Marriage Therapy Radio

Ep 365 The Superpowers That Protect Us… And Hold Us Back

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Zach and Annie continue their deep dive into the complexities of relationships, trauma, and identity. After their last conversation, Annie had some lingering thoughts—so they reconvene to expand on the "divine setup" in marriage, the role of trauma in shaping our sense of self, and the ways we either grow or get stuck in our relational patterns.


Annie shares powerful insights on why we choose the partners we do, explaining that we often marry someone who fills a need or answers a question we have at that time in our life. But what happens when that need is met, or the question shifts? Zach brings in his own experiences and observations from working with couples, exploring how marriage evolves not just once, but over and over again.


They also tackle the difference between trauma and complex trauma, the ways we develop "superpowers" to protect ourselves, and the challenge of learning to let our partners be good for us when we've been wired to expect the opposite. Whether you’re interested in why your marriage looks the way it does, how past experiences shape present relationships, or how to create a new map for your future, this episode is full of thought-provoking and deeply personal wisdom.


Key Takeaways

The "Divine Setup" in Marriage

  • We often choose partners who offer us something we were missing—whether it’s adventure, security, or stability.


Trauma vs. Complex Trauma

  • Trauma is often a single event with a clear "before and after."
  • Complex trauma is long-term, shaping how we see ourselves and how safe we feel expressing our true identity.
  • Annie explains that marriage can provide a corrective experience, but only if we recognize our ingrained patterns and choose to challenge them.


    • The "Superpowers" That Protect Us—And Hold Us Back

    • Many of our best traits are actually survival strategies we developed to stay safe in childhood.
    • Zach and Annie discuss how intuition, flexibility, and people-pleasing can be strengths—but also barriers to real connection.
    • The work in marriage (and therapy) is to identify what we’re protecting—and learn how to let our full selves be seen.


      • Learning to Let Your Partner Be Good to You

      • If someone has grown up in an unsafe environment, trusting a good partner can feel terrifying.
      • Annie shares how she spent years interpreting Matt’s kindness as a trick, until she consciously changed the way she listened to him.


        • Expanding the Map: How We Create a New Reality

        • Our early relationships give us a "map" of how to do life—but that map can be outdated.
        • Zach introduces a thought experiment: Can we imagine a different future for ourselves?
        • If we can visualize a world where we are loved, safe, and free, we can start making choices that align with that future.



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