Episode Title: Is It Normal to Be Drawn to or Retreat from Grandiose Personalities?

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Normal but Not, we dive into the fascinating—and often misunderstood—dynamic between people pleasers and grandiose personalities. Why are some of us irresistibly drawn to—or instinctively retreat from—narcissistic traits? I explore this "normal but not" connection, peeling back the layers to uncover how childhood wounds, like the narcissistic mother or father wound, shape these patterns.

You'll learn:

• What grandiosity really is and how it serves as a survival strategy for narcissists.
• The toxic dance between people pleasers and grandiose personalities, and why it feels so familiar.
• The difference between the narcissistic mother wound and father wound—and how each leaves its mark.
• Three actionable steps to break free from this dynamic, including setting boundaries, healing your inner child, and recognizing unhealthy patterns.

Plus, I share personal stories and real-life examples to help you spot these dynamics in your own life and take the first steps toward healthier relationships.

Key Takeaways:

• Grandiosity is an inflated sense of self-importance, often masking deep insecurity.
• People pleasers and narcissists engage in a push-pull dynamic rooted in unmet childhood needs.
• Recognizing and healing your inner child is crucial to breaking free from this cycle.

Workshop Alert:
🎉 Trauma to Triumph: Setting Boundaries that Transform in 1 Hour is now open for registration! 🎉
If you’re ready to stop people-pleasing and create guilt-free boundaries that feel empowering and aligned, this workshop is for you. Grab your spot now through the link here or in the show notes.

Free Resource:
Download my free guide: Are You Stuck in the Narcissist-People Pleaser Dance? Discover How to Break Free! Download here.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Cheat Sheet: Setting Boundaries Without Guilt Download here.
• Bill Eddy’s work on high-conflict personalities.
• Terry Real’s concept of narcissistic grandiosity.

Let’s Connect:

• Follow me on Instagram: @completecoachingwithkrystal
• Check out my podcast Reclaim Your Pleasure: Link here

Subscribe & Review:
Don’t forget to subscribe to Normal but Not and leave a review if you enjoyed today’s episode. Your support helps us reach more people ready to redefine what’s truly healthy and authentic!

🎙 We’ll be back in January after a short holiday break. See you in the new year!

Episode Summary
People-pleasing may seem normal, but it’s far from healthy. In this episode of Normal but Not, Krystal Centinello unpacks the truth behind people-pleasing behaviors and explores the four main types of people pleasers: The Caretaker, The Peacekeeper, The True Pleaser, and The Manager. Drawing from her personal experiences and trauma-informed expertise, Krystal breaks down how these patterns develop, why they persist, and how you can start reclaiming your authenticity.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
💡 What people-pleasing really is (hint: it’s not kindness).
💡 The fears and environments that create people-pleasing behaviors.
💡 The four types of people pleasers and how they show up in your life.
💡 Actionable steps to stop people-pleasing and start living authentically.
💡 How to identify your type of people-pleaser with a free quiz tailored just for you.

Take the Quiz
Ready to discover your people-pleasing type? Take Krystal’s free quiz and get personalized tips to break free from people-pleasing patterns. Go to KrystalCentinello.com/type to take the quiz.

Actionable Steps to Break Free from People-Pleasing
✔️ Name It to Tame It: Identify your type and recognize when you’re acting to meet others’ expectations rather than your own.
✔️ Set Small Boundaries: Practice saying “no” or voicing your opinion in low-stakes situations.
✔️ Practice Self-Compassion: Celebrate small wins and be patient with yourself as you unlearn these patterns.

Join the Conversation
Have you struggled with people-pleasing? Which type resonates with you most? Share your thoughts on Instagram and tag @completecoachingwithkrystal to join the conversation!

Follow & Connect
✨ Follow Krystal for more tips on boundaries, empowerment, and reclaiming your authenticity:
Instagram: @completecoachingwithkrystal

Don’t Forget to Subscribe!
If you loved this episode, subscribe to Normal but Not and leave a review to help more recovering people pleasers find the show. See you next week!

