Are you worried about Thanksgiving dinner conversations with family members who voted differently than you? In this week's episode, we listen to a conversation with Suzanne, who is trying to navigate issues of duty and connection with family members who don't share her values.

We discuss:

• 1:39 How do I explain to my family that I can't talk to them?
• 4:55 Working with the concept of duty
• 9:48 Developing boundaries around our relational terms of engagement
• 15:32 What needs are met when I reach out?
• 18:19 The difference between the public self and the private self/fitting in vs. belonging
• 27:15 What makes taking the next step in personal growth easier
• 31:14 Closing thoughts

This episode features discussion of my online course How to Have Hard Conversations. If you're looking for resources regarding how to connect when the divide is large, check it out!

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Thank you for tuning in. Remember to subscribe so you get notified when I publish an episode weekly.

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Become a member of my online learning community
• Winter 2025 Retreat: Getting Grounded in Your Goodness
• Join our calls live
• Set up a private session
• Follow me on TikTok @dr.yvetteerasmus

This week's podcast features one of my favorite discussions: Boundaries. It can be hard to set boundaries with life-long friends, and this week's discussion explores the complications concerning caring for ourselves, and helping others.

In this episode we explore:

• 1:00 Looking for an in-person opportunity to work with me? Consider attending my retreat!
• 4:01 A follow up conversation - "I had that hard conversation with my friend..."
• 8:59 What needs of yours did you meet by changing your plan?
• 10:57 A part of me wants to make her "wrong"
• 16:13 We can't do the hard work of waking up for someone else.
• 22:42 A script for disconnecting non-violently
• 26:58 The practice of somatic healing
• 29:00 The polarity between self-improvement and self-acceptance
• 31:55 Closing thoughts: including 8 Practical Insights for Setting Boundaries.

If you're looking for an in-person opportunity to ground yourself in your own goodness, read all about my March 2025 retreat to Santa Fe.

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Thank you for tuning in. Remember to subscribe so you get notified when I publish an episode weekly.

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Become a member of my online learning community
• Winter 2025 Retreat: Getting Grounded in Your Goodness
• Join our calls live
• Set up a private session
• Follow me on TikTok @dr.yvetteerasmus

When they're good, our friendships can greatly contribute to the overall quality of our life. When they're hard, our friendships can make life really difficult.

On this episode of Conversations from the Heart, we talk about all kinds of issues regarding friendships.

We discuss:

• 1:01 How do I take a break from a friendship?
• 8:10 How to acknowledge a truth instead of debate it.
• 14:46 Is it worth it to try and reveal myself to a friend or should I just cut ties?
• 19:55 How to be vulnerable with those who deserve to hear it.
• 21:23 How denying ourselves a whole hearted yes or a whole hearted no hurts us.
• 24:47 The difference between a peer and a project.
• 28:19 How do I allow myself permission to change my mind?
• 29:26 Allowing people to solve their own problems is an act of respect.
• 34:07 The only people who object to us looking after ourselves are the people who benefit when we don't.
• 35:40 How can I approach a friend about the past?
• 41:25 I can always tell the truth, but can I field the response?
• 44:42 What prevents us from feeling empathy?
• 50:16 Help me decline an invitation!

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Thank you for tuning in. Remember to subscribe so you get notified when I publish an episode weekly.

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Become a member of my online learning community
• Winter 2025 Retreat: Getting Grounded in Your Goodness
• Join our calls live
• Set up a private session
• Follow me on TikTok @dr.yvetteerasmus