When Love Isn't Enough
Explicit content warning
03/24/25 • 38 min
In this episode of the Practical Spirituality Podcast, Gareth and Kim challenge the popular belief that love can solve all relationship problems. They discuss how, despite genuine affection, relationships can still reach a breaking point when underlying issues—like toxicity, poor communication, or conflicting values—go unaddressed.
Drawing on personal experiences, Gareth and Kim highlight how societal expectations often persuade people to endure unhealthy situations. The conversation takes a revealing turn when they examine how fear sometimes disguises itself as love, causing individuals to remain in damaging relationships out of concern for finances, loneliness, or the difficulty of starting over.
The hosts underscore the vital role of self-love in fostering healthy connections, providing oneself with enough self love to maintain protective boundaries and avoid accepting toxic behavior. This perspective shifts the notion of love from self-sacrifice to a balanced exchange that respects both partners.
Whether listeners are grappling with a current relationship or recovering from a past one, this episode provides compassionate advice, support and practical strategies for navigating the limits of love.
Become a Community Member at https://community.garethmichael.com/ to join our community and get early access to new episodes, answers to your personal questions and so much more.
In this episode of the Practical Spirituality Podcast, Gareth and Kim challenge the popular belief that love can solve all relationship problems. They discuss how, despite genuine affection, relationships can still reach a breaking point when underlying issues—like toxicity, poor communication, or conflicting values—go unaddressed.
Drawing on personal experiences, Gareth and Kim highlight how societal expectations often persuade people to endure unhealthy situations. The conversation takes a revealing turn when they examine how fear sometimes disguises itself as love, causing individuals to remain in damaging relationships out of concern for finances, loneliness, or the difficulty of starting over.
The hosts underscore the vital role of self-love in fostering healthy connections, providing oneself with enough self love to maintain protective boundaries and avoid accepting toxic behavior. This perspective shifts the notion of love from self-sacrifice to a balanced exchange that respects both partners.
Whether listeners are grappling with a current relationship or recovering from a past one, this episode provides compassionate advice, support and practical strategies for navigating the limits of love.
Become a Community Member at https://community.garethmichael.com/ to join our community and get early access to new episodes, answers to your personal questions and so much more.
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Breaking Down Communication
In this episode of the Practical Spirituality, Gareth and Kim explore why communication often breaks down, even when people believe they are speaking clearly. They explain how everyone operates from their own unique “map of the world,” shaped by personal experiences, backgrounds, and cultural influences. As a result, two people raised in the same household can still develop entirely different communication styles.
They discuss how most people were never taught the art of true communication. They highlight the importance of self-awareness in conversation, noting that unresolved internal issues can surface when individuals use dialogue to avoid self-reflection. The episode challenges the tendency to focus on who is “right” or “wrong,” arguing that such binary thinking destroys the curiosity and vulnerability necessary for genuine connection.
The hosts offer practical strategies for improving communication, including maintaining genuine curiosity, being fully present, asking clarifying questions, and recognizing when emotional reactions signal the need to pause. They also acknowledge that not everyone is ready for deeper connection and emphasize the value of seeking professional support, such as therapy or coaching, when needed.
Become a Community Member at https://community.garethmichael.com/ to join our community and get early access to new episodes, answers to your personal questions and so much more.
Next Episode
Caring What People Think
In this episode of the Practical Spirituality Podcast, Gareth and Kim examine why we care so much about other people’s opinions. They delve into the psychological roots of this tendency, explaining how humans are wired from infancy to seek external validation for survival, creating neural pathways that can persist throughout adulthood. They assess how these patterns have intensified in the digital age, and the impact of social media.
Our hosts share personal stories of grappling with comparison, perfectionism, and the pressure to maintain seemingly “perfect” facades. They highlight how relying too heavily on others’ judgments can result in anxiety and self-doubt. They also discuss practical strategies for moving beyond this cycle, emphasizing self-validation, establishing boundaries, and expressing oneself authentically.
Rather than advocating for a complete dismissal of external feedback, they encourage listeners to develop a healthier relationship with others’ views, allowing them to inform but not define personal identity. For anyone who has felt the need to “people-please”, this episode offers support, guidance, and practical insights for cultivating greater peace and authenticity.
Become a Community Member at https://community.garethmichael.com/ to join our community and get early access to new episodes, answers to your personal questions and so much more.
Practical Spirituality - When Love Isn't Enough
Transcript
Welcome back to the Practical Spirituality Podcast . We are so excited to have you on this journey with us , where we explore all elements of mind , body , emotions and soul through the lens of everyday life .
Speaker 2Hello Kim .
Speaker 1Hello Gareth .
Speaker 2How are
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