I’m recording this one from real life. A few years ago I realized someone in my life only called when they needed a favor—and vanished when I needed support. I felt used, drained, and angry. That was my turning point. In this episode we tackle the quiet epidemic of “users”—people who take without giving—and learn how to protect your heart without becoming hard.

You’ll hear:

A personal story that shows how subtle “taking” shows up in close relationships.

The clear signs of a user: one-way favors, emotional manipulation, and a lack of empathy.

Simple, practical boundary scripts you can use the next time someone asks too much.

How to reinvest your time and energy into people who actually uplift you.

Navigation points:

Spot the red flags — journal recent interactions and notice which ones left you depleted.

Use boundary scripts — practice: “I’m sorry, I can’t help with that right now,” or “I value our friendship, but I need space.”

Reinvest in healthy connections — schedule time with three people who actually lift you up.

Quote to close:

“You teach people how to treat you by what you allow, what you stop, and what you reinforce.” — Tony Gaskins

Challenge: Use one of the boundary scripts this week and notice how much freedom it creates. Share your experience with #NavigateWell and let’s normalize protecting our hearts.

SEO Keywords: protect your heart, spot users, set boundaries, boundary scripts, stop people-pleasing, toxic relationships, emotional manipulation, self-care, personal growth podcast, healthy relationships

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Connect with Brooke:

Online | www.brookeplack.com

Email | [email protected]

Facebook | www.facebook.com/brookeplack

Instagram | @brookeplack

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Be sure to check out Brooke’s other projects too:

Empire Kids • www.empirekidsar.com

Connect Academy for Children • www.connectafc.com

The Empact One Foundation • www.empactone.org

The Space • www.coworkthespace.com

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Production by Clanton Creative  www.clantoncreative.com

All music is licensed through Premium Beat

If you know someone who this episode could benefit from this episode, please share it with them - it is truly our mission to help connect with others because we believe the more we share our truth the more we all realize we aren’t alone.