Survival Mode

Stop Self-Abandonment

Stop Self-Abandonment: How I Learned to Set Boundaries, Trust Myself, and Say No | Dr. Stephanie Jeffreys In this episode, I talk about self-abandonment as a coping mechanism I learned from being taught to play small and believe that my voice didn’t matter. I walk through what that has looked like in my own life, saying yes when I really wanted to say no, staying in draining relationships, prioritizing everyone else’s needs, and consistently showing up for people who didn’t reciprocate. Somewhere along the way, I lost trust in myself. I share how my experiences are valid, but they don’t have to define my entire story. I’ve learned to start paying attention to my body, what it’s telling me when something doesn’t feel right, and to get honest about why I say yes when I really want to say no. I’m learning to honor my preferences without feeling the need to justify them. I also walk through practical steps that have helped me rebuild trust with myself: following through on what matters to me, setting small boundaries, and beginning to say no to anything that doesn’t value or honor me. Because I’ve realized that self-abandonment doesn’t just go away, it turns into resentment and leaves me feeling taken for granted. I invite you into a seven-day exercise I’ve practiced, where you begin to track the “yeses” you want to change and slowly start choosing yourself. And as always, I close with a prayer—for healing, for growth, and for the courage to finally stop abandoning yourself.

Healing From Invisible Abuse

On this episode of Conversations That Heal, I sit down with JaHana Holloway to have a powerful and honest conversation about abuse that goes beyond physical signs, emotional, psychological, verbal, and financial abuse. JaHana shares her story with deep vulnerability, taking us back to her childhood, where she ran away at just 14 and was coerced by an adult. She opens up about how those early experiences shaped her sense of self, leading to boundarylessness, low self-esteem, promiscuity, early motherhood, and a pattern of toxic relationships and trauma bonds. She walks us through the abrupt ending of her marriage in 2020, which became the catalyst for her healing journey. She speaks candidly about the gaslighting, hidden debt, and manipulation she endured forms of abuse that are often invisible to others. Her breaking point came through infidelity and financial deception, forcing her to confront the truth and choose herself. JaHana reminds us that healing is ongoing. She emphasizes the importance of trusting your intuition and listening to your body, setting firm boundaries, and doing the deeper work, inner child and shadow work, alongside therapy. She also shares about her poetry and journaling book, Metamorphosis, and her Hikari Healing Space, where she creates safe environments for healing through yoga, sound bowl therapy, and intentional circles for both women and men. This conversation is a reminder that not all wounds are visible, but they are real, and healing is possible. Connect with JaHana Facebook: JaHana Holloway | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jahana.holloway/] Instagram: JaHana Holloway (@vibewithjahana) [https://www.instagram.com/vibewithjahana] TikTok: JaHana Holloway (@taurusgoddess333) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@taurusgoddess333] https://linktr.ee/jahanaholloway [https://linktr.ee/jahanaholloway]

Survival Mode

In this episode of Conversations That Heal, I talk about survival mode, the way many of us learned to function just to make it through life. For me, survival started early. I didn’t have the option to fall apart. I had to be strong, responsible, and aware of everything around me. But what helped me survive then, followed me into adulthood. I share how survival mode can show up as overachieving, overextending, and always feeling the need to be in control, while quietly feeling exhausted and empty. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything but still don’t feel at peace, this episode is for you. This is your invitation to slow down, choose yourself, and begin the journey of coming back home to who you truly are. You deserve more than survival. You deserve peace.

Choosing You: Healing, Grief, Self-Dating & Rediscovering Yourself | Q&A

In this Q&A episode of Conversations That Heal, I open the door for real, honest conversation by answering questions submitted by listeners at info@sdjeffreys.com I share what “choosing you” truly looks like in everyday life, through small, intentional decisions, learning to say no, and finally prioritizing yourself after realizing what it feels like to be poured out and depleted from putting everyone else first. I walk through how I process hurt, by acknowledging it, taking accountability for my part, and getting honest about what caused the pain. I also speak openly about my ongoing healing journey from molestation, and how forgiveness, self-forgiveness, and learning my triggers have been a part of that process. I even reflect on a difficult but necessary conversation with my mother. This episode also dives into grief, grieving the loss of my best friend and grieving the life I once imagined. I share how I’ve learned to allow myself to feel grief fully, without allowing it to keep me stuck. Travel has played a major role in my healing, and I talk about how experiences in places like Pretoria and Bali helped me reconnect with myself and cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude. I also offer practical ways to rediscover who you are, starting with reconnecting to the dreams you had as a child, and I break down what it really means to date yourself. From solo coffee dates and meals to traveling alone and journaling, I share how spending intentional time with yourself can be one of the most powerful forms of healing. If you’re learning how to choose yourself, this episode is for you. Join I Choose Me: A Year of Self-Care A 52-week journey to help you rebuild, reconnect, and choose yourself again, one week at a time. 🔗 Start here: https://prodigious-builder-5258.kit.com/products/choosing-me-a-year-of-self-care-

Letter To My Younger Self

I wrote a letter to my younger self, and it changed something in me. Not the strong version of me you see today. But the little girl who felt unseen, unloved, and unprotected. I spoke to Diane. I apologized. I affirmed. I released. And for the first time, I made her a promise, I will never abandon you again. This episode is deeply personal, but it’s also an invitation. If you’ve ever carried shame from your past If parts of your story still hurt I want you to try this. Write the letter. Not for anyone else, but for you. Healing begins when we finally tell the truth to ourselves with love. If this speaks to you, watch the full episode and let me know how it resonates. 📧 info@sdjeffreys.com Because healing happens one conversation at a time.