In this episode of Normal but Not, Krystal Centinello dives into the comparison trap we all fall into—especially on social media. Is it normal to feel like you don’t measure up? Yes. But is it healthy? Not so much. Krystal shares personal stories, explores why we compare ourselves to others, and offers actionable steps to break free from the toxic spiral of self-doubt.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why comparison feels so natural and yet so harmful.
• How social media fuels our insecurities.
• The importance of shifting your focus inward.
• Practical strategies to stop comparing and start celebrating your own journey.

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Actionable Steps:

1. Journal Your Thoughts: Challenge comparison triggers by questioning their truth.
2. Limit Social Media Time: Unfollow accounts that don’t serve you.
3. Practice Gratitude: Focus on what’s good in your life.
4. Affirm Your Worth: Use daily affirmations to celebrate your uniqueness.
5. Celebrate Your Wins: Recognize your achievements—big or small.
6. Pause and Reflect: Explore what jealousy is telling you about your desires.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Krystal on Instagram: @completecoachingwithkrystal
• Visit her website for tools and workshops: www.krystalcentinello.com
• Sign up for the FREE From Trauma to Triumph workshop: Setting Boundaries that Transform in 1 Hour

Stay Connected:
Subscribe to Normal but Not and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement. You’re not alone in this journey, and together we can redefine what’s truly “normal.”

Welcome to Normal but Not! In this episode, Krystal is joined by Kyra Newton, a Somatic Trauma Resolution practitioner dedicated to helping women regulate their nervous systems, release stored trauma, and heal emotional wounds somatically. Together, they explore how emotions get trapped in the body, why it’s crucial to feel boundaries instead of just setting them, and how to somatically heal for deeper relationships and emotional freedom.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Kyra’s inspiring journey from fearing rejection to becoming a guide for somatic healing
• The connection between boundaries, attachment styles, and the body
• How to recognize when you’re overriding your emotional limits
• Why healing must involve the body, not just the mind
• Practical tips for releasing stuck emotions and tuning into your body’s signals

Connect with Kyra:

• Instagram: @embodied_woman_
• Email: beingwithyousomatically@gmail.com

Resources Mentioned:

• Kyra’s Upcoming Workshop: Emotion Codes
• Krystal’s Free Cheat Sheet: Setting Boundaries Without Guilt
• Krystal’s Upcoming Workshop Stay Tuned: From Trauma to Triumph Setting Boundaries that Transform in 1-Hour

Follow Krystal:

• Instagram: @completecoachingwithkrystal

Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes exploring what’s Normal but Not. See you next week!

Episode 6: Is Guilt Normal? Letting Go of Guilt to Reclaim Your Power

Welcome back to Normal but Not! In this episode, host Krystal Centinello dives into the heavy and often misunderstood topic of guilt—a feeling that’s all too familiar for people-pleasers. If you’ve ever felt weighed down by guilt for setting boundaries, putting yourself first, or saying “no,” this episode is for you.

Krystal shares her personal story of navigating guilt after her grandfather’s passing, a moment that forced her to make a tough choice between family expectations and financial stability as a single mom. She explains how guilt often stems from childhood conditioning or societal pressures and offers actionable steps to help you release its grip.

• Where guilt comes from: Explore how guilt often roots itself in childhood or societal expectations.
• Recognizing guilt triggers: Identify moments when guilt shows up and how to connect them to underlying beliefs.
• Reframing guilt: Learn how to view guilt as a signal that you’re prioritizing your well-being, not failing others.
• Practicing self-compassion: Create mantras to affirm your worth, even when tough decisions are necessary.
• Celebrating guilt-free wins: Track and celebrate moments when you overcome guilt and set boundaries.
• Setting boundaries on guilt itself: Make a commitment to stop letting guilt control your choices.

• Download the free PDF: Breaking Free from Guilt for more practical tools to reclaim your power.
• Follow Krystal on Instagram: @completecoachingwithkrystal for tips, inspiration, and real talk about living authentically.

Guilt doesn’t have to rule your life. It’s time to embrace self-compassion, reclaim your power, and live unapologetically. Start small, celebrate your wins, and remember—you’re worthy of love and care, even when you make tough decisions.

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Normal but Not. See you next week for another deep dive into reclaiming your authenticity!

