What if one of the most powerful relationship skills could be learned from a kindergartner?

In this episode, I share a story about my daughter that sparked a reminder we all need: when someone we love is struggling, they often need our presence more than our solutions. I explore why we instinctively jump into "fix-it mode," how that can create disconnection, and what to do instead. You'll learn a simple Nonviolent Communication (NVC) practice that can help turn conflict into deeper understanding and connection.

If you've ever felt frustrated when your attempts to help don't land, this episode is for you.

Connect with your host, Ali Miller:

NVC Training + Coaching

Check out my updated Love Each Other Better Private Programs: The Essentials + The Deep Dive: https://www.AliMillerCoaching.com/privateprograms

Free Resources

• Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets: https://www.alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds

• Free Mini-Course: The 4 Steps to Stop Any Fight Without Giving In https://www.alimillercoaching.com/freeminicourse

Connect with Ali

• Instagram: @alimillercoaching

• Free Private Facebook Group: NVC for Couples https://www.facebook.com/groups/nvcforcouples

• Email: ali@alimillercoaching.com

• Website: https://www.alimillercoaching.com

Do you struggle with relationship anxiety, constant doubt, or the feeling of being stuck in an on-again, off-again relationship cycle? Are you asking yourself "Should I break up or stay?" and unable to find clarity?

In this episode, I explore relationship ambivalence through the lens of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and how to navigate breakup decisions, uncertainty, and doubt in relationships.

I cover:

• Why relationship ambivalence and indecision are often signs of important needs
• Why you may feel stuck in "should I stay or should I go" thinking
• How to navigate uncertainty without rushing into a decision or forcing clarity
• How to make a conscious choice even when you don't feel sure

If you're struggling with relationship doubt, ambivalence, or an on-again off-again dynamic, this episode will help you relate to your experience in a more grounded and self-compassionate way.

And if you're navigating this in your own relationship, I support individuals and couples in this exact space. You can schedule a free 45-minute consultation with me at https://www.calendly.com/alimillercoaching/45

Connect with your host, Ali Miller:

NVC Training + Coaching

Check out my updated Love Each Other Better Private Programs: The Essentials + The Deep Dive: https://www.AliMillerCoaching.com/privateprograms

Free Resources

• Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets: https://www.alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds

• Free Mini-Course: The 4 Steps to Stop Any Fight Without Giving In https://www.alimillercoaching.com/freeminicourse

Connect with Ali

• Instagram: @alimillercoaching

• Free Private Facebook Group: NVC for Couples https://www.facebook.com/groups/nvcforcouples

• Email: ali@alimillercoaching.com

• Website: https://www.alimillercoaching.com

Whether you're looking for a fast track to more peace and understanding or a deeper, guided journey toward lasting change, Love Each Other Better private programs offer two paths to help you and your partner stop fighting and feel closer than ever. In this episode, you'll hear how both The Essentials and The Deep Dive can help you and your partner create the kind of relationship you actually want to be in.

Connect with your host, Ali Miller:

NVC Training + Coaching

Check out my updated Love Each Other Better Private Programs: The Essentials + The Deep Dive: https://www.AliMillerCoaching.com/privateprograms

Free Resources

• Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets: https://www.alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds

• Free Mini-Course: The 4 Steps to Stop Any Fight Without Giving In https://www.alimillercoaching.com/freeminicourse

Connect with Ali

• Instagram: @alimillercoaching

• Free Private Facebook Group: NVC for Couples https://www.facebook.com/groups/nvcforcouples

• Email: ali@alimillercoaching.com

• Website: https://www.alimillercoaching.com

Valentine's Day can stir up all kinds of longing, worry, and relational anxiety — especially if you love deeply and notice closeness and distance acutely. In this episode of Love Each Other Better, I dive into Marshall Rosenberg's famous metaphor:

"I want to be flowers on your table, not oxygen for your lungs."

I break down what this means through the compassionate lenses of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and attachment theory, including:

• The difference between universal human needs (like connection) and the particular ways we meet them in a relationship

• How anxious attachment patterns show up, and how I suggest caring for your inner child without making your partner responsible for your emotional survival

• What "flower-love" looks like in practice: freely chosen, generous, and joyful

You'll come away with practical insights for nurturing secure, adult love — honoring both your need for connection and your partner's autonomy.

✨ Learn how to love each other better, without shame, pressure, obligation, or resentment.

Connect with your host, Ali Miller:

Training + Coaching

Explore current ways to work with me: https://www.AliMillerCoaching.com

Free Resources

• Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets: https://www.alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds

• Free Mini-Course: The 4 Steps to Stop Any Fight Without Giving In https://www.alimillercoaching.com/freeminicourse

Connect with Ali

• Instagram: @alimillercoaching

• Free Private Facebook Group: NVC for Couples https://www.facebook.com/groups/nvcforcouples

• Email: ali@alimillercoaching.com

• Website: https://www.alimillercoaching.com

Are you tired of arguing with your partner over the same issues — or feeling frustrated, unheard, or disconnected? In this episode, we dive into why stuffing your feelings only fuels conflict and what you can do instead.

You'll learn why ignoring your emotions or pushing them aside may feel easier in the moment but actually costs you time, energy, and connection. We explore a practical approach using Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to notice your feelings, identify your needs, and respond in ways that keep connection alive — even in the middle of tension.

Plus, you'll get a simple practice to try this week and access to free feelings and needs lists to help make your conversations more effective and connecting.

Stop letting unspoken feelings drive your arguments — start noticing, naming, and transforming them into real connection.

