Relationships Made Easy

Every relationship has some form of manipulation. Unless you’re the most self-actualized being in the Universe (and I think you’d be off floating on a cloud somewhere and not listening to me right now), you are sometimes manipulative and sometimes on the receiving end of manipulation. Today, we’re going to talk about the subtle signs as well as the big warning flags. Then we’ll talk about why peop...

They’re messy, and you’re neat. They’re a saver, and you’re a spender. They’re a free spirit, and you like things to run on a schedule. You’re a homebody, but your partner always wants to be out with people. The idea that opposites attract has been around for centuries, but is it true? And, whether it’s true or not, how the hell can you find a way to happily coexist with someone when there are so...

Last week I taught you the key difference between stress and anxiety and my top seven tips for effectively dealing with stress . You learned that while stress and anxiety are linked, they’re actually two different states of being, and what you do to alleviate stress can actually make you more anxious! This week, we’re focusing on my top tips to effectively tackle anxiety, so stay tuned to learn ev...

While stress and anxiety are linked, they’re actually two different states of being. And what you do to alleviate stress can actually make you more anxious! So you’ve got to know what tools to use when! I’ve got so many great strategies and tools that I’ve created this two-part series. Today, I’ll teach you the key difference between stress and anxiety and then outline my top seven tips for effect...

Whether you call it technoference, phubbing, or just plain annoying, dealing with technology in our relationships can be challenging. From over 50 years of research, we know that the quality of our social connections is the number one predictor of our happiness. We also know from the research that email, social media, online gaming, and texting are poor substitutes for those crucial in-person inte...

When they say that everything changes after you have kids, they’re right, but it doesn’t have to mean that things have to get worse! Your relationship after children is different, and there are some things to do and think to not only safeguard your relationship, but to even make it better! Today is a master class in rebuilding intimacy with your partner after having kids. I’ve got tons of valuable...

Whether it’s a coworker, friend, parent, or partner, dealing with people who are aggressive or confrontational is exhausting. They try to bulldoze, argue or dominate, which leaves you feeling inadequate, frustrated, upset, or resentful. But all that’s going to change after today! Stay tuned to better understand why people are aggressive and confrontational and my three-step process for handling th...

So many of my clients come to therapy looking for some type of closure. From breakups to being fired to getting over childhood trauma, it’s a common human condition to look for endings or bad events to be explained and wrapped up so you can move on. But can you ever do that, and if you could, would it actually help in the way you’re hoping? Today I’m teaching you what closure really is, the three...

Do you know someone who always seems to be picking a fight for no apparent reason? Are they just argumentative, or is there something deeper going on? Today I’m teaching you the five reasons people pick fights and the three things you can do to make the craziness stop. Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/the-five-reasons-people-pick-fights-and-three-things-to-do-about-it ____________...

You’ve always got two choices to make in your relationship: evolve and grow or repeat and stay stuck in old patterns. Don’t wait until after the holidays, the first of next month, or the first of next year to set goals. If your relationship doesn’t feel the way you want, there’s no better time to set and achieve new relationship goals, than right now. Today we’re going deep on the five goals every...

They love you one minute and hate you the next. They seem to cause trouble in all their relationships. They’ll go from sweet and loving to furious and lashing out. Yup. That’s life when a loved one has borderline personality disorder or BPD. Today I’m going to explain what BPD is exactly and the top ways you can help others and yourself. Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/how-to-cop...

Do you know someone who has zero self-awareness? Do they seem to never understand your feelings? Do they have a hard time controlling or naming their own emotions? Or does any of this apply to you? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’ve likely got someone in your life with low emotional intelligence (and they’re driving you crazy)! Or you, yourself, are struggling with the fallout...

The research shows that just by changing your posture and how you breathe you can positively impact issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, chronic pain, and insomnia! Today I’m interviewing world-renowned expert, researcher, and author Dr. Erik Peper to explain just how this works and, as always, bringing you practical tools to make the changes you want in your life. Full show notes: https://ab...

The marriage of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck has given broken hearts the world over hope that maybe, this time, it could work out with their ex. But despite their seeming success (it’s still early days after all), is it a good idea for you to get back together with your ex? Today you’ll learn my three rules for deciding if it’s a good idea to get back together with your ex and I’ve got an amazin...

There’s nothing like getting together with your parents and siblings over the holidays… and then realizing you're plotting their murders halfway through dinner. Being with family members, especially around the holidays, can be tough for a lot of reasons, but the main reason you’re unhappy has to do with your expectations. Today I’m teaching you the three big problems with your expectations and...

It’s hard to watch someone you care about struggling with mental health issues. You know that if they’d go to therapy, their life would be so much better, but they just won’t listen, or you’re afraid to even approach them because they’re so prickly and defensive about their issues. Between the research and my years of experience having these difficult conversations, I’ve identified an effective th...

While there are some who say their work lives have become much easier since the pandemic, the vast majority of people I speak to say they’re feeling overburdened and burned out at work, which ends up negatively impacting their lives at home. As with everything (according to me), the answer is to set healthy boundaries and stick to them. Today, I’m talking about why you’re burned out and my top 5 t...

Do you put other people’s needs ahead of your own? Do you feel guilty when you say “no”? Are you not saying what you really need and feel because you don’t want to upset someone else? Do you often feel resentful, frustrated, unappreciated, or emotionally drained in your relationships? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, today’s show is for you. Today you’ll learn the difference betwee...

Even if you use all the great tools I’ve taught you in the last 200 episodes during an argument, you might still have trouble reconnecting after an argument. When our feelings have been hurt, it can be hard to come back to feeling “normal” with this person again. Our rational minds tell us that it’s time to reconnect, but we just can’t seem to find the motivation or tools to make it happen. Today...

You’ve had the argument, and the dust has settled but no one’s feeling better (at least not you) because you never actually came to any agreement about what you were fighting about! You want to find a way to finish this conversation without it turning into a fight again, but how? In today’s episode, you’ll learn my easy four-step process to resolving that argument once and for all. Full blog and s...

With a career spanning over 35 years in multiple countries and having worked in every environment you can imagine, I’ve learned a lot about what it means to be in healthy relationships. Today I’m sharing the top five things I see over and over in successful, happy relationships. And this doesn’t just apply to your romantic relationships! These five signs apply to work relationships, friendships, a...

Do you have a hard time managing your emotions when life gets stressful? Have you tried tips and tools before, but can’t find anything that works consistently for you? That’s likely because you were given the wrong types of strategies for your particular stress style. Today, I’m breaking down the two main ways our brains respond to stress and my top tips for how to manage your emotions for each of...

Last week I taught you how your attachment style affects your personal relationships. Today, we’re applying all those same principles to show how your attachment style affects your work life. After all, your work environment is all about relationships too! Today you’ll learn not only the things you need to watch out for given your particular style, but also the strengths you bring (yes, we’ve all...

The research has consistently shown that how you attached to your parents or caregivers as a child affects how you connect in your current adult relationships. Your attachment style affects everything from what romantic partners (and friends) you choose, what issues you’ll repeatedly face in your relationships, and even how your relationships will end. Today you’ll learn to identify your attachmen...

This is one of those times when my education in both counseling and organizational psychology, as well as my many years of experience with clients who were working together, all dovetails perfectly. If you want to have a successful business with your partner while also having an awesome personal relationship, today's episode is for you. ______ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/...