Dannah had dreamed of a career in law enforcement since childhood, but her life was turned upside down right before college graduation, when a trusted mentor told her she was too empathetic for a career as a federal agent. How could she move forward when her true self and her true calling seemed to conflict? She found a way– as an author and expert who helps women navigate life with both confidence and safety. Listen to today's episode for more of her story and lots of tips to navigate our unsafe world without getting paranoid.

Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/802

Does your chest ever tighten when your phone rings and you see it's someone in your family who you know needs something?

Does your stomach drop when you get a text message that says, "We need to talk"?

If you're already exhausted before you say yes to a whole plethora of things your family of origin may need from you, this post is for you.

Family obligations are something I have had a complicated relationship with. Growing up, I felt a deep loyalty to my family of origin, particularly my mother and my sisters. And it got complicated when I fell in love with my husband and became a bonus mom to three teenage sons. There was so much going on, and the truth is, you can't really prioritize both.

There's a natural shift that happens when you have a family of your own, or like me, you marry into a family. And when I was the one keeping it all together in my family of origin, I had to really decide what I was going to do. I was confronted with the extent of my obligation.

So let's talk about family obligations, guilt, roles we didn't actively volunteer for, and why so many capable, loving, high-functioning people feel trapped by the responsibilities they quietly resent.

Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/801

Do you think you're codependent? Or are you unsure?

In this post, I'm going to walk you through nine questions to help you understand, pretty conclusively, if you are a high-functioning codependent.

I want you to walk away with a clear snapshot of your own codependent behaviors. And I want to be clear: this is a no-judgment zone. If we get really judgmental, we're not going to look at what we need to look at. If we let shame dictate what we examine, we'll stay in denial. And then nothing changes.

You deserve to create relationships, lives, and careers that thrill and fulfill you. So let's look honestly at where you are.

Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/800