Emotional Badass

Why do gut instincts about toxic people get ignored and talked away despite screaming warnings? Highly sensitive people exhaust themselves doing emotional calculus to predict what's happening in everyone else's heads while energy vampires drain them completely. That intelligent narcissist will never get it no matter how many perfect explanations get presented because low empathy means growth and self reflection stay permanently off the table. Playing small and dimming your light becomes automatic after years of learning that accomplishments make others uncomfortable, so managing everyone's feelings turns into a full time job instead of actually living. Affiliates and Sponsors: Brain FM https://www.brain.fm/emotionalbadass CODE: EMOTIONALBADASS Resources: PATTERNSCAPES DECK: https://getpatternscapes.com/ WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1: EmotionalBadass.com/coaching 30 Days to Peace Course EmotionalBadass.com/peace CODE: BADASS THE BI-WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER EmotionalBadass.com/newsletter SUPPORT US ON PATREON Patreon.com/emotionalbadass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Loneliness during holidays gets weaponized by shame in highly sensitive people, turning togetherness expectations into daggers stabbing at your worth. That fullness of isolation doesn't mean you're alone - billions are yearning for connection just like you. The dangerous pattern happens when loneliness runs to your head and creates cutting stories: "You must be the only person alone on Christmas." Society has zero positive templates for loners, confusing solitude with dysfunction. The shift requires forcefully changing gears - actively looking for places you fit instead of cataloging everywhere you don't. Real connection might be two actions away. Affiliates and Sponsors: Brain FM Resources: PATTERNSCAPES DECK: https://getpatternscapes.com/ WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1: EmotionalBadass.com/coaching 30 Days to Peace Course EmotionalBadass.com/peace THE BI-WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER EmotionalBadass.com/newsletter SUPPORT US ON PATREON Patreon.com/emotionalbadass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Confidence doesn't arrive before you do the thing, it shows up after your feet hit the ground. Nikki and Chris break down how insecurity actually works and why sensitive people often avoid confidence because they're terrified of becoming the arrogant narcissist who hurt them. They reveal the specific moments that built their confidence, from food poisoning disasters to stage fright at 17, and explain why pretending confidence actually creates real confidence over time. Chris shares the Tony Robbins technique for triggering confident states on command, while Nikki explains why your brain needs to do scary things while feeling weak to actually get stronger. They tackle a listener question about a boyfriend who won't let his girlfriend join his D&D campaign because he thinks she's too dumb, and discuss why that's either terrible communication or genuine arrogance. SPONSORS & AFFILIATES: Brain FM: 30 Day Free Trial & 20% Off https://www.brain.fm/emotionalbadass CODE: EMOTIONALBADASS RESOURCES: PATTERNSCAPES DECK: https://getpatternscapes.com/ WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1: EmotionalBadass.com/coaching 30 Days to Peace Course EmotionalBadass.com/peace THE BI-WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER EmotionalBadass.com/newsletter SUPPORT US ON PATREON Patreon.com/emotionalbadass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A cozy guided sleep meditation to help you relax, unwind, and get in touch with your sleepy grizzly side. Perfect for a cold winter night tucked beneath the covers of your warm bed. Resources: PATTERNSCAPES DECK: https://getpatternscapes.com/ WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1: EmotionalBadass.com/coaching 30 Days to Peace Course EmotionalBadass.com/peace THE BI-WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER EmotionalBadass.com/newsletter SUPPORT US ON PATREON Patreon.com/emotionalbadass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Confidence isn't about being the loudest person in the room, it's about having faith in your own influence and ability. Using The Emotion Thesaurus as a guide, this exploration breaks down exactly what confidence looks like physically (strong posture, wide steps, relaxed muscles) and what it feels like internally (calm breathing, positive outlook, mental ease). Highly sensitive people often get their confidence knocked down by living in a world where 80-85% of people aren't wired like them, leading to constant feedback that they're "too much" or "wrong." The physical signs reveal patterns like choosing the middle seat instead of hiding in corners, steering conversations instead of shrinking back, and that interesting connection between confidence and a positive outlook. There's also the shadow side where confidence can escalate into smugness or contempt, plus suppressed confidence showing up as minimizing compliments, downplaying your own comfort to make others feel better, and changing topics to deflect spotlight. The reluctant leader phenomenon gets explored too, where HSPs have all the attributes of wonderful leaders but stay sheepish about stepping up, then risk becoming complainers when they don't like how things are run. Resources: PATTERNSCAPES DECK: https://getpatternscapes.com/ WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1: EmotionalBadass.com/coaching 30 Days to Peace Course EmotionalBadass.com/peace THE BI-WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER EmotionalBadass.com/newsletter SUPPORT US ON PATREON Patreon.com/emotionalbadass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices