This week’s question was: "I've come to understand through therapy and the self help community that I'm ultimately responsible for my own feelings/triggers—that only I can truly take care of them. But that can really feel like a heavy and isolating burden. It can even intensify what I'm already feeling, making me more dysregulated, anxious, depressed. Is it really true that I have to carry this responsibility alone? Can others meaningfully help, or even take the lead at times, when I'm struggling?"

Listen to the answer here!

This week's question was: When I'm in conflict, whether with my husband or even close friends, I struggle to tell what's mine to work on and what's theirs. I have a lot of unresolved trauma around betrayal and hurt from my parents. So I can't always tell if I'm being triggered and reacting from old wounds or if the other person is genuinely in the wrong and not showing up for me. How do I know when it's me that needs to heal something and when it's them who needs to do better?

Listen to the answer here!

We enter healing spaces to feel lighter, freer, and more whole—but what happens when healing starts to feel like an endless checklist? In this episode, we explore the fine line between self-discovery and self-punishment, the shame and fear often driving our “healing”, the pressure to constantly be “working on ourselves,” and why true healing isn’t about fixing every part of us—it’s about trusting where we are. If you’ve ever felt exhausted by the chase for a “better” version of yourself, this conversation is for you.

If this is your approach on healing and you are looking to break free from this rigid mindset, join me for Messy—a live Substack workshop happening March 2nd at 2 PM (for paid subscribers). We’re tossing perfectionism out the window and diving into somatic healing in a way that’s fun, a bit chaotic and childlike, and veryyyy freeing. Expect light movement (although everything is an option within this space), play, curiosity, and some beautiful chaos—because real healing isn’t neat, and it definitely isn’t about getting it “right.” I’ll be sending out all the tools and options you might want to gather for the event this Friday. Can’t wait to see you there!

The Inner Voice is a publication for practical healing and untold potential. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free subscriber. To support this dream of mine more financially and get access to the entire Golden Echoes portal, become a paid subscriber today. ❤️

If you have any questions you would like to me to answer via the audio downloads, please comment!! I would loveeee to answer it via these transmissions.

With love and ease,

Cole A.E. Rom

Hello my friends! Here is the tarot reading for December 2024. This reading definitely made a lot of sense for the moment in time we are in. First of all, we got the swords suit for all three cards! The swords represents the mental realm, verbal communications, as well as tension, conflict, bickering, and anxiety.

After an election and a holiday, I could…

Hello my friends! Here is the tarot reading for November 2024. This reading spoke to harvesting past accomplishments in order to both reflect on what does and doesn’t work moving forward and to get used to celebrating all your wins with those who care about you and want to bask in your achievements alongside you. It’s an ideal time to learn what it mean…

In this episode, we dive into the emotional complexity of feeling like a burden to friends and family, exploring how people-pleasing, insecurity, and the fear of being “too much” can trace back to past trauma or subtle social cues we learned growing up.

Often, our upbringing teaches us—whether directly or indirectly—that needing support or asking for help is inconvenient or makes us a burden, and this belief can deeply affect how we show up in relationships. We may find ourselves constantly bending to others' needs, hiding our true feelings, or avoiding asking for help altogether. These behaviors, rooted in a deep-seated fear of rejection or conflict, often come from moments in our childhood when our emotional needs were dismissed or minimized.

We’ll explore how these insecurities form the foundation for people-pleasing tendencies and feelings of unworthiness, impacting our ability to form healthy, reciprocal relationships in adulthood. Most importantly, we’ll discuss how to break free from these limiting beliefs, reclaim your sense of Self, and foster genuine connections where your needs are seen and valued. Through self-awareness and healing, you can let go of the idea that you are “too much” and start building fulfilling relationships based on mutual respect and authenticity.

Have an idea for a podcast episode? Let me know what’s on your mind and heart.

And if you resonated with this podcast episode, I’d love to hear about your experiences regarding feeling like a burden in the comments ❤️

With love and ease,

Cole A.E. Rom

Hello my friends! Here is the reading for October 2024. We got ALL major arcanas, which means BIG lessons are taking place when it comes to your fortitude and capabilities. It’s okay if you doubt yourself or get overwhelmed, but you also need to realize those things as a period of growth. The more you show up for you in all the ways, the more you will o…

As you heal and prioritize your mental health and emotional well-being, you may find that certain people no longer fit into your life—saviors, dependents, complainers, and energy vampires who once thrived on your unhealed self may distance themselves or get upset that you’ve changed. This episode explores why these shifts happen and offers somatic, emotional, and energetic practices to detach from unhealthy relationships while supporting yourself through the process of personal growth and inner healing.

If you like this episode, please review, share, or comment whereever you listen to this podcast!

Hello lovelies! Here is the collective tarot reading for the month of September. After I was done with this reading, I realized it felt so p…

In this episode of The Inner Voice, we explore the ways we've traded our rich cultural traditions and deep connections for the empty promises of the American dream. From abandoning family rituals for convenience to sacrificing time and well-being for material success, we’ve lost touch with what truly matters. Join us as we discuss how to break free from the cycle of consumerism, reconnect with our roots, and build a life of authenticity, meaning, and genuine connection.

Have an idea for the next podcast? Comment below and let me know! I’d also love to hear how this episode landed for you ❤️

With love and ease,

Cole