What happens when speaking up for yourself doesn’t just feel uncomfortable, but unsafe?

In this episode, we explore the hidden cost of being “good”, when agreeability, accommodation, and self-sacrifice become survival strategies that disconnect us from our own voice.

We unpack:

•Why asking for what you want can trigger shame, fear, or collapse

•How early relational dynamics shape patterns of self-abandonment

•The difference between healthy negotiation and domination dynamics

•How to recognize when someone is unable to meet you

•What it means to stay with yourself in the face of pushback

This is a conversation about reclaiming your voice, building self-trust, and learning to choose yourself, without losing your capacity for care and connection.

Read more on the blog.

For ongoing practice and deeper learning, I warmly invite you to become a member of The School of Human Connection.

Twice a month, I host live calls where members bring real relationship dilemmas. We slow things down and I'll help you see what's actually happening and how to respond with more integrity, strength and care.

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.

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Join the School of Human Connection
• Hop on my free Wednesday live call
• Follow me on YouTube

What do you do when someone you love can’t meet you in the way you need?

In this episode, we explore the emotional and relational complexity of unmet needs, whether with a parent, a child, or someone close to us. Through two powerful real-life conversations, we unpack the difference between grief and control, the limits of communication, and the shift from trying to change others to relating to what’s actually here.

In this episode, we explore:

•Why unmet needs often lead to urgency, over-effort, and self-abandonment

•The role of grief when connection isn’t available in the way we long for

•How to shift from control and persuasion to invitation and choice

•What it means to take responsibility for your side of a relationship

This is a grounded, compassionate look at what it means to love without losing yourself.

Read more on the blog.

For ongoing practice and deeper learning, I warmly invite you to become a member of The School of Human Connection.

Twice a month, I host live calls where members bring real relationship dilemmas. We slow things down and I'll help you see what's actually happening and how to respond with more integrity, strength and care.

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.

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Join the School of Human Connection
• Hop on my free Wednesday live call
• Follow me on YouTube

When someone we love is in a relationship that’s causing harm, knowing what to do can feel incredibly confusing.

Do we step in, or step back?

In this follow-up conversation from last week, we speak again with Liza, who is now supporting her son through a relationship that is leaving him anxious, overwhelmed, and disconnected from himself. Together, they explore how to recognize when a relationship has crossed from challenging into harmful, and what it means to respond with both care and clarity.

What you’ll learn:

•How to recognize when a relationship is harmful (not just challenging)

•When it’s appropriate to step in, and how to do it without controlling

•The difference between support, rescue, and intervention

•How to stay out of triangulation while still being deeply relational

•Why the “net effect” of a relationship matters more than intention

Read more on the blog.

For ongoing practice and deeper learning, I warmly invite you to become a member of The School of Human Connection.

Twice a month, I host live calls where members bring real relationship dilemmas. We slow things down and I'll help you see what's actually happening and how to respond with more integrity, strength and care.

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.

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Join the School of Human Connection
• Hop on my free Wednesday live call
• Follow me on YouTube