Relationships Made Easy

Dr. Abby Medcalf
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Mar 10, 2025 • 47min

325. Seven Powerful Techniques to Breathe Yourself to Calm

It’s something you do about 20,000 times a day: breathing. But don’t be fooled by its simplicity. Breathing isn’t just about keeping you alive; it’s a powerful tool that influences your emotions, thoughts, and overall well-being. Whether you’re feeling scared, excited, worried, happy, or calm, your breath reflects it all. And here’s the best part: by learning to control your breath, you can actually take charge of your emotional state and calm your mind. Today you’ll learn about the science of breathing and how that’s connected to your emotions, and seven specific breathing techniques, including what’s appropriate for different mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma survivors. If you’ve had a hard time with breathing exercises before (or not), today’s episode will help your life.____________________________Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/seven-powerful-techniques-to-breathe-yourself-to-calmGet my Free Quick-Reference Guide to these 7 Breath Techniques: https://abbymedcalf.com/breathing-techniquesGrab the Ultimate Breathing Techniques Bundle for just $8 and unlock powerful resources to help you improve your breathwork, reduce stress, and enhance your well-being. https://abbymedcalf.com/rme-325-bundle What's inside?·     Free Quick-Reference Guide to these 7 Breath Techniques·     If Breathing Techniques Feel Scary Journaling Prompts·     Weekly Mindful Breathing Journal·     List of Other Resources to Help you with your Breathing Education·     Breathwork Tracker·     Trauma-Informed Breathing Techniques and Resources·     A script you can follow to create a calming breathing practice in your own voice·     Allowing Your Breath Visualization recorded by meLearn how to create and hold healthy, loving boundaries. Buy my newest book on Amazon, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries or The Workbook: Boundaries Made Easier: https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries-workbookWant to feel happier and more connected in your relationship? Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book____________________________Say hello on social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbymedcalfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthrivingLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthrivingYouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mar 4, 2025 • 1h 4min

324. Emotional Triggers: Understanding Your Brain and How to Keep It in Check

Ever snap at your partner over something trivial, only to regret it later? Discover the fascinating world of emotional triggers and how they can escalate minor annoyances into major disputes. Learn about the brain's role in these reactions and explore mindfulness strategies to manage your responses. Hear about effective techniques for setting personal boundaries and maintaining emotional well-being. Plus, find out how personal accountability can lead to greater happiness in your relationships. It's all about taking control!
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Feb 25, 2025 • 50min

323. Reclaiming Yourself: A Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Healing and Reparenting Yourself

If you've ever felt like something was missing in your emotional development, struggled with self-worth, or found yourself repeating unhealthy patterns in relationships, you might need reparenting. In this episode, we’re diving deep into what reparenting is, my top six signs that you need to work on this, and my two-step guide to making it happen. Today, you’ll walk away with a ton of actionable strategies to start reparenting yourself, because it’s never too late to give yourself the care and validation you deserve.____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/reclaiming-yourself-a-step-by-step-guide-to-self-healing-and-reparenting-yourself Grab The Feelings List: https://abbymedcalf.com/feelingslist Grab my Grounding Exercises: https://abbymedcalf.com/groundingGrab the Reparenting Yourself Bundle on Patreon! https://abbymedcalf.com/patreon-reparenting Learn how to create and hold healthy, loving boundaries. Buy my newest book on Amazon, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries Want to feel happier and more connected in your relationship? Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book____________________________ Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to  https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast and https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives where you’ll find past episodes. For more quick tips, subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop Say hello on social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbymedcalfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthrivingLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthrivingYouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 18, 2025 • 1h 9min

322. How to Move Past the Dysfunction or Trauma of Unhealthy Parenting

Growing up in a dysfunctional or traumatic home can shape every part of your life: your sense of self, your relationships, your ability to trust, and even how you handle stress. If you’ve ever wondered why you struggle with setting boundaries, attract emotionally unavailable partners, or feel like you have to earn love, the roots lie in your upbringing. But here’s the thing: your past doesn’t have to equal your future. It equals your present. What you do now is what predicts your future. Understanding what happened, how it affects you, and how to move forward is the key to breaking free from dysfunctional patterns and creating a life filled with real connection, joy, and ease. Today, you’ll learn signs to look out for and my five steps to heal and move forward.____________________________Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/how-to-move-past-the-dysfunction-or-trauma-of-unhealthy-parentingGrab my FREE Mindfulness Starter Kit: https://abbymedcalf.com/product/mindfulness-starter-kit/Learn how to create and hold healthy, loving boundaries. Buy my newest book on Amazon, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy https://abbymedcalf.com/boundariesWant to feel happier and more connected in your relationship? Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book____________________________ Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to  https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast and https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives where you’ll find past episodes.Subscribe today to get my love letter to you! This biweekly reminder will keep you on the path to creating connected, happy relationships (especially the one with yourself!). https://abbymedcalf.comReady to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shopA great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shopSay hello on social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbymedcalfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthrivingLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthrivingYouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 11, 2025 • 1h 6min

