12 Week Relationships Podcast

Ever feel like a friend is taking advantage of your good intentions? The truth is, they might be using you to get something that they want.

People who use other people might present themselves as friends, but in reality, that's only a disguise for their manipulative tactics. This is tricky to catch, especially if you're naturally empathetic and helpful, but Pye and Dr. Glen have 5 signs that if you notice these in your relationships, it might be time to start setting boundaries.

Our body language says more than we often realize. This is important, especially on a first date, where we might get a little too fixated on leaving a good impression to realize that our body language may actually be putting off the other person.

And the importance of body language doesn't stop at first impressions. They affect our closest relationships and how we express interest and regard. Understanding the role our body language plays in the way we communicate is critical for any relationship and Pye and Dr. Glen are here to share a few tips on how we can be more aware of our own body language and the messages we may really be sending.

Dealing with self doubt is actually a normal feeling. Questioning our own accomplishments is usually a healthy indication of our own humility.

However, in severe cases, this doubt can get in the way of our ability to make decisions and pursue ideas. If you find yourself in this situation, it's a good idea to step back and see if there's an unresolved trauma that's causing these biased beliefs.

Ultimately, these feelings are hardly a reflection of reality and if we approach it with a rational perspective, we often find out over time that we were indeed, good enough.

Everyone is going to have their own opinions, and you might not agree with all of them. However, these days, it feels as though we can't even agree to disagree. The ability have conversations despite disagreements is critical if we want to grow, learn, and develop ideas.

Pye and Dr. Glen discuss the importance of avoiding absolutes and not taking the opinions of others personally. It's good to know how to deescalate, because nobody's convincing anyone when a disagreement gets heated.

Having controlling parents while growing up can be damaging. This often leads to feelings of guilt and shame well into adulthood. It's a trauma that can be hard to resolve, especially if the parents continue to impose even after you've moved out.

Breaking free from your parents can be especially hard because, well, they're your parents and they have their own traumas that are causing their controlling behavior. Being aware of your parents' traumas as well as your own can help you establish strict boundaries and limit their influence to begin leading your own independent life and healing your relationship with them.
In this episode, Pye and Dr. Glen discuss how to break free from a controlling parent's influence and lead independent lives free of the guilt and shame associated with a controlling and manipulative figure.

A successful relationship requires a counter balanced effort. This means each partner should be putting in equal amounts of effort. However, if it feels like you're the one always making the plans, shouldering the responsibilities, or not having a chance to be heard, it might be time to set proper boundaries and expectations or address a deeper wound that might be the cause of this imbalanced relationship.
In this episode, Pye and Dr. Glen discuss the trauma that can lead us to pursue or stay in one-sided relationships, what to do if we find ourselves putting in more effort, and how to set boundaries and proper expectations in future relationships.

People convey and desire affection in many ways and it's different for everybody. However, these differences can cause one or both partners to feel unloved and distant, even if that's not the intention. Honest communication and mutual effort is key to resolving these conflicts, and if not, it may indicate deeper differences in personal values.

In this particular scenario from one of our community questions, Pye and Dr. Glen provide advice for a long distance relationship, where the feelings of distance and dissatisfaction is exacerbated by the limited means of communication.

Unresolved trauma leaves an unfulfilled wound and we'll often seek out relationships that fill that wound. If that trauma is deep enough, it'll override our true core values and lead us into toxic, co-dependent relationships. This dependence is highly unhealthy and never actually satisfies what we're missing. It's simply a band-aid remedy.

The key to breaking the pattern is to identify and address the core trauma that's guiding our unhealthy relationship decisions. Until we do, it's likely we'll only continue to chase similar relationships.

If you're dreading an upcoming family gathering during the holidays, you're not alone. Large family gatherings are hotspots for drama and can sour what should be a great holiday experience.

For those who couldn't find an excuse in time to get out of going, Pye and Dr. Glen have some useful tips for staying out the line of fire and avoiding getting dragged into a pointless confrontation.

Stay healthy and stay strong!
Christmas is around the corner and for those anticipating another rowdy family gathering, Pye and Dr. Glen discuss some tips for dealing with your nosy aunts and uncles and not getting sucked into any egregious exchanges of expletives that may arise.

Not a single professional has been able to answer the question "What does a healthy relationship look like?" We're talking dozens of doctors, experts, coaches, leaders, those who we usually go to when we need relationship advice.

As a result, Pye and Dr. Glen decided to take it upon themselves to find that answer. Through years of research and case-studies, they simplified the complex subject of relationships into the core components of a what makes a relationship successful. On top of that, they've turned it into an easy and actionable framework to start improving your own relationships immediately.

So what exactly does a healthy relationship look like?
Christmas is around the corner and for those anticipating another rowdy family gathering, Pye and Dr. Glen discuss some tips for dealing with your nosy aunts and uncles and not getting sucked into any egregious exchanges of expletives that may arise.