
Too Nice: The Doormat-Bulldog Cycle in Relationship
02/25/21 • 17 min
If you or your partner is nice, nice, nice, almost toooo nice... and then periodically explodes with out-of-the-blue anger, this episode is for you.
Or if the person doesn’t ever explode, but there’s a way their nice-nice-niceness doesn’t feel quite authentic, or seems forced... We’re going to talk about that, too.
The dynamics we’re discussing today ... I get it. You’re not alone! AND today’s episode will help, because I’m breakin’ it all down:
- How leadership was the first place I saw and named this dynamic, and what I’ve learned about its roots since that time more than 15 years ago
- What drives this seesaw between being over-accommodating in one extreme and being harsh, critical, or aggressive in the other
- How trauma reactions relate to the doormat stance and the bulldog position alike
- How - in the next episode - I'll share how to root out these patterns in yourself and ask for your partner to excavate them if you see them in your relationship
Join the conversation by listening, share your story or response on our voicemail at 206-659-9865 or inside our free Conscious Couples’ Circle on Mighty Networks.
Full shownotes are at http://lisenbury.com/episode/025.
If the conversations on this podcast are resonating for you, please leave a rating and ideally a review on your favorite podcast platform.
Ready to bring about a transformation in your relationship to yourself, your body, and your partner? CLICK HERE to apply for a consultation.
If you or your partner is nice, nice, nice, almost toooo nice... and then periodically explodes with out-of-the-blue anger, this episode is for you.
Or if the person doesn’t ever explode, but there’s a way their nice-nice-niceness doesn’t feel quite authentic, or seems forced... We’re going to talk about that, too.
The dynamics we’re discussing today ... I get it. You’re not alone! AND today’s episode will help, because I’m breakin’ it all down:
- How leadership was the first place I saw and named this dynamic, and what I’ve learned about its roots since that time more than 15 years ago
- What drives this seesaw between being over-accommodating in one extreme and being harsh, critical, or aggressive in the other
- How trauma reactions relate to the doormat stance and the bulldog position alike
- How - in the next episode - I'll share how to root out these patterns in yourself and ask for your partner to excavate them if you see them in your relationship
Join the conversation by listening, share your story or response on our voicemail at 206-659-9865 or inside our free Conscious Couples’ Circle on Mighty Networks.
Full shownotes are at http://lisenbury.com/episode/025.
If the conversations on this podcast are resonating for you, please leave a rating and ideally a review on your favorite podcast platform.
Ready to bring about a transformation in your relationship to yourself, your body, and your partner? CLICK HERE to apply for a consultation.
Previous Episode

Expanding Erotic Intelligence
In this episode, we're having the conversation we need to have about the four keys to creating more of the heat and connection you want and the single practice I use to help couples expand all four things in their relationship, and in so doing, create the love and sex they really deserve.
If you've had a hard time initiating sex, or taking your partner up on their invitations, when they ask in the way they ask, even though you sincerely would like to have more sex, at least in the abstract, this is for you.
Or if you aren't sure how to ask for more of what you want or you think your partner could build more skill at touching and being present sexually, but it's hard to describe what that skillfulness would look like...This is for you.
Or if you notice that you have a hard time staying present in erotic situations: truly letting your partner in and allowing yourself to deeply receive their attention, their touch, and their care...This is for you.
If you face those challenges, you are in very good company. Nobody taught any of us how to have great sex, and a nourishing partnership with a grown up in these changing bodies and with these adult responsibilities: aging parents and growing kids and big careers....While we're trying to build a better world. It's a lot!
And I am determined that today's episode will help, because I would like you to get a handle on these four keys, so you can unlock the best sex of your lives. I know it's still ahead of you, whether you believe that yet or not. And in this episode, you will learn how to create it.
There are four things that dramatically accelerate a couple's ability to go deeper in love and sex. They include clarity, capacity, communication, and container, we're going to go into all four of them.
Full shownotes and edited transcript are at http://lisenbury.com/episode/024.
Join the conversation by listening, share your story or response on our voicemail at 206-659-9865 or inside our free Conscious Couples’ Circle on Mighty Networks.
If the conversations on this podcast are resonating for you, please leave a rating and ideally a review on your favorite podcast platform.
Ready to bring about a transformation in your relationship to yourself, your body, and your partner? CLICK HERE to apply for a consultation.
Next Episode

The Doormat-Bulldog Cycle Part II
In this episode, we're having the conversation we need to have about the four keys to creating more of the heat and connection you want and the single practice I use to help couples expand all four things in their relationship, and in so doing, create the love and sex they really deserve.
If you've had a hard time initiating sex, or taking your partner up on their invitations, when they ask in the way they ask, even though you sincerely would like to have more sex, at least in the abstract, this is for you.
Or if you aren't sure how to ask for more of what you want or you think your partner could build more skill at touching and being present sexually, but it's hard to describe what that skillfulness would look like...This is for you.
Or if you notice that you have a hard time staying present in erotic situations: truly letting your partner in and allowing yourself to deeply receive their attention, their touch, and their care...This is for you.
If you face those challenges, you are in very good company. Nobody taught any of us how to have great sex, and a nourishing partnership with a grown up in these changing bodies and with these adult responsibilities: aging parents and growing kids and big careers....While we're trying to build a better world. It's a lot!
And I am determined that today's episode will help, because I would like you to get a handle on these four keys, so you can unlock the best sex of your lives. I know it's still ahead of you, whether you believe that yet or not. And in this episode, you will learn how to create it.
There are four things that dramatically accelerate a couple's ability to go deeper in love and sex. They include clarity, capacity, communication, and container, we're going to go into all four of them. So let's dive in.
In this episode:
- Why getting to the amount and quality of sex we want has gotten trickier, even if we used to be really great together
- The four things we need in order to take things deeper in sex and closeness
- The ONLY four things you need to convey to your partner during sex to keep things hot
And more.
Join the conversation by listening, then share your story or response inside our freeConscious Couples’ Society on Mighty Networks.
HOT MOMENTS IN THIS EPISODE:
- Four things that dramatically accelerate a couple's ability to go deeper in love and sex 2:24
- Expanding your clarity for erotic connection with yourself and your partner 4:01
- How do we know we had sex? 5:39
- Four things to be able to have the best sex of your lives 13:18
- Make an offer instead of trying to read your partner’s mind 15:13
Get full show notes and transcript at https://lisenbury.com/episode/026
If the conversations on this podcast are resonating for you, please leave a rating and ideally a review on your favorite podcast platform.
Ready to bring about a transformation in your relationship to yourself, your body, and your partner? CLICK HERE to apply for a consultation.
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