Love Over Fear

In this episode of the Relationship Anxiety Podcast, your host McKell Kristen takes you on a journey to explore the topic of resistance and anxiety. This episode focuses on how resistance to thoughts, feelings, and future outcomes fuels anxiety, and how embracing discomfort can lead to greater peace.

McKell dives into:

✨ Understanding how trying to control and resist uncomfortable feelings creates anxiety

✨ The importance of learning to tolerate and allow thoughts and emotions rather than resist them

✨ How resistance can show up in relationships, including resisting feelings like disappointment

✨ Shifting from a need to resist and control outcomes to allowing space for emotions like sadness, anger, or joy

✨ Recognizing that suffering often stems from fighting against what is, rather than from the uncomfortable feelings themselves

✨ How to stop trying to fix anxiety by hurrying through relationship milestones or breakups

✨ The difference between reacting to and resisting emotions versus learning to process them without fear

✨ How dropping resistance opens up a world of emotional richness, moving beyond black-and-white thinking in relationships

✨ Practical steps to soften resistance, allowing yourself to experience thoughts and emotions with more peace

✨ The invitation to love and accept yourself and your partner, even with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings present

Don't miss out on this chance to learn how to reduce anxiety by better understanding resistance. 

In this episode of the Relationship Anxiety Podcast, your host McKell Kristen takes you on a journey to explore the question: "What if I'm not really in love?"

This episode is perfect for those struggling with doubts about love and wondering whether their feelings for their partner are genuine.

Here’s more of what you can expect in this episode:

✨ How our mind can fall into obsessive thinking, constantly seeking to answer anxious questions

✨ The disconnect from emotional and physical sensations caused by overanalyzing relationships

✨ Why expectations around love, shaped by media and upbringing, may not match reality

✨ How past experiences and patterns from childhood can influence how we perceive love in relationships

✨ Why love isn’t always about the "high" but also about embracing uncomfortable emotions

✨ The difference between a victim mindset (passive thinking about love) and a creator mindset (actively choosing and creating love)

✨ The importance of letting go of the idea that love is something you "fall into" and recognizing your role in building it

✨ The humility of recognizing that our ability to love is imperfect and how that’s part of being human

Listen now and discover how to move beyond anxiety and embrace a more intentional, loving approach to your relationship.

In this episode of the Relationship Anxiety Podcast, your host McKell Kristen explores the question "Should I share about my anxiety with my partner?" This episode is perfect for those grappling with when and how to share about anxiety or other concerns in a relationship.

McKell dives into the complexities of sharing, discussing:

✨ How problem-solving mode can lead to anxiety-fueled conversations

✨ The importance of grounding yourself before rushing to talk

✨ Tips on navigating the extremes of oversharing or withholding

✨ The role of vulnerability in deepening connection

✨ How to release urgency and ground yourself before conversations

✨ Recognizing when fear or shame is driving your decision to share

✨ A reminder that it’s okay for your partner to have emotions too

✨ The importance of authenticity and letting your partner in

✨ Why sharing from a place of vulnerability builds deeper trust

✨ Giving yourself permission to be imperfect in your communication

Don’t miss out on this chance to learn how to navigate sharing in your relationship with intention. Listen now and gain insights to help you create more meaningful and connected conversations with your partner.

n this episode of the Relationship Anxiety Podcast, your host McKell Kristen explores the power of approving of your partner.   This episode covers...

✨ How the negativity bias in our brains leads us to nitpick and find flaws in our partners.

✨ The importance of shifting our focus to gratitude and approval to improve our mindset and connection.

✨ Practical steps to practice noticing and vocalizing what we appreciate in our partners and our lives.

✨ McKell shares a personal story about how her brain flipped into nitpicking mode when she was engaged.

✨ A comparison between two days, one spent focusing on disapprovals and another focusing on gratitude.

✨ Insights from Dan Sullivan’s book The Gap and the Gain, on living in gratitude for what we already have.

