breathing more freely in your own life. In this episode, you’ll learn: How fear of disappointment can lead us to compromise our own needs and well-beingThe 15 specific behaviors to stop that can help break the cycle of people pleasingSteps to take in order to reclaim your voice and become the author of your own life, ...
Show more...
7 months ago
22 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
59. 7 Hard Truths About Self Worth and Acceptance I Wish I'd Learned Sooner
Are you trapped in the cycle of people-pleasing and losing sight of who you truly are? It took me over four decades to break free, and this episode is here to guide you on the journey of self-worth and acceptance. Join me as I reveal seven transformative lessons that helped me let go of the exhausting need to be everything to everyone. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why letting go of what others think can liberate you and allow you to live more authenticallyHow suppressing emotions can lead t...
Show more...
7 months ago
13 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
58. Why Speaking Up For Yourself Feels Hard; Gain Confidence With 10 Vital Steps
Have you ever left a conversation wishing you'd spoken up? Or found yourself over-explaining and then feeling guilty afterward? If the fear of expressing yourself has left you silent or overwhelmed, you're not alone, I've been there too. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to differentiate between wanting to be right and wanting to be heard in your interactions.Why speaking up is a learnable skill and how you can start building this muscle gradually.Powerful go-to phrases you can use immediate...
Show more...
8 months ago
20 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
57. How to Gain Confidence, Self Respect, and Acceptance: 10 Steps to Break Free of People Pleasing
What really happens when you stop people pleasing? Speaking up and setting boundaries are powerful steps, and they can also bring unexpected challenges. In this episode, you'll learn: The ten key steps to break free from people pleasing and how each can empower you in living more authentically.The initial discomfort and pushback you might face as you begin to speak up and prioritize your own needs.Why letting go of one-sided relationships can be both painful and liberating, ultimately making ...
Show more...
8 months ago
23 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
56. What Would I Tell My Younger Self? Is This People Pleasing? How Do I Handle Resentment? Your Questions Answered
Breaking free from people pleasing can feel overwhelming, especially when you're not sure what to expect or how to handle the discomfort that comes with this huge change. Today, I'm answering some questions that have come through comments on my new YouTube channel (Mastering Midlife with Heidi). In this episode, you'll learn: How to identify and break free from people-pleasing patterns that may be holding you backThe impact of resentment and how to navigate it when others do not change their ...
Show more...
9 months ago
15 minutes

Mastering Midlife with Heidi
Ever feel guilty for needing a little breathing room, saying no, or wanting something just for you? You’re not alone — and it’s not because you’re selfish. It’s because you were trained to feel that way. In this episode, we’ll bust the lie that being a “good woman” means being self-less, and uncover what it actually means to take care of yourself without apology. You’ll learn: The hidden conditioning that made you equate self-care with selfishness — and how to break it.Why guilt flares up the...