When you've spent weeks, months, or years being told that your feelings are wrong, your reactions are the problem, or someone else's behavior is somehow your fault, trusting yourself again can feel very strange.

Start small.

Notice the pattern.

Notice how you feel.

Trust your gut.

Set the boundary.

And don't take the bait.

Remember our Narcissism 101 mantra:

We don't diagnose.

You deserve to be treated with respect.

You deserve to have your feelings respected.

And you don't have to keep explaining yourself to someone committed to misunderstanding you.

Buckle up, gorgeous. We're learning the language so we can recognize the patterns—and learn how to stop participating in them.

You are not meant to do this alone.

Together, we continue to rise.

Gaslighting? Breadcrumbing?

In a high-conflict relationship, breadcrumbs aren't something you crunch on your chicken strips—and gaslights aren't an old-fashioned way to light a room!

So what are they?

Welcome back to Narcissism 101, Lesson 4 of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, where Marilee Grace breaks down two terms you may have heard all over social media but may not fully understand: gaslighting and breadcrumbing.

This series isn't about diagnosing your ex or throwing around labels.

It's about giving you language for the behaviors you experienced so they become less confusing—and so you can learn what happened and what to do next.

In this episode, Marilee explains how gaslighting can cause you to question your own memory, perception, judgment, and even your sanity. She shares a powerful real-life example of a woman who was so certain she remembered an important family event that she began wondering if she had actually imagined it—until she found the program and tickets that proved she was right.

It wasn't her. She wasn't going crazy.

Marilee also explains breadcrumbing: the pattern of giving someone just enough attention, affection, and hope to keep them emotionally invested, followed by criticism, distance, or rejection.

That push-pull cycle can create confusion, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and a powerful craving for the next bit of attention.

In this episode, you'll learn:

And remember:

Not every behavior is gaslighting.

Learning these terms isn't about labeling every difficult person or every disagreement. It's about recognizing patterns accurately so you can understand your own experience.

Our Narcissism 101 mantra remains:

We don't diagnose.

The person you fell in love with may have shown you exactly what you wanted to see. The intensity felt like connection. The attention felt like love. The future planning felt like security.

And then things changed.

Understanding the pattern isn't about blaming yourself.

It’s about educating yourself so you can recognize the pattern if it ever appears again.

Remember our Narcissism 101 mantra:

We don’t diagnose.

This episode covers some heavy ground, so give yourself permission to pause. Breathe. Haven. Tap. Get outside. Journal. Do whatever helps you return to a grounded, regulated place.

You can do hard things.

And you don't have to do them alone.

Buckle up, gorgeous. We’re learning what happened so we can learn what to do next.

Together, we continue to rise.

What if you truly believed you would never feel joy again?

In this deeply personal episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace shares the moment she told her own mother that joy was no longer possible in her life—and the powerful journey of what it actually took to rediscover it after divorce.

Because here’s the truth:

In this episode, we explore the difference between happiness and joy, and how even in your darkest seasons, there may still be a small, protected sliver of joy waiting to be nurtured back to life.

You’ll learn:

This episode is your reminder that healing doesn’t happen all at once. It starts small. Quiet. Almost unnoticeable.

But those small moments?

A worksheet is included to help you begin noticing your own glimmers and rebuilding joy—one moment at a time.

Get it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dkEa8GxJCuEgdNHzBwQv9df45fYKEQUV/view?usp=drive_link

Buckle up, gorgeous.

Have you ever downloaded a dating app… and immediately felt buyer’s remorse? 😅 In this episode of Here’s the Deal, I’m sharing the very real, very awkward, sometimes hilarious truth about dating after divorce — from my first terrifying experience on the apps to the lessons I learned after interacting with over 200 men online. This episode is honest, funny, uncomfortable at times, and deeply eye-opening for any woman considering dating after leaving a high-conflict, toxic, or narcissistic relationship. We’re talking about: ✨ Why I joined dating apps before I was truly ready ✨ Boundaries, safety, and trusting your gut ✨ Scammers, catfishers, bots, and “everything but sex” first dates 🙃 ✨ What I learned while researching for my book Right Swipe: A Quest for Love ✨ The emotional reality of dating after divorce ✨ Why loneliness and healing matter more than rushing into another relationship ✨ How to recognize red flags in dating profiles and conversations ✨ The “Burn the Haystack” dating method and why it matters This episode is part storytelling, part cautionary tale, part healing conversation — and hopefully a reminder that you are allowed to protect your peace while rediscovering yourself after divorce. 📖 Books Mentioned: • Right Swipe: A Quest for Love by Marilee Grace • Burn the Haystack Dating Method by Jennie Young, PhD 💛 If this episode resonated with you, please like, comment, and subscribe. You are not meant to do this alone. Together, we will continue to rise.

Are you really ready to date after divorce… or are you trying to heal a wound someone else created?

In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace gets brutally honest about dating after a high-conflict divorce, the temptation of dating apps, and why healing has to happen before you start looking for love again.

Because here’s the truth nobody wants to hear:

Through personal stories, coaching techniques, and a powerful “Seven Layers / Smoking Gun” exercise, Marilee helps you uncover the real reason you may want to start dating again—and whether it’s coming from curiosity, loneliness, validation, pain, or true readiness.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

This episode is honest, validating, funny in places, and deeply grounding for anyone navigating life after divorce.

And if you’ve been tempted to download the apps because your ex moved on quickly?

Buckle up, gorgeous.

In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace explores the powerful connection between trauma and high-conflict relationships—and why healing isn’t just emotional… it’s physical, too.

Using a vivid tornado analogy, Marilee breaks down what it feels like to live in constant chaos, unpredictability, and emotional storms—and why your body may still be reacting long after the relationship has ended.

Because here’s the truth:

In this episode, you’ll learn:

This episode is both validating and empowering—reminding you that what you experienced was real, and healing is possible.

Take your time with this one. Pause when you need to. Breathe when it feels heavy.

Buckle up, gorgeous.

Have you ever felt like your body is constantly on edge—even when everything around you is “fine”?

In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace breaks down what’s really happening inside your body when you’re stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn—and why it’s so common after a high-conflict or toxic relationship.

Because here’s the truth:

You’ll learn:

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “always on edge,” constantly overthinking, or waiting for the other shoe to drop—this episode will help you understand why.

And more importantly, it will remind you:

Be sure to listen to Episode 8 for practical grounding techniques to support your nervous system regulation.

Buckle up, gorgeous.

Check out the wonder woman technique here

You’re doing the work. You’re building your peace.

In this episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace shares simple, effective grounding techniques you can use in real-time when anxiety, stress, or high-conflict situations threaten your sense of calm.

Because let’s be honest—you can’t always avoid the event, the holiday, or the interaction. But you can learn how to stay anchored within yourself.

You’ll learn:

Whether you’re navigating holidays, co-parenting exchanges, difficult conversations, or unexpected emotional triggers, these tools will help you stay present, grounded, and in control of your response.

This episode is your reminder:

Buckle up, gorgeous.

What if you truly believed you would never feel joy again?

In this deeply personal episode of Okay, So Here’s the Deal, Marilee Grace shares the moment she told her own mother that joy was no longer possible in her life—and the powerful journey of what it actually took to rediscover it after divorce.

Because here’s the truth:

In this episode, we explore the difference between happiness and joy, and how even in your darkest seasons, there may still be a small, protected sliver of joy waiting to be nurtured back to life.

You’ll learn:

This episode is your reminder that healing doesn’t happen all at once. It starts small. Quiet. Almost unnoticeable.

But those small moments?

A worksheet is included to help you begin noticing your own glimmers and rebuilding joy—one moment at a time.

check it out here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dkEa8GxJCuEgdNHzBwQv9df45fYKEQUV/view?usp=drive_link

Buckle up, gorgeous.