In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we explore what it means to choose yourself when life keeps pulling you in every direction. Through the story of Michelle - a woman who spent years doing everything for everyone - we see what happens when caring turns into exhaustion. Michelle worked, cleaned, cooked, helped, and kept going until there was nothing left of her own energy. Her story is familiar because many of us live the same way. We say yes when we're tired. We feel guilty when we rest. We forget that we're allowed to stop. This episode looks at why that guilt appears, how to move through it, and what it takes to make small, steady changes that bring peace back into your day. I also share my own moment of realising I was the one keeping myself exhausted, and what shifted when I stopped. You don't need to fix everything at once.  You just need one small moment where you matter too.

Have you ever felt like you’re constantly walking on eggshells, afraid to say anything that might upset someone?  In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we’re going to dive into why we learn to do this and what it really costs us. We’ll explore how to break free from this pattern and reclaim the freedom to be ourselves again. You’ll learn some really cool stuff, like why “keeping the peace” often starts in childhood and how it can stay stuck in our bodies. We’ll also talk about the hidden cost of self-silencing and people-pleasing, and how to gently reclaim space in your voice, breath, and body. And here’s the best part: we’ll share some simple ways to start speaking small truths, safely and honestly. Plus, there’s a grounding practice that’ll help you expand rather than stay small.

Overthinking doesn’t help you feel safer, it keeps you stuck in fear. You try to think through every possible outcome, hoping that’ll stop something bad from happening, but you just get more anxious and much less present. In this episode, we talk about how to spot when you’re caught in the “what if” loop, why it happens, and how you can stop the downward spiral. You’ll learn a simple grounding tool to bring your attention back to the present, where your real choices are. Inside this episode: What overthinking is really doing to your nervous system Why your brain thinks spiralling helps (and how to interrupt it) A story about fear, hesitation, and a message never sent The hidden cost of over-preparing for pain that hasn’t happened A grounding practice to bring you back to what’s real

When you speak from the heart and someone still blows up, goes quiet, or walks away upset, it’s easy to feel guilty, like you did something wrong. But you can’t control how other people respond. You can only control how you show up. In this episode, we talk about why taking on other people’s reactions drains your energy and how to start letting that go. You’ll learn how to notice when you’re carrying emotions that aren’t yours, and how to come back to peace by standing in your own truth. Inside this episode: Why we take responsibility for other people’s emotions How early patterns of “keeping the peace” follow us into adulthood A story that shows what happens when you stop holding someone else’s script The cost of managing everyone’s reactions A simple 3-Part Check-In to help you stay grounded in your truth

When someone criticises you, it’s easy to feel small, doubtful, or even ashamed. But you can’t control their reactions, you can only choose how you show up. In this episode, we talk about how to stop hanging onto other people’s opinions, so you can protect your energy and keep your sense of peace. You’ll learn a simple way to let go of words that don’t belong to you and step back into your own story. Inside this episode: Why criticism feels so personal (and why it often isn’t about you) A way that helps you see whose script you’re following How to notice judgment without taking it in as truth A simple “Not Mine” practice to let go of what isn’t yours

When life feels out of control, our first instinct is often to fix, solve, or react. But what if your real power is in taking a step back and pausing? In this episode, we talk about how to stay grounded when everything feels too much. You'll learn a simple way to centre yourself, so you can respond with calm instead. It’s not about getting things perfect, it’s about learning to trust yourself, one step at a time. Inside this episode: Why reacting fast isn’t failure, it’s actually protection A calming practice you can use anytime, anywhere How trust builds when you stay present with yourself A new way to see “being steady” when things get stressful

Your value doesn't change just because someone else couldn't see it. In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we’re talking about the pain of rejection, silence, and feeling "not enough." If you've ever looked to someone else for proof of your worth, this one's for you. Including: Why we confuse someone else’s opinion with our value The funhouse mirror metaphor and why it matters The "I messed up" trap, and how to find your footing again How to reclaim your reflection A 3-part practice to help you anchor your worth You don’t need someone else’s approval to know who you are. You just need a clearer mirror.

You don’t need all the answers before you take a step forward. In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we explore what real confidence looks like when life feels uncertain. Including: Why waiting for certainty keeps us stuck How confidence grows through action, not control A simple metaphor for moving forward with “just enough light” A real-life story of finding clarity through small steps A 24-hour practice to help you take action now Confidence isn’t about being fearless. It’s about trusting yourself enough to begin.

Have you ever kept quiet to avoid upsetting someone… but felt worse afterwards? In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we talk about how to say what you really feel, without blame, without anger. Just in a way that feels authentically aligned. You’ll learn: Why speaking up can feel scary A better way to share how you feel (even if it’s hard) Simple phrases you can try out loud A short exercise to practise using your voice Why real connection starts with truth This episode is for anyone who’s ready to stop biting their tongue and holding it in.

Have you ever held back from sharing your feelings or ideas, just to avoid being rejected? Most people do.  Fear of rejection is one of the most common emotional blocks, and it often forms early in life from our first experience of feeling unsafe being ourselves. In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we talk about: Why this fear shows up (and what it's really trying to protect) A simple way to help you see rejection differently A calming, practical tool you can use this week A journaling prompt to help you notice where you're holding back This isn’t about “pushing through.” It’s about calling it out, being more compassionate with yourself, and learning to show up without shame.

