Ever since she felt a sense of urgency to find truth in the world at a very young age, Cathy Courtenay has lived a path of personal and spiritual growth. Inspired by this calling of truth, she studied Body-Mind Centering in her early twenties and later became interested in the potential of re-patterning and perceptual shifts, applying them into her bodywork practice. She took her pursuit of truth further by closely studying the Art of Circling with its founder, Guy Sengstock.

Cathy brings heart to everything that she does, whether it's into bodywork, dancing, leading Circling sessions in Asheville, NC, or maintaining relationships with small and large businesses in the marketing world. Her capacity to be in a wide range of human emotions and experiences, along with her deep listening skills, allows her to create safe spaces that help people be present in difficult moments.

In today's episode, Cathy and I discuss how to handle difficult conversations, whether it's in the office or at home. We explain why people avoid conversations and share tips on how to handle difficult conversations. We emphasize the value of bringing in curiosity and ownership and how they can impact communication. We discuss the reason people argue over text and why couples should avoid it. We also reflect on our personal experiences with having 'the talk' and highlight why it's essential to choose difficult conversations over the comfort of avoiding them.

"We put such a weight on positive emotions but it's important for us to be with whatever it is in the other person." – Cathy Courtenay

This week on Relationships! Let's Talk About It:

• Why people avoid conversations and what happens when they do
• How relating to our partners is similar to building muscles
• The barriers that make conversations difficult
• What should be done before starting a difficult conversation
• The values of self-regulation, empathy, and curiosity in having difficult conversations
• How blaming the other person impacts conversations and relationships
• How speaking in the heat of the moment affects the delivery of a conversation
• The signs of emotional defensiveness
• How to reduce escalations in challenging conversations
• Why couples argue over text and why it should be avoided
• The importance of choosing to have difficult conversations

Resources Mentioned:

• 039 Helping Men Learn to Connect with Women
• 046 Falling in Love

Connect with Cathy Courtenay:

• Cathy Courtenay
• Cathy Courtenay on Facebook
• Cathy Courtenay on LinkedIn

Let's Talk About It!

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Theme music "These Streets" provided by Adi the Monk

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