Ever looked in the mirror during a relationship and not recognized the woman staring back at you? This episode is your reminder that you can be deeply in love and still be deeply yourself.

In this vulnerable conversation, I'm sharing why your independence isn't something to apologize for or tone down in relationships, it's actually one of your greatest strengths. We're unpacking the myth that love means losing yourself, and exploring how to build intimacy while maintaining your beautiful autonomy.

In this episode, you'll discover:

1. Why you don't have to choose between being loved and being yourself

2. The difference between softness and smallness (especially for women of color who are told to be "strong" everywhere else)

3. How to recognize when someone's love requires you to shrink vs. when it celebrates your wholeness

4. Scripts for setting boundaries around your time, energy, and individual needs

5. Why interdependence is healthier than codependence

6. Red flags vs. green flags when someone responds to your independence

This episode is for you if:

• You've ever lost yourself trying to be the "perfect" girlfriend

• You're afraid that having your own life makes you "too independent" for love

• You've been told you're "hard to love" because you have boundaries

• You want to maintain your friendships, goals, and interests while building intimacy

• You're tired of making yourself smaller to make others feel more secure

The right person won't be threatened by your independence, they'll be attracted to it. They'll see your full life and think, "This is someone who knows who she is."

🎧Tune in now!

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