What You'll Learn in This EpisodeResources MentionedTake the First Step

Welcome to Normal but Not! I’m Krystal Centinello, a trauma-informed coach here to help people-pleasers reclaim their power, set healthy boundaries, and live authentically. Today, we’re diving into one of the most universal but hidden fears many of us carry: the fear of being abandoned or disliked.

In this episode, I share my own story of staying in an emotionally abusive relationship due to a deep fear of being unloved and judged. Together, we’ll unpack how early attachment styles often root these fears in childhood and how they show up in our adult relationships. From anxious to avoidant attachment, I’ll cover how our relationship dynamics can stem from early experiences with caregivers—and outline ways to reframe and heal.

What We’ll Cover:

• Attachment Styles & Fears of Rejection: A look into how different attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized) can shape our fears.
• Where These Fears Come From: How childhood experiences with conditional love, inconsistent caregiving, or trauma influence our adult relationships.

Practical Steps to Overcome These Fears:

1. Identify the Root of Your Fear: Reflect on childhood experiences that may have planted the seeds of these fears. Journaling about this can be an enlightening start to healing.
2. Challenge the Fear of Rejection: Reframe rejection as something that reflects more on others than on you. A mantra like "I am worthy, even if someone doesn’t approve of me" can be a helpful reminder.
3. Practice Saying 'No' Without Fear: Begin by setting boundaries in small situations. You’ll start to see that people value you even when you’re not constantly saying "yes."
4. Build Secure Relationships: Seek out relationships where you feel accepted as you are. Surrounding yourself with supportive people helps build resilience against the fear of being disliked.
5. Break the Cycle for the Next Generation: If you’re a parent, model unconditional love, which can prevent children from developing these fears.

Special Insight: The Fifth Agreement’s Movie Theater Analogy I also bring in The Fifth Agreement by Don Miguel Ruiz, using the "movie theater" analogy to explain why not taking things personally can be freeing. Imagine everyone as the star of their own "movie"—others’ words and actions reflect their own perceptions, not who we are. This mindset helps us detach from personalizing others' reactions and diminishes the fear of being disliked.

Episode Summary:
In this episode of Normal but Not, Krystal delves into a complex topic that resonates with many adult children of alcoholics: growing up with a “fun” or “functional” alcoholic parent. This parent may have seemed like the life of the party, but beneath the surface, their actions often brought hidden dysfunction and unspoken pain. Krystal is joined by Jess Frost, a self-leadership and empowerment coach and co-founder of The 3E Space, who works specifically with adult children of alcoholics (ACoAs). Together, they explore the lasting effects of these early family dynamics and share ways to break free from roles that continue to impact relationships and self-worth in adulthood.

Topics Covered:

• The emotional strain behind the “fun” alcoholic parent and why it might have felt normal at the time.
• Understanding the roles of Enabler, Hero, Scapegoat, Lost Child, and Mascot in families affected by addiction.
• How these roles can shape self-esteem, vulnerability, and relationships well into adulthood.
• Actionable steps for ACoAs to start healing and create healthier patterns in their lives.

About Our Guest:
Jess Frost is a Self-Leadership and Empowerment Coach, Co-Founder of The 3E Space, and Founder of COurAgeous Healing and COurAgeous Connections, initiatives designed to support and empower adult children of alcoholics. After facing her own journey of burnout and recovery, Jess integrates a range of tools—including NLP, hypnotherapy, somatic EMDR, and breathwork—to help ACoAs reconnect with themselves and reclaim their lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. Redefining Normal – Growing up with a “fun” but unpredictable parent may feel normal, but it often masks deeper emotional tension.
2. Understanding Roles – Uncover and release the roles like Hero, Scapegoat, and Lost Child that we unconsciously adopt to cope in dysfunctional family dynamics.
3. The Healing Journey – Small, intentional steps can create powerful shifts. Jess shares actionable advice for ACoAs to begin healing and developing a healthy sense of self.

Resources & Links:

• Jess Frost's Website - The 3E Space
• National Association for Children of Alcoholics (Nacoa) - nacoa.org.uk
• Jess’s Nacoa Article: Being a COA in the Workplace
• Instagram: @iamjessfrost and @the_3e_space
• Facebook: @jessfrostempowerment
• LinkedIn: Jess Frost