November 19, 2025

24. People Pleasing & Approval Addiction (PT 2): Set Healthy Boundaries Without Guilt

17 minutes

Do you feel guilty when you say “no”? Do you carry the weight of everyone’s emotions, feeling responsible for their peace but never your own?

In this episode of the Day One of Sobriety Podcast, we continue our deep dive into People-Pleasing & Approval Addiction. You’ll learn why setting boundaries isn’t selfish — it’s biblical and brain-based. We’ll unpack how boundaries retrain your brain for peace, why guilt shows up when you start saying “no,” and how to heal codependent patterns that go beyond people-pleasing.

🔑 Key Episode Insights

Why healthy boundaries are not walls but guardrails that protect peace.

What happens in the brain when you start saying no — and why your nervous system feels discomfort before calm.

The difference between people-pleasing and codependency — and why the latter requires deeper emotional and relational healing.

How boundary-setting strengthens the prefrontal cortex–amygdala connection, helping you replace crisis reactions with calm choices.

Why Jesus modeled boundaries — and how His example shows that “no” can be holy.

How guarding your heart and peace aligns with God’s design and rewires your mind for freedom.

🧠 Why This Matters

If people-pleasing steals your peace, codependency steals your identity. Both are rooted in fear — fear of rejection, fear of disapproval, or fear of being alone.

Neuroscience shows that when you renew your mind and consistently practice new boundary patterns, your brain rewires itself. Spiritually, boundaries are acts of stewardship. They protect the purpose God placed within you.

Freedom starts when you stop confusing love with rescue and start walking in truth and trust instead.

📖 Key Scriptures from This Episode

Mark 1:35–38 — Even Jesus didn’t meet every expectation. He modeled spiritual boundaries by stepping away to reconnect with His Father. Boundaries help us stay aligned with purpose instead of pressure.

Galatians 6:5 — Boundaries define what belongs to us and what doesn’t. You are responsible for your peace, your growth, and your obedience to God — not for carrying someone else’s emotions or responsibilities.

Proverbs 4:23 — Guarding your heart isn’t selfish — it’s stewardship. Protecting your peace ensures that what flows from you remains healthy, holy, and aligned with God’s will.

Psalm 16:6 — God sees boundaries as blessings. When we honor them, we discover that peace, purpose, and contentment fall within the lines He’s lovingly drawn for us.

🔗 Related Episodes & Links Mentioned

🎧 Listen to: EP23 — People-Pleasing & Approval Addiction: Break Free by Renewing Your Mind

📄 Download the free Codependency Healing Research Summary — a one-page guide to understanding deeper healing from codependency.

💖 Free 14-Day Devotional: Break Free from People-Pleasing — available inside the Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community or delivered to your inbox when you become a Day One of Sobriety Insider.

👣 Your Next Steps

Become a Day One of Sobriety Insider — receive podcast devotionals, reflection tools, and weekly mind renewal resources straight to your inbox.📍 Join Here

Connect in Community — engage with other Overcomers inside our Mind Renewal Solutions Made Simple Facebook Community. Healing is always stronger in community.

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📩 Connect with Me

📧 Email: [email protected]

🎙 Podcast: Day One of Sobriety Podcast

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⚠️ Disclaimer

The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or licensed therapist for all medical or mental health advice.

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By Brenda Kennison - Mind Renewal, Recovery & Spiritual Coach

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