✨ How "habituation" causes us to tune out the good in our lives, including our partners.

✨ Ways to build the muscle of gratitude in small areas of life.

✨ Encouragement to see more of the good in your relationship by intentionally approving of what you already have.

Listen now and start practicing and cultivating your approval power

McKell Kristen takes you on a journey to explore the antidote to fear and why it shows up, particularly in relationships.

McKell dives into:

✨ The misconception that feelings always reflect reality

✨ The role of exposure and familiarity in reducing fear

✨ How fear often arises during big relationship milestones like engagement or marriage

✨ The importance of stepping into fear to allow your brain to learn and adapt

✨ How resilience and courage can lead to more growth than waiting for fear to dissipate

✨ Strategies for budgeting fear as part of growth

✨ Why courage is about taking action in spite of fear

Don't miss out on this chance to better understand how to navigate fear and anxiety in your relationship. Listen now and learn how to cultivate courage and resilience in your relationship.

Today's episode we interview my client Hannah. Hannah is a gem and shares her story of what is possible when you go all in on healing anxiety. ✨How relationship anxiety showed up for her ✨The tools and practices that empowered her to created more freedom ✨Her experience with coaching in a group program ✨Thoughts on attraction and how to dive deeper on those fears ✨And so much more! This is such beautiful episode to find hope and begin leaping towards that future version of you in you that feels confident in relationship.

In this episode of the Relationship Anxiety Podcast, your host McKell dives into why our views on the purpose of a relationship can lead to questioning and doubting the relationship. Intentionally defining the purpose can help develop growth and deeper connection.

Here’s more of what you can expect in this episode: 

✨ How the novelty of a relationship wears off and what that means for your connection
✨ The historical perspective on relationships as economic partnerships
✨ The modern-day expectations of relationships to provide happiness and self-worth
✨ The challenges of seeing a relationship as a checkbox to complete
✨ The danger of viewing a relationship as a means to get approval from others
✨ Exploring the idea of relationships as a mirror for self-reflection and growth
✨ The concept of relationships as a spiritual and emotional training ground
✨ How a relationship can teach you to give love rather than just receive it
✨ The role of relationships in connecting us more deeply with ourselves, others, and even God

Don't miss out on this chance to re-evaluate what you believe about relationships. Listen now and discover a new perspective that could transform how you approach love and connection.

In this episode of the Relationship Anxiety Podcast, your host McKell delves into how relationship anxiety can be a symptom of struggling to receive love, and how to open your heart more. 

Here’s more of what you can expect in this episode: 

✨ Understanding the connection between relationship anxiety and receiving love
✨ Personal anecdotes on the journey to healing and receiving love
✨ How past experiences can create barriers to receiving love
✨ The importance of healing shame and unworthiness to improve your capacity to receive love
✨ The role of vulnerability in opening up to love
✨ Practical advice on how to shift from overthinking to feeling more of your emotions
✨ The significance of believing in your inherent lovability and worthiness
✨ How to let down your walls and genuinely receive love from your partner
✨ Tips on fostering self-compassion and grace in your relationship

In this episode of the Relationship Anxiety Podcast, your host McKell offers tips and tricks for managing morning anxiety. She provides insights and practical tips for better managing anxiety during these specific times of the day.

Here’s more of what you can expect in this episode: 

✨ The habit of scanning your relationship for problems when anxiety arises
✨ Why asking “why” isn’t always helpful
✨ Understanding the biological reasons for morning anxiety
✨ The role of cortisol and the sympathetic nervous system in your morning routine
✨ How transitions, even small ones, can trigger anxiety
✨ Tips for setting your future self up for a smoother morning
✨ The importance of a mindful morning routine
✨ How physical activity can help release excess energy
✨ The power of brain dumping to release anxious thoughts
✨ How carrying anxiety like a "purse" can actually help you soften into it

Listen now and discover how to start your day with more peace and calm.