Do you ever feel like roommates instead of romantic partners?  😔 Loneliness in marriage is real—but it doesn’t mean your relationship is broken. In this episode of the I Thrive at Life Podcast, Rick & Teresa Starr share:  ✅ Why emotional disconnection happens ✅ Warning signs you might be drifting apart ✅ What science says about why loneliness hurts  ✅ Practical tools to reconnect with your spouse and rebuild intimacy Small daily moments of connection can transform your marriage from distant to deeply fulfilling.  💡 👉 Listen now to learn how to stop the drift and make the shift to a warmer, more meaningful relationship.  🎓 Plus, don’t miss our Free Winning at Relationships Mastery Class at IThriveatLife.com

To get your FREE Inner Critic Journal Prompt Template, go to the post for this episode and click the button for this free guide: https://ithriveatlife.com/how-to-turn-your-inner-critic-into-a-supportive-coach/

Welcome to another inspiring episode of I Thrive at Life with Rick and Teresa Starr!

Today, we’re diving into a universal struggle—the inner critic. You know, that little voice in your head that’s quick to point out every misstep and flaw. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to let it run the show.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• ✨ Notice when your inner critic appears.
• ✨ Name it to create distance and lighten its impact.
• ✨ Tame its harshness with self-compassion.
• ✨ Navigate and reprogram it into a supportive inner coach.

We’ll share relatable stories, practical activities, and research-backed strategies to help you turn your inner critic into an ally. Get ready to laugh, reflect, and transform your mindset with us.

 📖 Topics Covered:

• ✔️ Understanding what the inner critic is and why it exists.
• ✔️ The power of mindfulness in noticing your inner dialogue.
• ✔️ How naming your inner critic can create emotional distance.
• ✔️ Tools to respond with kindness and self-compassion.
• ✔️ Cognitive restructuring: changing negative thoughts into empowering ones.

🛠️ Activities to Try:

• ✅ Journaling triggers and patterns of your inner critic.
• ✅ Naming and reframing negative thoughts.
• ✅ Practicing self-compassionate statements daily.

💡 Remember: Life’s too short to let a grumpy voice dictate your worth. Let’s transform that critic into a cheerleader for your growth and happiness!

🌟 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel, leave a comment below with your thoughts, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement.

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How Much of Your Happiness and Wellbeing is Up to YOU?

Have you ever wondered if happiness is something you're born with or if it's something you can learn? The answer is BOTH! In this episode, we uncover the fascinating science behind happiness and wellbeing, revealing why it's often called an "inside job."

Research shows that a certain percentage of your happiness is determined by genetics and another percentage is influenced by your circumstances, while still another percentage of your happiness is completely up to YOU—and how you choose your thoughts, habits, and daily choices! Watch this episode to discover how much of your happiness and wellbeing is influenced by YOU, your thoughts, and the actions you choose to take.

🔍 What You'll Discover:

✔️ Why some people seem naturally optimistic while others struggle to see the glass half full.

✔️ Practical strategies for increasing your happiness—no matter your starting point.

✔️ The 8 simple habits scientifically proven to boost wellbeing, including mindfulness, gratitude, acts of kindness, and more!

✔️ How small, intentional changes in your daily life can create an upward spiral of joy and fulfillment. Whether you're already a "glass-half-full" person or looking to cultivate a happier mindset, this episode is packed with tools, insights, and encouragement to help you thrive.

Tune in to learn how to take charge of YOUR happiness percentage and make happiness more sustainable in your life, so that you can create the happiness and wellbeing you deserve. Remember: the ball is in your court! You’ve got this!

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more empowering content!

Please join us for our I Thrive At Life Podcast. This one is called, "THINKING TRAPS part 2." In this episode, Rick Starr and I discuss the slippery slope of "mind reading" and "mental filtering." These cognitive distortions happen to all of us. Unfortunately they can cause problems in your life and in your relationships. We’ll share what these distorted thoughts look and sound like and what you can do to unhook from them, so that you can focus on improving your relationships and your daily life with more accurate thinking.

Welcome back to the "I Thrive at Life" podcast! In Episode #6, we dive into the fascinating world of thinking traps and their impact on our lives and relationships. Join us as we explore the power of our thoughts and how they can either uplift or hinder us. We'll break down common thinking traps like catastrophizing, and over-generalization. Discover practical antidotes and strategies to navigate these cognitive distortions, improve your relationships, and thrive. Tune in for insightful discussions, real-life scenarios, and a bit of humor. Let's learn to manage our thoughts for a better life together!

In this episode we talk about some simple strategies to help build your relationships through gratitude.

An “amygdala hijack” refers to a sudden and overwhelming emotional response, where the amygdala, a part of the brain involved in emotional processing, overtakes the neocortex (the rational, thinking part of the brain). This concept was popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman in his work on emotional intelligence. An amygdala hijack triggers the body's fight-or-flight response, often leading to impulsive, irrational behaviors that may not be appropriate for the situation. In relationships, an amygdala hijack can significantly affect interactions and stability. When one experiences such a hijack, they might react with disproportionate anger, fear, or distress, which can confuse or alienate partners and family members. This can lead to conflict, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings, undermining trust and communication. In this episode we’ll talk about becoming aware of these emotional spikes and learning how to manage them through techniques like mindfulness, deep breathing, or pausing to think before reacting. Practicing these simple techniques can help maintain harmony and understanding in personal relationships.