You’ve started advocating for yourself — and suddenly, people around you are uncomfortable.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through what to expect when others push back, why it feels so triggering in your body, and how to hold your ground anyway.

You’ll hear real examples from my own life and my clients’, plus specific words you can use, how to debrief after, and what to do when you realize you’re the one reacting to someone else’s boundaries.

Because this work isn’t just for them.

This is for you.

Most of us were taught to override what we feel—and put everyone else’s comfort first.

We learned to hug people we didn’t want to hug.

To sit next to people who made us uncomfortable.

To keep quiet so no one else had to feel awkward.

And sometimes, without even realizing it — we turn around and do the same thing to the people we love.

We pressure our kids to “be polite.”

We push someone to stay when they want to leave.

We need others to keep the peace so we can feel okay.

In this episode, we’ll talk about both sides of this dynamic—the one who’s been hurt, and the one who’s been hurting. You’ll learn how to name what feels bad, create a simple plan to protect yourself, and start practicing what to say. And you’ll also learn how to notice when you’re overriding others—and what to do instead. You’ll walk away with words for what you’ve been feeling, and steps to help you stay with yourself—while letting others do the same.

🎧 Listen now — and join me next week for Part 2, where we’ll talk about how to handle the pushback when you finally start advocating for yourself.

Please like, subscribe and share.

Follow me on IG–@doribrown.me

You’ve been doing it your whole life — and you didn’t even know it.

In this episode, we’ll talk about co-regulation: what it is, where it comes from, and how it quietly shapes your relationships, your energy, and even your parenting. I’ll share my own story of growing up with this pattern, how it showed up in my marriage, and what finally helped me break free of it. You’ll walk away with words for what you’ve been feeling and steps to begin dismantling it — so you can stay with yourself more fully.