The people we love aren’t usually the problem — it’s the emotional weight we’re carrying that distorts how we hear and experience them.
When you’re overloaded, stretched, or emotionally raw, even the people you love the most can feel like pressure points.
I’ve seen this in clients.
And I’ve definitely seen it in myself.
When Your State Interferes With Your Connection
There have been times — especially between my husband and me — where something small gets interpreted through an old lens.
If I’m tired or triggered, I can take a harmless comment and turn it into an internal storyline that he never actually said.
And I’ll admit this:
I’ve let things snowball into a day or two of pulling back, going cold, or assuming the worst…
not necessarily because of him in that moment,
but because of the emotional weight I was carrying.
This is the part we don’t talk about enough as high achievers —
how our old wounds, our standards, our exhaustion, and our pace can distort even good relationships.
What Happens When You Pause Instead of React
But when I slow down…
step outside the story I’ve created in my head…
and shift into gratitude for this important person in my life…
everything softens.
I remember who he actually is.
I remember our partnership.
I remember our commitment.
I remember the life we’re building — two imperfect humans doing their best.
As my daughter says, “perfectly imperfect.”
Gratitude doesn’t fix everything.
But it brings me back to the truth —
and when I’m grounded, our relationship resets naturally.
Try This Before You Respond
Before you react…
before you assume…
before you take something personally…
Pause.
Breathe.
And shift into one thing you genuinely appreciate about that person.
Just one.
It’s incredible how fast gratitude pulls you back into connection —
and how much lighter your relationships feel when you stop hearing them through the weight you’re carrying.
✅ When You’re Ready to Take the Next Step
If you want a deeper framework for breaking out of the burnout cycle and stepping into your next chapter with clarity, grab my book:
👉 The North Star Method
If you’re ready for personalized guidance as you define what’s next, explore working with me here:
