Dating, Relationships, and Disability

Dating App Boundaries: Protecting Your Well-Being In this episode, we dive into the critical topic of setting boundaries on dating apps. Dating online can be exciting, but it also comes with unique challenges that make establishing clear personal limits essential. Why Boundaries Matter Boundaries are more than just protection—they're a powerful statement of self-worth. By clearly communicating you...

  Check out the Annual Sale for Dating Made Easier here. Check out our sale on professional training and our Empowering Healthy Relationships curriculum. Boundaries are not about pushing people away, but creating deeper, more meaningful connections through mutual respect and understanding. They act like invisible property lines around your emotional and physical space, helping to eliminate mi...

Check out the Annual Sale for Dating Made Easier here. Check out our sale on professional training and our Empowering Healthy Relationships curriculum. The Power of Decision-Making: Breaking Free from Paralysis We've all experienced that moment of being stuck, overwhelmed by choices and afraid to move forward. But here's a powerful truth: making a decision, any decision, can be transformative. Dec...

Looking for a fresh approach to dating? Consider asking three people you know if they're aware of anyone single who might be interested in dating. This strategy leverages your existing social network and reveals potential connections you might not have discovered otherwise. When you initiate these conversations, you're subtly expanding your dating possibilities. Your connections might not immediat...

Click here  or here  for the very special early offer mentioned in the podcast. In today’s dating world, where dating apps and casual relationships dominate, finding meaningful connections can feel more challenging than ever. The fast-paced, swipe-driven culture often reduces potential partners to quick judgments, making it hard to build trust or develop deeper bonds. Casual relationship...

  Key Links: Register here for the November 6 Dating Narrative Workshop. Check out the Firewalk book mentioned in the podcast. Connect with Angie here . Ever wondered if a disability could break the bonds of love? This week's episode proves that love can grow even stronger through life's biggest challenges.  Meet Angie von de Wall, whose marriage was tested when a biking accident caused...

Have you ever thought about what your dating narrative is? Whether you realize it or not, there’s a story you tell yourself about your dating life. This narrative shapes how you approach relationships, influences your confidence, and impacts the way you show up in potential partnerships. It’s the running dialogue in your mind that interprets your past experiences and creates expectations for your...

The work I do with people around dating and relationships is personal with disabilities. What I mean by this is I help you with the only thing you can control about dating - yourself. I think a big reason why people struggle with dating and relationships is they don’t realize how influential their own personal growth and skill development is to meaningful connections and relationship success. That...

If you’ve experienced adversity in dating because of being marginalized for your disability or appearance, it can be easy to feel discouraged. You may have faced rejection or felt misunderstood by people who couldn't see beyond what makes you different. But giving up on finding a partner means closing the door on one of life’s most fulfilling experiences. Love, companionship, and intimacy are with...

For centuries, people with disabilities have struggled to be seen, to have others look at us and recognize us for the people we are. As I said in a recent episode, historically we have either been gawked at as though our differences are too bizarre for the mind to wrap its head around or we’re ignored because it’s easier for others to just not allow us into their ecosystem. Being Seen This is prob...

I think it’s part of the human experience to struggle against how others perceive or judge us and keep returning to how we define ourselves. This is especially true when you live with a disability or some other obvious difference. This can also certainly be amplified by dating and putting yourself out there to meet new people.  Define Yourself Method The Define Yourself method empowers you to...

I’ve been sharing various techniques and strategies we not only teach but help you to really embody within our Dating Made Easier community. Ultimately, dating in general is about getting that relationship you want. However, much of the time in your dating journey, you don’t get what you want, do you? So how is it that we can teach a “Getting What I Want” method? As with most of the support and re...

From time to time, I like to share concepts I teach inside the Dating Made Easier community about developing a mindset for not only successful dating, but for greater happiness in life. You Are More Than Judgments You Are More Than Judgments teaches you how to detach your sense of self-worth from the judgments of others. It’s easy to fall into the trap of seeking approval or fearing disapproval, e...

When considering your needs in dating and relationships, it's helpful to think about them in terms of a hierarchy, much like Maslow's hierarchy of needs. At the base level, you must first feel safe, both emotionally and physically, before you can focus on higher-level needs such as love, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Each of these needs plays a crucial role in the foundation and growt...

One of the key struggles for many who have been marginalized in the dating scene is feeling like a disability or other significant difference is a detractor for others. Whether you believe it’s seen as a burden, a barrier, or something that takes away from who you are, that belief just won’t serve you well for drawing the right relationships to you. If this is something you’re struggling with or y...

Much of the key to success in general and especially in dating and relationships is your mental approach, mainly what you believe is possible for yourself and your life. This is particularly true if you live with a disability or other significant differences that makes connecting with others more challenging. Today we’re talking about how to keep your brain focused on your dating possibilities. In...

Your Past Doesn’t Define Your Future in Dating It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that past experiences dictate future outcomes, especially in the realm of dating. If you've faced disappointment, rejection, or heartbreak, you might think that the same patterns will repeat themselves. However, it's crucial to remember that your past doesn't create your future. Every new encounter is an op...

When I talk about “doing the work” in dating and relationships, what comes to mind? Swiping? Being on a lot of dating apps? Trying to date as many people as you can? I’m actually not referring to any of that when I talk about the work of dating. For me, the work of dating is more about what’s happening to you socially and emotionally. Dating, putting yourself out there, taking risks can all do a n...

Confession time. I have not dated in 17 years. However, I specialize in helping people to date successfully. It’s a bit of a conundrum, isn’t it? But I obviously don’t date because at one time, I successfully dated (after many years of trials) and met my person to whom I’ve been happily married to for 15 years now.  I say this because when I think back to my dating days and meeting my husband...

Intertwining disability pride and vulnerability is an enriching journey that brings forth a unique perspective on love, belonging, and joy. Brene Brown, a renowned researcher on vulnerability, emphasizes that it is the source of hope and authenticity in her book, The Power of Vulnerability and in her fabulous Ted Talk. Brown maintains that vulnerability allows you to experience the full range of h...

Disability Pride and Being the Partner You Want to Be While I am a mental health counselor, I am very drawn to the practice of life coaching because it focuses so much on thought and behavior change. I believe any time we can use the power within us to change our circumstances or create more the life we want, that’s very empowering. One of the recommended practices in coaching is to spend regular...

In today's world, where social media plays a huge role in how we communicate, you may often encounter hurtful comments directed at you or others. These comments can be particularly painful when they attack aspects of your identity, such as your disability. I recently got a taste of negative, hurtful comments when I ran an advertising campaign for some free resources my company, Radiant Abilities,...

Disability Pride and Thoughts That Promote It Disability pride is the celebration and acceptance of one’s identity as a person with a disability. It encompasses recognizing the value and worth inherent in being disabled and understanding that disabilities are a natural part of human diversity. This pride is not about denying the challenges that come with disabilities but rather about embracing the...

Happy July and Disability Pride Month. Now, I like to think this podcast celebrates Disability Pride year round. However, throughout the month, we’ll highlight strategies and techniques for building pride and connecting it with dating. Today we’re talking about the Choose Self Love technique as a transformative approach designed to help individuals recognize and embrace their intrinsic worthiness...

I often talk about my Power to Attract method when it comes to helping people build their confidence in dating. It involves focusing on your positive attributes, which we all have, that draws others to us. Another way of looking at this is a process in Discovering Your Worthiness. When we can connect and own our sense of worthiness, we begin a transformative journey that naturally increases our da...