The Baggage Reclaim Sessions

A challenge that often presents itself while dating is the struggle to stay hopeful and grounded while pursuing our need or desire for a relationship. Natalie talks about the key sources of anxiety and why, ultimately, 'efforting' isn't going to control (or change) the time frame or what prospective partners do so we might as well get on with the business of being us and living. Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Does someone really need to do the equivalent of giving us a one-star review by going out of their way to make us aware of their dislike of us? Do we need to let our ex know that we’re “over” them? Why did they put themselves on Tinder right after they made plans to move or be away for some time? What’s the craic with people doing us wrong and then saying “It hurts me more than (or as much as) it hurts you”? And why are we saying that it’s wrong that the relationship with the person who didn’t treat us very well has ended? These are just some of the things that make Natalie (and others) go hmmm.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Are you feeling typecast by your experiences and pattern? A role is a job or function that we take on within our interpersonal relationships in order to ‘be good’ and ‘help out’… even if what we’re doing is harmful instead of helpful. In this episode, Natalie breaks down why we play particular roles including sharing 60+ examples and why roles, ultimately, sabotage intimacy as well as our potential and purpose.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

When you go on dates or are in a relationship, who is it that shows up? Is it you, the whole you and nothing but you? Or, is it your representative, the persona you send out that’s a glossier or more watered-down version of you that you think does the best job of selling you as future partner or spouse material? Natalie talks about the perils of letting your 'dating and relationship self' overshadow the real you.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

What do you do when you feel as if you’ve failed at something? Shame you? Shrink into yourself and isolate? Pick you apart in an attempt to figure out what’s wrong with you? Turn your failure into a secret that you need to cart around in your emotional baggage? Natalie shares why she won't be doing any of these things and uses a recent experience and its parallels with dating and relationships to reframe disappointment, rejection and loss.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Natalie explores our reluctance to so much as tidy our emotional baggage and shares a quick exercise that highlights where we can make space for more of the things we want to be, do and have.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Is it something you said? Is it something you did? Is it because you weren't patient/perfect/sexy/whatever enough? Nope! They're unavailable. In this week's episode, Natalie delves into the ten key signs that someone is emotionally unavailable including blowing hot and cold, excuses about timing, actions and words not matching, and it being on their terms.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In this week's episode, Natalie explains the 5 stages of relationships and how you can use these to recognise whether you are experiencing the intimacy you need in order to take the relationship in the direction you want to go.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Following on from last week’s episode about try-ing, Natalie explains why you deserve to feel secure while dating or in a relationship, and why you don’t have to burn up your energies trying to convince or convert them into giving you that security of knowing that you’re liked, loved, cared for, trusted and respected.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

I just try so hard. I just keep trying. No matter what I do… No matter what I try… Sound familiar? In the first episode of 2019, Natalie shares a recent experience that flagged up to her that we just don't have to try THAT hard. You know, the kind of hard where we're only 'trying' because we feel as if we're "not good enough" or are aware of the other person's bottomless pit ways.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In another episode from the friendship series, Natalie tackles the painful subject of when a friend distances or cuts off.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

It's that time of the year when there can be a temptation to text/Facebook message/call/gift your ex or someone you fell out with. In this episode, Natalie explains why reaching out has the potential to cause more harm than good if you're unaware of your intentions.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

People often get in touch with Natalie feeling as if they've been rejected for being the real them, but a bit of digging often reveals that they were pretending to be something they're not. This week, Natalie tackles faking it, blending in and trying to be perfect.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Natalie revisits the topic of needs, delving into why we all give and feel love differently and so we can't assume that people will know what we need or that they'll be "just like us". She also shares what she learned from finally getting around to reading The 5 Love Languages, as well as why it's essential to be mindful of a need that drives us far more than any others.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

How confident do you feel about raising an issue with a friend? If you avoid talking about what’s on your mind for fear that the friendship will end or you do speak up, but feel as if it always backfires, you’re not alone. Natalie delves into the topic of conflict in friendships. Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Starting to feel a niggling anxiety about family, your social life, how much money you have to spend or whether you’re a “success”? It’s that time of year where thanks to a succession of celebrations and hallmark days, many of us fall prey to what Natalie refers to as the 10-12 Weeks of Self-Esteem Torment. Find out why we feel like this and how to avoid getting sucked in.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Whether it’s life stage, personal growth or the friendship stagnating, sometimes we feel as if we’ve outgrown a bond (or that our friend has outgrown us). Natalie explores the subject including why assumptions and judgement cloud our, well, judgement and cause us to distance ourselves unnecessarily, and why our friends being “different” doesn’t mean they’re not our friend.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Ever found yourself feeling trapped in a conversation or drama that you don't want to be a part of? Turns out, you don't have to hold yourself hostage to it. Yes, even with family! Natalie shares how to recent experiences with family helped her to be aware of her anger as well as the need to create a clear boundary that opted her out of an issue.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In this episode, Natalie delves into the tricky topic of emotional blackmail. What is it, which of our feelings alert us to its presence, how it manifests, and how to recognise it so that we can begin nipping it in the bud.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In this episode, Natalie talks about getting on board with the need for self-care so that we can protect and nurture our emotional and psychological well-being.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership