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3 Life-Changing Lessons About Guilt, Boundaries, and Authenticity.

Today I’m joined by licensed clinical social worker and lifestyle coach, Tricia Corso. Tricia shares her powerful journey of leaving behind the “supposed to’s” of life in New York to create a more aligned, authentic life in Colorado.

Together, we explore the themes of guilt, people pleasing, authenticity, and how to quiet the voices of external expectations so you can finally hear your own.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How guilt often shows up when you start honoring your truth—and why it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
• Why people pleasing is really a form of self-abandonment and how it keeps you small.
• How to step into authenticity, even when it means disrupting others’ expectations.
• The role of unspoken cultural and familial “shoulds” in shaping your choices—and how to break free.
• Practical ways to identify your voice, values, and desires amidst the noise of other people’s opinions.

Challenge for the Week
Notice where guilt or “shoulds” are steering your choices. Ask yourself: Whose voice is this? Is it truly yours—or an inherited belief? Then take one small step this week to honor your own values, even if it feels uncomfortable.

Work With Me
If you’re ready to break free from people pleasing and start living life on your own terms, I’d love to support you. Book a free clarity call with me today: https://calendly.com/maryannwalkerlife/freeconsult.

✨ I'm currently offering 6 and 12 week 1:1 coaching packages where we’ll dive deep into the limiting beliefs shaping your life and create space for growth, clarity, and connection.

🎯 Ready to reserve your 6 or 12 week package? email me at maryann@maryannwalker.life

Don’t Forget to Subscribe:
Be sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss next week’s episode. We’ll keep exploring emotional boundaries, mindset shifts, and how to change your life completely—especially for those who feel deeply and love big.

Let’s Stay Connected:
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannwalker.life/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryannwalker.life
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryannwalker.life

*Don’t Forget to Subscribe*
If this conversation resonated with you, make sure you hit “subscribe” so you never miss an episode.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Connect with Tricia Corso on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amongwildflowerstherapy/

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Align Your Affirmations: Why They’re Not Working (and How to Fix Them)

Are your affirmations falling flat? You say them every morning, but nothing seems to change. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why don’t affirmations work for me?”—this episode is exactly what you need.

The truth is, affirmations aren’t magic spells. They don’t work just because you repeat them. But when you learn how to align your thoughts, actions, and energy with your affirmations, they become powerful tools for transformation.

In this episode of Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker, we’ll explore why traditional affirmations often backfire—and how you can shift them into believable, empowering statements that actually rewire your brain and move you toward the life you want.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why affirmations like “I am slim and healthy” or “Money flows easily to me” might trigger your brain to reject them.
• The key difference between affirmations and aspirations (and why most people confuse the two).
• How your brain’s built-in “lie detector” can sabotage affirmations that feel too far from reality.
• Simple reframes that turn empty affirmations into daily practices of alignment.
• How to make your brain your ally, not your adversary.
• How to embody affirmations like “I am healthy, I am wealthy, I am wise” by finding evidence in your current reality.

Challenge for the Week:

Pick one affirmation you’ve been using and ask yourself: Does this feel true right now, or is it more of an aspiration? If it feels out of reach, reframe it into a statement you can actually affirm today. For example:

• Instead of “I am slim and healthy,” try “I am making choices each and every day that improve my health and wellness.”
  Notice how your brain responds differently—and how your actions shift as a result.

Work With Me

If you’re ready to live in alignment with the version of you that you know is possible—but you need some support shifting your thoughts and energy—I’d love to work with you. I currently have three coaching spots becoming available this month. Apply now and let’s help you embody the life you’ve been affirming.

👉 Wondering if coaching is right for you? Book your free clarity call here: https://calendly.com/maryannwalkerlife/freeconsult

Don’t Forget to Subscribe

Make sure you’re subscribed to Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker so you never miss an episode.

Connect with me!

