Why do we stay hooked on people who don’t choose us back? Why do we fall for the fantasy over reality—and call it love? In this deeply raw and revealing episode of Write Your Own Story, Betsy sits down with author, TED speaker, and podcaster Amanda McCracken, whose personal journey through decades of longing, idealization, and self-sabotage led her to redefine love, worth, and emotional safety.

From navigating virginity into her 40s to breaking the habit loop of limerence (the intoxicating high of unrequited infatuation), Amanda shares how she rewired her patterns, faced the roots of her own emotional protection mechanisms, and finally opened herself to receiving imperfect but grounded love.

This conversation isn’t just about romantic relationships—it’s about healing your relationship with yourself. Whether you’re single, partnered, or somewhere in between, this episode will hit home.

We dive into:

• Why longing becomes addictive (and how it mimics other forms of addiction)
• The habit loop of fantasy and avoidance
• The difference between confidence and worth
• How perfectionism blocks intimacy and love
• What it means to truly receive love (and why that’s so hard for so many women)

You’ll leave this episode feeling seen, softened, and more powerful in your own story.

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Email: betsy@writeyourownstory.co

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