In this special holiday episode, we explore what happens when connection feels strained, boundaries are tested, and communications gets tough. From dealing with unsolicited advice and navigating silent partners to addressing unresolved conflicts in community and bridging value divides, these four callers bring real-life challenges that many of us can relate to. Together, we'll unpack practical tools, compassionate insights, and reflective questions to help you stay grounded, set boundaries, and maintain connection--even when it's hard.

Show Notes:

• 3:36 Dealing with unsolicited advice from a friend and how to navigate boundaries without snapping.
• 12:17 Silent partners, and how to create emotional safety when difficult conversations arise.
• 26:10 Unresolved conflicts in community, and how to approach delicate conversations with curiosity and care.
• 34:36 Bridging divides on life-and-death issues like vaccines, and how to stay grounded and compassionate when values clash.

Tune in for insights and practical tools on handling the messiness of human relationships, especially during the holiday season. 🎧✨

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Relationships as Spiritual Practice
Human 101 (free for Members!)
How to Have Hard Conversations
Blog Post: How to Respond to Silence and Shut Downs

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with your family and friends!

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.


Subscribe & Follow:
Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.

Thank you for listening!

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Become a member of my online learning community
• Winter 2025 Retreat: Getting Grounded in Your Goodness
• Join our calls live
• Set up a private session
• Follow me on TikTok @dr.yvetteerasmus

One of the most important stops we can make on our healing journey is figuring out how to sit with uncomfortable feelings. Often, this will appear in the form of others being upset with us. In this episode, we discuss one approach to others' upset: the ability to hear the message even when couched in a clumsy delivery.

We consider:

• 2:00 How can I speak with a friend who's always on her phone?
• 9:22 The key to a difficult conversation? How to elicit more care for more people.
• 14:34 My daughter doesn't want to spend time with me and is often mean. What is a healthy response?
• 18:10 Can you hear the message and ignore the delivery?
• 21:59 Key practices when others are upset with us.

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with your family and friends!

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.


Subscribe & Follow:
Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.

Thank you for listening!

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Become a member of my online learning community
• Winter 2025 Retreat: Getting Grounded in Your Goodness
• Join our calls live
• Set up a private session
• Follow me on TikTok @dr.yvetteerasmus

Today, we’re bringing you three heartfelt and deeply relatable conversations:

Co-Parenting with a Narcissist:
How do you protect your children while maintaining your own emotional resilience? We’ll dive into strategies for setting firm boundaries, minimizing conflict, and creating a safe and nurturing environment for your kids—all while managing the complexities of dealing with someone who prioritizes control over collaboration.

Reconnecting with an Adult Child
How do you approach a grown child with whom you’ve had a strained relationship, especially when the past is filled with pain? We’ll explore ways to lead with vulnerability, take responsibility without burdening them, and open the door to reconnection with respect and care.

Navigating Boundaries with a Difficult Roommate
Sharing a home can be a minefield of misunderstandings, especially when personalities clash and past trauma comes into play. We’ll break down how to manage a tense living situation with a roommate who struggles with passive-aggressive communication and territorial behaviors.


We consider:

• 2:15 How can I co-parent best?
• 15:20 Will my requests make a sticky situation worse?
• 20:30 A helpful hint when dealing with narcissistic defenses
• 26:50 How can I open the door to a deeper conversation with my adult child?
• 32:35 What I'd want to hear from an estranged parent
• 38:02 How can I invite my roommate into a conversation?
• 48:30 Closing thoughts

If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with your family and friends!

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.


Subscribe & Follow:
Stay updated on new episodes and resources by subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts or visiting yvetteerasmus.com.

Thank you for listening!

Here are more ways to connect with me:

• Become a member of my online learning community
• Winter 2025 Retreat: Getting Grounded in Your Goodness
• Join our calls live
• Set up a private session
• Follow me on TikTok @dr.yvetteerasmus