Book Your FREE Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/maryannwalkerlife/freeconsult
Contact me: https://maryannwalker.life/contact-me
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannwalker.life/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryannwalker.life
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Is your “positive mindset” actually emotional avoidance in disguise? In this episode of Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker, I’m joined once again by guest Kellyn Legath for an honest conversation about the difference between true positive thinking and emotional bypassing. Together, we explore how to sit with and process uncomfortable emotions, why they matter, and how shifting your relationship with avoided feelings can unlock deeper healing and empowerment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The difference between positive thinking and emotional bypassing
• How to sit with emotions rather than suppress them
• Why emotions aren’t positive or negative—but valuable information
• Real-life role plays that show what it looks like to process emotions like sadness, anger, and anxiety
• How curiosity can help you uncover the truth behind your emotions
• Grounding practices and simple tools to support emotional regulation
• How emotions can act as “cheat codes” to identify unmet needs and map a plan for getting them met

Challenge for the Week
Notice where you might be using “positivity” to avoid uncomfortable feelings. This week, choose one emotion you usually avoid and practice sitting with it. Get curious: What is this feeling trying to tell you? What need is it pointing you toward?

Work With Me
If you’re ready to stop bypassing your emotions and start listening to them as valuable guides, I’d love to support you. Book a free clarity call today and let’s explore what working together could look like: Book here: https://calendly.com/maryannwalkerlife/freeconsult
.

Don’t Forget to Subscribe
If you haven’t already, be sure to follow Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker so you never miss an episode!

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: https://amzn.to/3Voj1OH

Connect with MaryAnn Walker!

Book Your FREE Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/maryannwalkerlife/freeconsult
Contact me: https://maryannwalker.life/contact-me
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannwalker.life/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryannwalker.life
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryannwalker.life

Connect with Kellyn Legath:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daydreamercoaching/

Other Links: https://bio.site/daydreamer?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadHHKuglgXR4iC8g_c7amm4N8mNN7M4vYHFKwFQOEd1cLtvCbV9jGlMubeqtw_aem_C5FnuHOJ9prsPYcdkiSnKA

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This ancient principle could be the missing piece to creating sustainable, reciprocal relationships.

Ayni—the Andean principle of sacred reciprocity.

Unlike the transactional way we often view give-and-take in the West, ayni invites us into a mindful balance of energy, sustainability, and connection in our relationships.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What ayni means and how it differs from transactional reciprocity.
• Why imbalance in relationships often leads to obligation, resentment, and burnout.
• How reciprocity can show up in unexpected and creative ways (tamales, artwork, or simply being seen).
• Practical ways to begin practicing ayni in your daily life.
• Why balanced reciprocity strengthens trust, resilience, and belonging in relationships.

Challenge for the Week
Take some time to reflect on where you might be experiencing imbalance. What small shift could you make this week to restore balance? This might look like asking for what you need, practicing gratitude, or initiating a simple act of kindness.

Work With Me
If this episode resonates and you’re ready to experience what balanced reciprocity feels like, I would love to support you as your coach. Together, we can identify where imbalance shows up in your life and create more sustainable, nourishing relationships. Spots are opening for October—don’t wait to invest in yourself.

Don’t Forget to Subscribe
Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss future episodes. Each week, we dive deeper into the practices that help recovering people pleasers create balance, self-worth, and authentic connection.

🎯 email me now at maryann@maryannwalker.life to work with me!

Follow me on my other platforms and join the conversation!

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannwalker.life/
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Do you ever feel like no matter how much you give, it’s still not enough to keep people from leaving? If you’ve ever struggled with people pleasing, conflict avoidance, or overgiving, chances are the fear of abandonment has been running the show—and with it, the painful habit of self-abandonment.

In this episode of Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker, we’re diving deep into why self-love is the antidote to the fear of abandonment. When you learn to stop abandoning yourself, you stop clinging to relationships out of fear and start creating authentic connections rooted in love, mutual respect, and trust.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The hidden connection between self-abandonment and the fear of abandonment.
• How your nervous system confuses old survival instincts with present-day relationships.
• The difference between fear-driven thoughts and love-driven truths.
• Practical examples of how to recognize when you’re acting out of fear—and how to shift into love instead.
• Why prioritizing self-love is not selfish, but the foundation for healthy, lasting relationships.

Challenge for the Week

This week, notice where fear is running the show in your relationships. Ask yourself:
👉 Am I acting out of fear of abandonment—or from a place of self-love?
Then take one small action rooted in love for yourself, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

Work With Me

If you’re ready to break free from people pleasing and start building relationships that feel safe, nourishing, and authentic, I’d love to support you. I currently offer 6- and 12-week coaching packages designed for recovering people pleasers who are ready to stop self-abandoning and start thriving.

Visit www.maryannwalker.life
or email me at maryann@maryannwalker.life
to check availability or join my waitlist today.

Don’t Forget to Subscribe

Make sure you’re subscribed to Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker so you never miss an episode on healing from people pleasing, setting boundaries, and creating authentic love.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Episode: Am I the Jerk Now? How to Set Boundaries Without Becoming the Villain https://www.buzzsprout.com/2028767/episodes/17472392
• Episode: How to Recognize a Trauma Bond & Break Free for Good https://www.buzzsprout.com/2028767/episodes/17654108
• Episode: Feeling Invisible & Walked On? Doormat vs Welcome mat Energy https://www.buzzsprout.com/2028767/episodes/17600742
• Work with me: Coaching packages for recovering people pleasers

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When we live in fear that others will abandon us, we often end up abandoning ourselves.

In this episode of Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker, we’re exploring the #1 fear of people pleasers: the fear of abandonment. This is part one of a two-part series where we’ll uncover how this fear develops, how it shows up in relationships, and—most importantly—how it leads to chronic self-abandonment.

If you’ve ever caught yourself silencing your needs, over-giving to prove your worth, or staying in unhealthy relationships just to avoid being alone, you’ll see yourself in this conversation. And you’ll begin to understand why these patterns leave you feeling more disconnected and unloved than ever before.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why fear of abandonment is the root fear behind people-pleasing.
• How past experiences—like conditional love or emotional neglect—train us to equate being alone with rejection.
• The painful cycle: fear of abandonment → people-pleasing → self-abandonment.
• 5 common self-abandoning behaviors that stem from fear of abandonment:
  • Overgiving in hopes of proving your worth.
  • Avoiding conflict to keep others happy, even at the cost of your truth.
  • Taking responsibility for other people’s emotions while neglecting your own.
  • Staying too long in unhealthy or toxic relationships out of fear of being alone.
  • Downplaying your needs to make yourself “easier to love.”
• Why these strategies create the illusion of connection but actually deepen disconnection and loneliness.

Challenge for the Week
Pay attention to the moments when you silence yourself, minimize your needs, or overextend to keep someone close. Ask: Am I abandoning myself right now out of fear that they might abandon me?

Work With Me

If you’re ready to stop people-pleasing and start building authentic relationships rooted in love and mutual care, I’d love to support you. Email me now at maryann@maryannwalker.life to check for availability.

Don’t Forget to Subscribe

Be sure to subscribe to Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker so you don’t miss next week’s episode, where we’ll explore how to shift out of fear and start cultivating relationships based on love, safety, and authenticity.

Connect with me!

Contact me: https://maryannwalker.life/contact-me
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannwalker.life/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryannwalker.life
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryannwalker.life

Related Episodes:

Should I Stay or Should I Go https://www.buzzsprout.com/2028767/episodes/16202567

You're Not for Everyone & That's Ok! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2028767/episodes/11162078

Empaths vs Covert Narcissists: Recognizing Energy Vampires https://www.buzzsprout.com/2028767/episodes/15664257

How to Recognize a Trauma Bond & Break Free For Good https://www.buzzsprout.com/2028767/episodes/17654108

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Do you ever feel like you’re working so hard, but somehow still not making progress? What if the thing that's holding you back smaller than you think?

Self-sabotage is sneaky. It can show up in tiny, everyday choices that keep you stuck, frustrated, and wondering why your efforts aren’t paying off. In this episode of Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker, I share a real-life lesson that turned into a powerful reminder: sometimes it’s not about making massive changes—it’s about one small tweak that can make all the difference.