Links & Resources Named in Episode 44:

• Free Feelings & Needs Lists: alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds

• Learn more about private coaching: alimillercoaching.com/stopfighting

Connect with your host, Ali Miller:

Training + Coaching

Explore my 9-week private coaching program for couples: Stop Fighting! (without stuffing your feelings or sacrificing your needs): https://www.alimillercoaching.com/stopfighting

Free Resources

• Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets: https://www.alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds

• Free Mini-Course: The 4 Steps to Stop Any Fight Without Giving In https://www.alimillercoaching.com/freeminicourse

Connect with Ali

• Instagram: @alimillercoaching

• Free Private Facebook Group: NVC for Couples https://www.facebook.com/groups/nvcforcouples

• Email: ali@alimillercoaching.com

• Website: https://www.alimillercoaching.com

If you're tired of avoiding conflict, walking on eggshells, or losing yourself to keep the peace, this episode is for you. Join me as I explore the real cost of people-pleasing, and a different way forward that doesn't require becoming confrontational.

People-pleasing often develops as a way to stay safe and connected, especially when conflict felt overwhelming or dangerous earlier in life. But in adult relationships, that same strategy can lead to disconnection, resentment, and a loss of intimacy.

In this episode, we look at why naming your feelings and needs can feel so scary, how fear of conflict fuels people-pleasing, and what helps couples become conflict-confident instead of conflict-avoidant. Using insights from Nonviolent Communication (NVC), this conversation points toward a way of relating where honesty feels safer, connection runs deeper, and you don't have to abandon yourself to keep the relationship intact.

Connect with your host, Ali Miller:

Training + Coaching

Explore my 9-week private coaching program for couples: Stop Fighting! (without stuffing your feelings or sacrificing your needs): https://www.alimillercoaching.com/stopfighting

Free Resources

• Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets: https://www.alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds

• Free Mini-Course: The 4 Steps to Stop Any Fight Without Giving In https://www.alimillercoaching.com/freeminicourse

Connect with Ali

• Instagram: @alimillercoaching

• Free Private Facebook Group: NVC for Couples https://www.facebook.com/groups/nvcforcouples

• Email: ali@alimillercoaching.com

• Website: https://www.alimillercoaching.com

Self-awareness can be powerful, but without self-compassion, it can easily turn into self-criticism or shame. In this episode of Love Each Other Better, I talk with Cheri Krause, Licensed Professional Counselor, Coach, and teacher of Nonviolent Communication, and my friend and colleague of nearly twenty years. Cheri is passionate about the transformative power of self-compassion, and shares her knowledge, experience, and wisdom with us generously in this conversation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What self-compassion actually is and why it's essential alongside self-awareness

• A practical six-step approach to self-compassion that can be applied right away

• How to shift from self-abandonment to self-accompaniment in daily life

• Ways to strengthen relationships through compassion for yourself and others

• Tools to feel connected, good enough, and grounded even under life's pressures

Whether you want to bring more kindness to yourself, deepen your relationships, or navigate life with more ease, this episode is full of insights and practices you can start using today.

Connect with my guest, Cheri Krause:

Cheri Krause is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Coach. They are a nonbinary individual who first learned about Nonviolent Communication while living in the country, India, where they lived for over ten years. Most recently, Cheri has been fascinated by self compassion, like that taught by Kristin Neff, Ph.D.

https://www.invitingpresence.com

cheri@invitingpresence.com

Connect with your host, Ali Miller:

Training + Coaching

Explore my 9-week private coaching program for couples: Stop Fighting! (without stuffing your feelings or sacrificing your needs): https://www.alimillercoaching.com/stopfighting

Free Resources

• Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets: https://www.alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds

• Free Mini-Course: The 4 Steps to Stop Any Fight Without Giving In https://www.alimillercoaching.com/freeminicourse

• Befriending Ourselves: Resources for Inner Peace & Compassionate Self-Care

Connect with Ali

• Instagram: @alimillercoaching

• Free Private Facebook Group: NVC for Couples https://www.facebook.com/groups/nvcforcouples

• Email: ali@alimillercoaching.com

• Website: https://www.alimillercoaching.com

Are you and your partner stuck in the same arguments over and over? In this episode, which is the third in my new series called "Common Communication Patterns That Keep Couples Stuck — And How to Get Unstuck," I'll break down how rushing to get through a conflict might feel like progress, but is ultimately unproductive and keeps you stuck and frustrated.

I'll introduce my Heart-Centered Conflict Navigation Roadmap, an NVC-based approach that guides couples through conflict in a connecting, productive, and efficient way. You'll learn why slowing down, empathic understanding, and heart-centered communication are the keys to resolving conflict in a way that's collaborative, creative, and lasting.

Plus, I'll share simple + practical tips you can start using today to move from "me vs. you" to "we're in this together," and why a few focused minutes of connection can save you hours of fruitless fighting.

If you've ever thought, "We don't have time for this," or "We know each other's needs, but we're still stuck," this episode is for you.

Want to learn NVC with Ali?

Training + Coaching

Explore my 9-week private coaching program for couples: Stop Fighting! (without stuffing your feelings or sacrificing your needs): https://www.alimillercoaching.com/stopfighting

Free Resources

• Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets: https://www.alimillercoaching.com/feelingsandneeds

• Free Mini-Course: The 4 Steps to Stop Any Fight Without Giving In https://www.alimillercoaching.com/freeminicourse

Connect with Ali

• Instagram: @alimillercoaching

• Free Private Facebook Group: NVC for Couples https://www.facebook.com/groups/nvcforcouples

• Email: ali@alimillercoaching.com

• Website: https://www.alimillercoaching.com