You can’t build a healthy relationship by trying to fix someone.
In this episode, Tina Shayani breaks down why caring, capable people keep falling for “projects” — and how to finally stop confusing potential with partnership.

In This Episode:

• Why smart, loving people get trapped in “project relationships.”

• How movies and fairy tales taught us to confuse love with saving.

• The difference between inspiration and rescue.

• What “dating a promise instead of a person” looks like.

• Two real stories (Sarah & Eliana) and what finally helped them stop repeating the same pattern.

Key Takeaways:

1. You can’t heal someone through love — they have to want to change.

2. If it’s inconsistent now, it won’t magically fix itself later.

3. You’re not in love with them — you’re in love with their potential.

4. A promise can’t love you back.

5. Real love is partnership, not a project.

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: Building Love That Lasts
00:36 – The “Fixer-Upper” Relationship Pattern
02:45 – Why We Fall for Projects
07:10 – The Danger of Falling for Potential
11:15 – Sarah’s Story: Loving from Survival, Not Wholeness
17:10 – Eliana’s Story: Chemistry vs. Anxiety
21:15 – The Wake-Up Moment: Awareness Is Power
23:40 – The Shift from Fantasy to Reality
27:00 – How to Stop Choosing Fixer-Uppers

Connect with Tina:
Instagram → @JourneyToLastingLove
Facebook → TShay Coaching
DM the word CYCLE to get your free guide: Breaking the Cycle