Whether you’re a recovering people pleaser, an empath, or a highly sensitive person, you may notice self-sabotage showing up in your relationships, your goals, and even in the way you talk to yourself. The good news? Once you learn how to stop self-sabotaging, you’ll see how one small mindset shift and tiny daily habits can create big and lasting results.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Common self-sabotage patterns and how to recognize them.
• Why people pleasers often minimize their accomplishments (and how to stop).
• How avoiding conflict in relationships can actually create more conflict.
• Practical mindset shifts to break the cycle of self-sabotage.
• Why making tiny changes every day can lead to massive transformation.

Challenge for the Week

Ask yourself: What’s one small tweak I could make today that would have the biggest impact on my life? Maybe it’s speaking up sooner, accepting help instead of refusing it, or finally celebrating your own accomplishments.

Work With Me

If you’re ready to stop sabotaging your goals and start creating the results you really want, I’d love to help. As a life coach for empaths, highly sensitive people, and recovering people pleasers, I specialize in spotting the small shifts that can lead to big breakthroughs. Book your free clarity call today: https://calendly.com/maryannwalkerlife/freeconsult

Don’t Forget to Subscribe

Be sure to follow Inner Work with MaryAnn Walker so you never miss an episode. And if you found this helpful, please leave a review—it helps more helpers, healers, and people pleasers discover tools to stop getting in their own way and live with more confidence, clarity, and ease.

Want to connect on other platforms? I've got you!

Contact me: https://maryannwalker.life/contact-me
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannwalker.life/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryannwalker.life
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryannwalker.life

Follow on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maryannwalkerlife

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Trauma Bonds: Why They’re So Hard to Spot, Why They Feel Addictive, and How to Break Free for Good

If you’ve ever wondered “Am I in a trauma bond?” or found yourself walking on eggshells, feeling extreme emotions in a relationship, and clinging to the hope things will go back to how they “used to be,” this episode is for you. We’ll explore how people pleasing as a trauma response can deepen trauma bonding and keep you trapped in toxic relationship patterns.

You’ll learn the difference between a toxic relationship vs trauma bond, and how trauma bonds often develop through love bombing, devaluing, discard, and sporadic reinforcement. We’ll also talk about the role of anxious attachment, why leaving can feel impossible, and exactly how to break free of a trauma bond so you can reclaim your peace and self-worth.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

💛 What a trauma bond really is and how it’s formed
💛 The “slot machine effect” and why sporadic reinforcement keeps you hooked
💛 How trauma bonds amplify people pleasing and self-abandonment
💛 The repeating cycle of love bombing, devaluing, and discard
💛 Common signs you may be trauma bonded (and how to tell)
💛 Why walking on eggshells becomes the norm in trauma-bonded relationships
💛 How anxious attachment fuels the cycle
💛 The truth about healthy love versus conditional, inconsistent attention

Challenge for the Week
Pay attention to your relationship patterns. Do the highs feel intoxicating while the lows drag on endlessly? Are you ignoring your own needs to keep someone else happy? Notice if your emotions swing from extreme highs to crushing lows. Write down your observations without judgment—awareness is the first step to change.

Work With Me
If you’re ready to stop asking “Am I trauma bonded?” and start breaking free from the cycle, I’d love to support you. In coaching, we’ll work together to untangle the patterns keeping you stuck and help you create relationships that feel safe, balanced, and mutually fulfilling. Click here to book your free clarity call: https://calendly.com/maryannwalkerlife/freeconsult

Don’t Forget to Subscribe
If you found this episode helpful, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss an episode. Every week we explore the topics that matter most to recovering people pleasers, highly sensitive people, and anyone ready to heal from toxic relationship dynamics.

Connect with me!

Book Your FREE Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/maryannwalkerlife/freeconsult
Contact me: https://maryannwalker.life/contact-me
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryannwalker.life/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryannwalker.life
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryannwalker.life