321. How to End a Relationship Without Breaking Each Other

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin made conscious uncoupling famous in 2014. But where does it stand a decade later? When couples decide to part ways, the process can feel overwhelming and painful. But conscious uncoupling offers an alternative: a mindful way to separate that prioritizes respect, communication, and the well-being of everyone involved, including kids if you have them. Conscious uncoupling encourages a shift in focus, away from blame and resentment, toward healing, growth, and a peaceful, ongoing relationship as co-parents or an ability to move on in a healthy way if you don’t have kids. If you’re contemplating or already facing separation and wondering how to navigate it with kindness and respect, today is for you. We’ll dive into what conscious uncoupling is, what you have to do on your own, strategies for effective co-parenting, and my eight steps for separating peacefully. ____________________________Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/eight-steps-to-a-peaceful-breakup Grab my Co-Parenting Meeting Checklist: https://abbymedcalf.com/coparenting-checklist Learn how to create and hold healthy, loving boundaries. Buy my newest book on Amazon, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries Want to feel happier and more connected in your relationship? Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book____________________________ Subscribe today to get my love letter to you! This biweekly reminder will keep you on the path to creating connected, happy relationships (especially the one with yourself!). https://abbymedcalf.com For more quick tips, subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop Say hello on social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbymedcalfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthrivingLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthrivingYouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 8, 2025 • 1h 6min

321. How to End a Relationship Without Breaking Each Other (Patreon Exclusive)

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin made conscious uncoupling famous in 2014. But where does it stand a decade later? When couples decide to part ways, the process can feel overwhelming and painful. But conscious uncoupling offers an alternative: a mindful way to separate that prioritizes respect, communication, and the well-being of everyone involved, including kids if you have them. Conscious uncoupling encourages a shift in focus, away from blame and resentment, toward healing, growth, and a peaceful, ongoing relationship as co-parents or an ability to move on in a healthy way if you don’t have kids. If you’re contemplating or already facing separation and wondering how to navigate it with kindness and respect, today is for you. We’ll dive into what conscious uncoupling is, what you have to do on your own, strategies for effective co-parenting, and my eight steps for separating peacefully. ____________________________Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/eight-steps-to-a-peaceful-breakup  Grab my Co-Parenting Meeting Checklist: https://abbymedcalf.com/coparenting-checklist Learn how to create and hold healthy, loving boundaries. Buy my newest book on Amazon, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries Want to feel happier and more connected in your relationship? Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book____________________________ Subscribe today to get my love letter to you! This biweekly reminder will keep you on the path to creating connected, happy relationships (especially the one with yourself!). https://abbymedcalf.com For more quick tips, subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop Say hello on social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbymedcalfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthrivingLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthrivingYouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 4min

320. How to Beat Stress and Overwhelm: 8 Research-Backed Tips for a Calmer Life

Life's constant demands can lead to stress and overwhelm, but there are ways to regain control. Explore the science behind stress, from biological responses to societal pressures. Discover eight research-backed strategies that promote calm, including setting boundaries and the power of mindfulness. Learn how small victories can transform your well-being, and understand the crucial role of sleep and creativity in managing stress. Lastly, community support is highlighted as an essential element to foster emotional resilience.
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Jan 28, 2025 • 48min

