Conversations from the Heart
A weekly, soul-nourishing podcast offering psychologically grounded, heart-centered reflections on human relationships, inner healing, and compassion-based communication.
Focused on live mini-coaching moments to help callers shift from reactive, domination-based communication to collaborative, heart-centered connection. Listen for new scripts for stuck situations, new ways of responding to old relationship dynamics and guidance on how to approach these situations with empathy, self-awareness, and effective communication strategies. Here, we emphasize understanding both one's own needs and the needs of others, creating safe spaces for vulnerable conversations, and finding ways to express ourselves authentically while respecting others' boundaries.
Conversations from the Heart
#56 - How to Get More of What You Want: Difficult Family Member Edition
Navigating relationships with difficult family members can sometimes be a Herculean task.
This episode highlights four main strategies for walking the path of authentic communication with family members who can be hard to connect with:
1. Practicing the art of translating judgments into feelings and needs.
2. Maintaining deep connection with ourselves.
3. Locating the conversation in the present and not the past.
4. Melting defensiveness by creating enough internal capacity to be present to someone else's pain.
We discuss:
- 5:07 My family can be so judgmental. How can I communicate better with them?
- 6:26 How to practice translating judgments into feelings and needs.
- 16:10 The inside practice essential for staying grounded when someone else is activated.
- 19:17 "When we are helping someone else wake up to the dynamics of a situation, we want it to be as gentle as possible so they enjoy it and do more of it."
- 25:08 How can I establish trust with my brother who avoids me?
- 32:58 Want to change the same old complaint-filled conversation? Try locating the conversation in the present, not the past.
- 36:23 How can we begin melting defensiveness?
- 37:11 A script for moving forward when you need an answer and the other person is silent.
- 40:15 How to get more of what you want.
Something that can make it difficult for families to connect authentically with one another are the relational habits we fall into. This fall I'll be offering a practice group that dives deep into narcissism and shame and I'd love to see you there! Interested in learning more? Check out all the details.
Join me this summer for my Holding Hope and Truth Over Comfort Mini-Workshops. We'll explore strengthening and centering hope, and choosing truth over comfort.
For ongoing practice and deeper learning, join my monthly membership program. You will find a safe space for live discussions and a supportive community of like-minded, open-hearted humans.
Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.
Get 20% off your annual NVC Library subscription using the code YVETTENVCLIBRARY at checkout at: https://nvcacademy.com/registration/signup/nvc-library
Here are more ways to connect with me: