A personal reflection on light, shadow, and inner coziness

A personal reflection on light, shadow, and inner coziness

This week, Valentina and Inma close the month’s conversation on resilience, self-soothing, and self-compassion with a deeply personal reflection on “shadow” and “light” parts — the emotions and traits we tend to hide versus the ones we celebrate. Through stories of fear, anger, overthinking, achievement, and emotional protection, they explore how our most difficult emotions are often not flaws, but protective mechanisms trying to keep us safe. Drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS), embodiment practices, and Sophia’s previous interview, the conversation highlights the power of self-awareness, connecting with the body instead of getting lost in thought, and learning to meet ourselves with compassion instead of criticism. Together, they discuss: * Why fear and anger can be protective rather than “bad” * The difference between connecting with thoughts vs. bodily experience * Overthinking, emotional avoidance, and nervous system awareness * Self-compassion as “inner coziness” * Treating yourself as a home, not a project to fix * Flexibility, cyclical resilience, and learning to trust yourself * Love languages with yourself and “compassion in action” * The importance of professional support and discerning healing content online This episode is an invitation to soften the sharp edges within, reconnect with your body, and ask: What would it feel like to cultivate just 2% more inner coziness in my life?

Science - Understanding Your Emotions: Self-Compassion, Flexibility & Healing

In this episode of Rise Together, Dr. Inma explores the science behind self-compassion, emotional regulation, and resilience following Valentina’s conversation with Sofia. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and Internal Family Systems (IFS), she explains why emotions are not the problem — our fear of feeling them often is. The episode unpacks experiential avoidance, overthinking, body awareness, trauma responses, and psychological flexibility, showing how emotions carry important information when we learn to listen safely and compassionately. Dr. Inma also explores the connection between the body and emotions, the role of self-soothing, and how self-compassion can shift both our nervous system and our relationship with ourselves. Through reflective questions and practical insights, this conversation invites you to slow down, reconnect with your inner world, and explore what it truly means to become your own best friend. Topics include: * Emotional regulation & experiential avoidance * The neuroscience of emotions and trauma * Overthinking, rumination & self-awareness * Body awareness and nervous system regulation * Internal Family Systems (IFS) & inner parts * Psychological flexibility & resilience * Self-compassion as a daily practice A thoughtful and grounding episode for anyone wanting to understand themselves more deeply and build a kinder relationship with their mind, body, and emotions.

Feeling and Trusting Ourselves, a Journey of Courage

In this episode, Valentina sits down with clinical psychologist Sofía Rumié to explore what resilience actually means beyond the pressure to “stay strong.” Together, they unpack self-compassion, trauma, emotional awareness, the inner critic, and the relationship between our light and shadow parts. Through conversations on Internal Family Systems, emotion-focused therapy, attachment theory, and the fear of feeling itself, this episode challenges the idea that resilience is becoming unbreakable. Instead, it becomes something softer, deeper, and more human: the ability to hold ourselves through discomfort without disconnecting from who we are. This conversation is for anyone learning to trust themselves.

Coming Home to Yourself - A personal reflection

Positivity isn’t the answer to everything—and in this episode, we unpack why. We explore the difference between “just being positive” and truly finding meaning in adversity. From understanding your inner voice to building self-trust and community, this is a grounded conversation on doing the real work of resilience.

Science - Resilience in Relationship: Finding Beauty, Belonging & Strength in Adversity

What if resilience isn’t something you build alone—but something that emerges through how you relate to life? In this episode, we reflect on the conversation with Marisa Valle and explore the science behind gratitude, awe, connection, and adversity. Through five key relationships—life, challenge, others, the inner voice, and the body—we uncover how resilience is shaped not just by mindset, but by biology, emotion, and connection. From the neuroscience of gratitude to the role of oxytocin in bonding, this episode bridges science and lived experience to reveal a powerful truth: even in difficulty, there is space for beauty, growth, and belonging.