319. How to Make Long-Distance (and Live-In) Relationships Work: Proven Tips for Building Connection and Trust

Join Abby's Patreon and get ad-free and early drop episodes of the podcast!Long-distance relationships (LDRs) are more prevalent than ever. With the rise of remote work, study abroad programs, and meeting people online, couples often find themselves navigating love across the miles. Most people think long-distance relationships “never work,” but that couldn’t be further from the truth. But, you’ve got to know what to do and not do, so today you’re going to learn my top seven dos and don’ts for making long-distance relationships (and really any relationship) great!____________________________Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/how-to-make-long-distance-and-live-in-relationships-work-proven-tips-for-building-connection-and-trust Grab my Top 5 Signs that Your LDR is in Trouble: https://abbymedcalf.com/LRDS Learn how to create and hold healthy, loving boundaries. Buy my newest book on Amazon, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries Want to feel happier and more connected in your relationship? Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book____________________________ Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to  https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast and https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives where you’ll find past episodes.Subscribe today to get my love letter to you! This biweekly reminder will keep you on the path to creating connected, happy relationships (especially the one with yourself!). https://abbymedcalf.comReady to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shopA great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shopSay hello on social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbymedcalfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthrivingLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthrivingYouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jan 21, 2025 • 60min

318. Why Body Image and Acceptance Can Be Tough: Five Steps to Make Peace with Your Body

If you’ve ever caught yourself poking at your belly or scrutinizing your thighs in the mirror, you’re not alone. Body image is something most of us grapple with, especially in a world obsessed with airbrushed perfection. But here’s the deal: you’re more than your body and learning to love the skin you’re in isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about living fully! Today we’ll discuss why body image can feel so complicated, what contributes to the way you see yourself, and, most importantly, five steps to help you start accepting your body (and yourself).____________________________ Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/why-body-image-and-acceptance-can-be-tough-five-steps-to-make-peace-with-your-body-patreon Join Abby’s online community, One Love Collective on Patreon to get exclusive access to content. Grab my FREE Mindfulness Starter Kit: https://abbymedcalf.com/product/mindfulness-starter-kit/ Learn how to create and hold healthy, loving boundaries. Buy my newest book on Amazon, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries Want to feel happier and more connected in your relationship? Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book____________________________ Looking for past episodes of the Relationships Made Easy Podcast? Head over to  https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast and https://abbymedcalf.com/podcast-the-archives where you’ll find past episodes. Subscribe today to get my love letter to you! This biweekly reminder will keep you on the path to creating connected, happy relationships (especially the one with yourself!). https://abbymedcalf.com Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop Say hello on social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbymedcalfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthrivingLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthrivingYouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jan 14, 2025 • 1h 8min

317. Emotional Healing Techniques: Mastering Mindfulness and Self-Acceptance/Compassion

If you want to heal emotionally, you have to focus on what you’re doing now, not what happened in the past. It’s, of course, important to speak about your past and get clear on some of your why, but the big mistake I find clients making is that they just want to keep talking about their childhood or a bad breakup and not focus on what they can do now. Talking about your past won’t heal you. Taking action will. But you need to take the right action. You heal yourself emotionally by getting good at three components: 1) Learning self-regulation, 2) Making mindfulness a habit, and 3) Practicing self-acceptance/self-compassion. The trick is that you need to do these in that order. Too many people are trying to practice self-acceptance, but they haven’t had any experience in self-regulation or mindfulness. It’s then incredibly hard to work on your self-compassion or acceptance, so you give up! Last week, in episode 316, we went all in on self-regulation. This week, you’ll learn to master mindfulness and self-acceptance/self-compassion. Let’s dive in.____________________________Full blog and show notes: https://abbymedcalf.com/emotional-healing-techniques-mastering-mindfulness-and-self-acceptance-compassion Grab my FREE Mindfulness Starter Kit: https://abbymedcalf.com/product/mindfulness-starter-kit/ Learn how to create and hold healthy, loving boundaries. Buy my newest book on Amazon, Boundaries Made Easy: Your Roadmap to Connection, Ease and Joy https://abbymedcalf.com/boundaries Want to feel happier and more connected in your relationship? Buy my #1 bestselling book on Amazon, Be Happily Married: Even If Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing: https://abbymedcalf.com/book____________________________ Subscribe today to get my love letter to you! This biweekly reminder will keep you on the path to creating connected, happy relationships (especially the one with yourself!). https://abbymedcalf.com For more quick tips, subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Ready to dig deeper? Take one of my online courses (some are FREE!) or grab a workbook: https://abbymedcalf.com/shop A great idea to stay motivated and keep your head in a positive direction is to buy some of my fabulous, inspirational merchandise. Get yourself a t-shirt, mug, tote bag or notebook with that daily reminder that you’ve got this! https://abbymedcalf.com/shop Say hello on social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbymedcalfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbymedcalfthrivingLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbymedcalfthrivingYouTube: https://abbymedcalf.com/youtube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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