In our hectic, demanding lives, it's easy to lose sight of ourselves: Who we are, how we feel and what we need. Even more challenging can be figuring out how to assert all-of-the-above in our relationships with others. This is particularly true if you've been existing in a toxic relationshipor codependent relationship, or navigating the aftermath of a bad breakup. In the midst of stressful circumstances, attaining empowerment can seem out of reach — especially when you've been focused outwards rather than within.

Attaining Empowerment

On today's show my colleague, therapist and life coach Teena Evert and I are talking about many of the "pieces" involved with cultivating personal empowerment, including:

• Mindful self-awareness
• Building self-loveand self-compassion
• Why building a sustainable self-care routineis key to maintaining your solid foundation
• How stress can impact your empowerment
• The need to create balance by staying aware of your feelings
• How to be assertive and set boundaries in relationships... while also being flexible
• Trusting yourself
• How to ask for what you need... while also having compassion and empathy for people you love
• Developing a sense of self worth that is independent of external validation
• How to not give your power away, blame others, or lose yourself in relationships
• How to not fear your own power

I hope our conversation gives you insight into how to begin cultivating empowerment in your life.

With love and respect,

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

www.growingself.com

PS: We discussed a number of resources on the show today. Find links to them here: https://www.growingself.com/self-empowerment

Are you on pins and needles, riddled with anxiety about a new relationship? You're not alone. For most of our dating coaching clients, the "dating" part is not that hard. You put a profile together, attend social functions with a smile on your face, and you're going to have opportunities. Going on an actual date or three is not the biggest deal.

What IS the biggest deal, and what our dating coaching clients really struggle with, is how to manage all the anxiety, insecurity, and angst about the unknown that comes with finding someone they really like and who they've started seeing regularly. That's when all the questions come up.

Today, on the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast, I'm tackling some of your new relationship questions in hopes of putting some of that new relationship anxiety to rest. We'll discuss:

• How to manage new relationship anxiety
• The stages of a new relationship
• New relationship questions
• When to bring up topics like dating exclusively, or how you really feel
• Things to look for that indicate red flags and / or compatibility
• When you should move forward dating someone with a history of depression or other issues (and when to fold 'em).
• What to do when someone you like hasn't called or texted in a while, or gives other signals that they might not be that into you
• How to put self-love and self-worth front and center of all new dating relationships
• How to move a new relationship forward without "scaring someone off"

All that, and more, on the podcast.

Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

www.growingself.com

PS: Resources we discussed on the show: The How Healthy is Your Relationship Quiz, and How to Cultivate Healthy Self-Love

PPS: Do YOU have questions for me? Dating questions, or otherwise? Leave them in the comments: I read every one! :)