CNM 001: Introduction | Our Story of Codependency Recovery

In this episode, we're delighted to have our first outside guest licensed profeesional counselor Jennifer Beall. As we interviewed Jennifer, we each had personal epiphanies and light bulbs going off in our heads, particularly for me when I came to the realization that "people-pleasing" for codependents is actually a form of control in order to make themselves feel safe, not control in the sense of deliberately manipulating other so you can feel in charge. But it is a subtle mechanism they use to empower themselves, i.e. "If I make my wife happy then she will be nice to me so I'll be happy." Paradoxically it's actually empowering to make everyone around you feel what they're feeling because if you do, then theoretically you can control the environment to provide safety for yourself. Great insight!