Saying No in Social Situations—Without Guilt or Pressure
03/10/25 • 42 min
Advocating for yourself can feel uncomfortable—especially when your choices go against social norms. If you’ve ever felt pressured to justify a lifestyle change or struggled to hold your boundaries with family, friends, or colleagues, this episode is for you.
Today, I chat with Kath Elliott, an alcohol mindset coach who reassessed her relationship with alcohol after a breast cancer diagnosis. Kath shares simple, practical strategies to help you confidently communicate your choices, set boundaries without guilt, and handle social pressure with ease.
This conversation goes beyond alcohol—these self-advocacy skills apply to any situation where you need to stand firm in your choices. Whether you’re setting new boundaries or facing difficult conversations, Kath’s insights will help you advocate for yourself with confidence, certainty, and self-belief.
Because self-advocacy isn’t just about healthcare decisions—it’s about standing up for what’s right for you in every part of life.
In this episode:
- How to confidently communicate your choices—without over-explaining
- The power of owning your decision to shut down pushback
- Simple phrases for responding to social pressure with ease
- How to hold boundaries with kindness—even when others push back
- Why self-advocacy in everyday life builds confidence for bigger health decisions
Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!
Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods
For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.
Connect with Luan:
Follow Luan on Instagram
Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy
Sign up for Luan's Newsletter
Check out Luan's website
CREDITS:
Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate
Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Advocating for yourself can feel uncomfortable—especially when your choices go against social norms. If you’ve ever felt pressured to justify a lifestyle change or struggled to hold your boundaries with family, friends, or colleagues, this episode is for you.
Today, I chat with Kath Elliott, an alcohol mindset coach who reassessed her relationship with alcohol after a breast cancer diagnosis. Kath shares simple, practical strategies to help you confidently communicate your choices, set boundaries without guilt, and handle social pressure with ease.
This conversation goes beyond alcohol—these self-advocacy skills apply to any situation where you need to stand firm in your choices. Whether you’re setting new boundaries or facing difficult conversations, Kath’s insights will help you advocate for yourself with confidence, certainty, and self-belief.
Because self-advocacy isn’t just about healthcare decisions—it’s about standing up for what’s right for you in every part of life.
In this episode:
- How to confidently communicate your choices—without over-explaining
- The power of owning your decision to shut down pushback
- Simple phrases for responding to social pressure with ease
- How to hold boundaries with kindness—even when others push back
- Why self-advocacy in everyday life builds confidence for bigger health decisions
Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!
Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods
For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.
Connect with Luan:
Follow Luan on Instagram
Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy
Sign up for Luan's Newsletter
Check out Luan's website
CREDITS:
Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate
Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Biology and Biography: Shared Decision-Making in Your Healthcare
How do you make healthcare decisions that balance the biology of a diagnosis—the research-based facts and figures—with the biography of what matters to you and how you want to live your life?
Today, I talk with Dr. Susannah Graham, a leading breast surgeon who champions patient-centred care. She shares her insights on empowering patients to communicate their wants and needs effectively, fostering a collaborative approach to healthcare that respects your autonomy, values, and life priorities.
Join us as we unpack how shared decision-making improves patient satisfaction and well-being, empowering you to shape your healthcare—not just as a patient, but as a person.
Together, we discuss:
· What shared decision-making is and why it matters, particularly for women.
· How to actively participate in healthcare decisions to feel more informed, confident, and in control.
· Your role as a patient and the role of the healthcare professional in shared decision-making.
· Strategies to communicate openly and feel confident in your choices, even when discussing complex topics.
· Real-life examples of shared decision-making in breast cancer care, including navigating reconstruction options after a mastectomy.
· Balancing medical recommendations with your personal values, lifestyle, and preferences.
Self-health advocacy is about knowing what’s important to you and confidently communicating it with your healthcare team, so together, you can make an informed shared decision that honours your values, needs, and the life you want to live.
Want to learn more about decision-making? Listen to Marilyn Barefoot's episode 'How Creative Thinking (and a Rubber Chicken) Can Help you Make Health Decisions'.
For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.
Connect with Luan:
Follow Luan on Instagram
Get Luan's free guide to Self-Advocacy
Sign up for Luan's Newsletter
Check out Luan's website
CREDITS:
Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate
Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Pausing Life-Saving Treatment to Regain Femininity—How Do You Decide?
Self-advocacy isn’t necessarily about standing up to your medical team—it’s about speaking up so they understand what matters to you and working with them to make informed, shared decisions about your treatment and care.
That’s exactly what Kate Hardman did.
Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer while pregnant, Kate faced unimaginable challenges, complex decisions, and a treatment path filled with uncertainty.
Now, she’s facing another major decision: Should she have DIEP flap breast reconstruction, even though it means pausing life-saving medication?
In this episode, Kate shares:
- How she worked with her team to explore her options, not against them
- Why self-advocacy isn’t about fighting—it’s about finding the right people who listen
- The emotional and physical factors she considered when choosing reconstruction
- The role of trust, communication, and collaboration in making complex health decisions
Self-advocacy isn’t about going it alone—it’s about having the right support behind you. Kate’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of a metastatic diagnosis, your choices still matter.
Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!
Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods
For the resources mentioned in this show, visit the episode blog page.
Connect with Luan:
Follow Luan on Instagram
Get Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-Advocacy
Sign up for Luan's Newsletter
Check out Luan's website
CREDITS:
Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health Advocate
Post-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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