Healing is already challenging enough, and the last thing you need is an inner critic making the process even harder. In this episode, we explore how self-compassion transforms healing from punishment into a partnership. You’ll learn: Why being hard on yourself slows your healing. What self-compassion really means (and what it’s not). How to spot your inner critic’s voice. How to use “The Friend Test” to shift how you speak to yourself. A short exercise to build compassion into your daily life. Whether you’ve been stuck in self-criticism or just want your healing journey to be easier, this episode will help.

What if your brain doesn’t know the difference between something real and something imagined? Turns out, it often doesn’t.  Which means we can train our emotional responses, not just by living through different situations, but by IMAGINING them. This episode is about that.  I’ll walk you through a short, gentle practice I’ve been using myself.  Three minutes.  No complicated explanations.  Just a way to start rewiring old emotional habits. If you’ve been feeling reactive, stuck, or just tired of repeating the same patterns, this might be a helpful way in.

Ever feel like someone’s just... safe to be around? You don’t have to pretend.You don’t have to explain. You just ARE. That feeling doesn’t come from saying all the right things. It comes from emotional safety, and in this episode, we’re exploring how to offer it. You’ll hear: Why safety, not strategy, is what opens people up How presence creates trust What unknowingly shuts people down The small changes that make a big emotional difference A simple reflection and a weekly practice to try Because real connection doesn’t need to be in-your-face, fast or clever. It just needs to feel safe.

Ever found yourself snapping at your child, then feeling guilty moments later? It’s happened to us all at some point, and you’re not a bad parent. Often, it’s not the shoes, the mess, or the bedtime routine, it’s the fear underneath. Fear of losing control, fear of failing, fear of not being enough. In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we explore how to move from fear to peace in your parenting - not by being perfect, but by learning to pause, anchor and reconnect with yourself. You’ll hear: Why fear often drives your reactions (and how to recognise it) How peace isn’t passive, it’s actually deeply powerful A simple grounding practice to help you reset in the moment Why ‘repair’ is just as important as calm Because peaceful parenting isn’t about getting it right every time. It’s about coming back, with love, presence... instead of fear.

Have you ever felt like you're doing the work… but still not moving fast enough? In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we explore why healing is rarely linear, and often takes longer than our expectations. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re still triggered, still tired, or still waiting to feel “done,” this conversation is for you. Inside this episode: Why healing is more spiral than straight line What it means to honour your own internal pace How growth can happen underground, even when nothing looks different A gentle practice to reconnect with your body’s timing Because sometimes the most healing thing you can do... is slow down.

Have you ever noticed that the harder you try to fix something, the more strained it becomes? You send the message.You show up.You try harder.
 But nothing changes, and sometimes it even gets worse. In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we explore why the energy behind your actions matters just as much as the actions themselves.  You’ll learn how to shift from urgency and fear into calm, grounded presence, and why that one shift can be the catalyst for major change. Inside, you’ll hear: What happens when care becomes control Why your nervous system speaks louder than your words A story about bathroom cleaning that might surprise you A practical reflection tool to shift your energy, even when nothing outside has changed Because sometimes healing doesn’t start with doing more...
 It starts with BEING differently.

Conflict and disconnection are often seen as signs that something’s broken. But what if they’re invitations? In this episode, we explore how your perspective on challenging moments can influence how you navigate them and why shifting your perspective is one of the most powerful tools for healing. Learn how to move from frustration to curiosity
 Discover the 3 key perspective shifts that change everything 
Try a simple, daily journaling practice that builds compassion and insight If you’ve ever felt stuck in emotional cycles or like you’re having the same painful conversations again and again, this episode will help you see things through new eyes.

You’ve noticed the old patterns.
 You’ve questioned the beliefs you never chose.
 Now comes the most powerful step of all...
 CHOOSING what you WANT to believe instead. In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we talk about how to begin writing a new emotional story.
 Not a perfect story all in one go. 
Just starting, with curiosity and intention. You’ll learn: Why it’s hard to let go of the things that feel familiar, even when it hurts The power of trying on a new story, one sentence at a time A real-life example of what rewriting actually looks like A simple practice to help you shift from an old belief to your new truth Because healing isn’t just about what you leave behind.
 It’s about what you choose to step into.

Have you ever stopped to ask, Where did I even learn to think this way about myself? The stories we carry, about worth, love, safety, success, they didn’t come out of nowhere.
 They were passed down. Shaped. Absorbed.
 From family. From culture. From moments you didn’t even realise were shaping you. In this episode of The Healing Paradox, we explore how those stories got written 
and why simply recognising where they came from can be the beginning of writing something new. Because not everything you’ve been taught needs to be kept.
 And not everything you’ve carried belongs to you.

When something feels broken, painful, or stuck, most of us react. We try to fix it, manage it, or escape it. But what if the most powerful shift begins with one honest question: What do I actually want? In this episode, we explore why clarity is essential to healing, not so you can control everything, but so you can move with intention. You’ll learn: Why most of us struggle to name what we truly want The difference between reacting to pain and creating from desire A simple, practical way to uncover your healing vision If you’ve been spinning in cycles of “what’s wrong,” maybe it’s time to reconnect with what’s possible.