What if the way we react today has more to do with what happened to us in the past than we realise?

In this episode of Let’s Check In Podcast, Suzie McErvale sits down with educator, counsellor, author and TEDx speaker Lael Stone to explore the stories, emotional imprints and patterns we carry from childhood into our adult lives.

Lael explains why we can become disconnected from ourselves in an increasingly distracted world, how our childhood experiences shape the way we relate to others, and why creating safety and connection is so important for both children and adults.

They explore emotional regulation, attachment, co-regulation, parenting, relationships and the different ways we learn to protect ourselves when we don’t feel safe. Lael also shares a powerful story about an argument with her husband that was transformed when they stopped blaming each other and recognised the younger parts of themselves underneath the conflict.

The conversation also looks at why emotional work can sometimes feel different for men and women, how we can invite our partners into this work without making them wrong, and what it means to truly own our stories rather than unconsciously repeating them.

Connect with Lael Stone:

📖 Own Your Own Story

📖 Raising Resilient and Compassionate Children

📱 @laelstone

📱 @woodlineprimary

Thanks for checking in. 💛

Competition Details

Season 3 is proudly supported by Pulito Group. To celebrate, they're giving one lucky business the chance to win $1,000 towards a professional commercial clean for a retail, hospitality or commercial space. To enter, fill out this form, https://offer.pulitogroup.com.au/form... follow @pulito_group on Instagram, like the competition post and comment by tagging a business owner or someone opening or refreshing a commercial space.

🎙️ About the Let's Check In Podcast

The Let's Check In Podcast explores the uncertain middle of modern life through candid conversations, expert insights and practical tools for navigating change, growth and wellbeing. Subscribe for new episodes and conversations that help make sense of life's challenges, opportunities and everything in between.

In this episode:

• Why we’re becoming increasingly disconnected from ourselves

• Helping children develop connection and emotional awareness

• Attachment, attunement and co-regulation

• How childhood imprints shape adult relationships

• Recognising when our younger selves are being triggered

• Breaking patterns of blame and making each other wrong

• Why emotional safety matters in relationships

• How to invite a partner into the work

• Letting go, grief and the changing role of a parent

• Learning to own your story with compassion Learn more about Lael Stone and her work through the links in the show notes.

Chapters:

00:00 Can I Be Me With You?

02:05 Are We More Disconnected Than Ever?

04:17 Helping Children Reconnect With Themselves

06:18 Pulito Group Sponsor Offer

07:19 How Do We Connect With Ourselves?

09:05 Creating Space to Discover Who We Are

12:07 Moving Beyond the Hustle

13:06 What Every Human Is Looking For 16:06 Connection, Attachment & Co-Regulation

18:07 Sitting With Difficult Emotions

21:50 What We Bring Into Relationships

25:07 The Emotional Imprints We Inherit

27:04 “I’m Only Lovable When I’m Good”

29:03 When Your Younger Self Shows Up

32:06 Breaking the Pattern of Blame

33:19 Why Emotional Work Can Be Hard for Partners

37:37 How Do We Make It Safe to Feel?

39:28 What Are You Feeling Uncertain About?

39:44 Letting Go, Grief & the Mother Heart

42:32 Suzie's Final Thoughts

43:27 Thanks For Checking In