Project Loving Myself

272: Dating Burnout: Why You’re Drained by Dating (And How to Stop Wasting Energy on Mixed Signals) with John DeOca

Dating today can feel like a full-time job. One minute you're excited about a new connection, and the next you're analyzing texts, questioning mixed signals, and wondering why something that should feel simple suddenly feels so complicated. On this episode, we talk with Dr. John DeOca — psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who helps people make sense of how we connect, communicate, and date in today's world. Through his work, he brings clarity to the confusion so many people experience in modern dating. We explore why dating feels harder than ever, how overthinking quietly drains our energy, and why the strongest relationships often begin with a stronger connection to ourselves rather than a stronger pursuit of someone else. Episode Resources ✨ Take the Love Blocks Quiz [https://go.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/love-blocks-quiz] — uncover the hidden relationship patterns that may be keeping you stuck in confusion, mixed signals, and unhealthy dating dynamics. ✨ Download John's free PDF [https://www.therelationshipprescriber.com/] — practical insights to help you navigate modern dating with more clarity, confidence, and self-awareness. In this episode, we explore: ✨ How modern dating has changed and why it feels more overwhelming today ✨ The difference between healthy connection and unhealthy attachment ✨ Why ambiguity and mixed signals have become so common ✨ How overthinking steals energy from genuine connection ✨ What it means to stay open to love without losing yourself in the process ✨ Why knowing yourself is one of the most important dating skills you can develop If you've been feeling exhausted by dating, confused by mixed signals, or wondering whether you're doing something wrong, this conversation will help you approach dating with more clarity, confidence, and self-trust. Connect with John 📸 Instagram: @dr__johndeoca [https://www.instagram.com/dr_johndeoca/] 🌐 Website: www.therelationshipprescriber.com [https://www.therelationshipprescriber.com/] Connect with Me 🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com [https://www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/] ▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.youtube.com/@SanaiyahGurnamal] IG @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.instagram.com/sanaiyahgurnamal/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

271: The Midlife Reset: What to Do When You've Outgrown Your Old Life with Heike Yates

There comes a point in life when what used to work just… doesn’t. The routines, habits, and strategies that once felt effortless suddenly leave you feeling frustrated, stuck, or questioning yourself.  On this episode, we talk with Heike Yates — midlife fitness expert, author, and creator of the SPARK Framework, who helps women navigate the in-between seasons of life when old ways no longer fit and the path forward isn’t always clear. We explore why change can feel so uncomfortable, what keeps so many women stuck in outdated versions of themselves, and how rebuilding self-trust starts with embracing where you are instead of trying to go back to who you used to be. Episode Resources ✨ Download Heike's Midlife Reset Guide [http://spark.heikeyates.com/midlife-reset-guide] — practical tools and mindset shifts to help you navigate change, rebuild self-trust, and create habits that fit the season of life you're in now. ✨ Download the Self-Love Cheat Sheet [https://www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/self-love-cheat-sheet/] — simple reminders to help you reconnect with yourself, trust your inner wisdom, and move forward with more confidence and clarity. In this episode, we explore: ✨ Why what worked before may not work in this season of your life ✨ The hidden cost of constantly trying to go back to the old version of yourself ✨ How shame and self-doubt keep women stuck longer than they need to be ✨ Why momentum matters more than willpower ✨ Heike's SPARK Framework for navigating change and reinvention If you've been feeling frustrated because life, work, health, or even your goals don't seem to fit the way they once did, this episode will remind you that you're not failing. You may simply be entering a new season that requires a different approach. Connect with Heike 📸 Instagram: @heikeyates [https://www.instagram.com/heikeyates/] 🎙️ Podcast: Pursue Your Spark [google.com/url?q=https://heikeyates.com/podcast/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1780448945522398&usg=AOvVaw0D0YoNJCbu4_ovm2dnsTi-] Connect with Me 🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com [https://www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/] ▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.youtube.com/@SanaiyahGurnamal] IG @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.instagram.com/sanaiyahgurnamal/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

270: The Secret to Dating With More Confidence (After 64 First Dates) with Talia Koren

There’s a lot of pressure around dating these days… to find the right person, avoid the wrong one, and somehow not lose yourself in the process. But maybe dating isn’t supposed to be so hard. Maybe it’s also a chance to learn who you are, what matters to you, and what you actually want. In this episode, I’m joined by Talia Koren — founder of Dating Intentionally, podcast host, content creator, and entrepreneur who helps people date with more confidence, clarity, and ease. After a major breakup, Talia went on 64 first dates in under 10 months before meeting her now husband, and what she learned along the way completely changed how she approached love, dating, and relationships. We talk about what shifts when you stop focusing on being liked and start paying attention to whether someone is actually right for you, why dating can become a space for self-discovery, and how understanding your own patterns changes everything. Episode Resources ✨ Take the Love Blocks Quiz [https://go.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/love-blocks-quiz] — uncover the hidden pattern that may be shaping your dating choices, keeping you stuck, or making love feel harder than it needs to be. In this episode, we explore: ✨ Why dating gets easier when you stop focusing on being chosen ✨ What 64 first dates taught Talia about patterns, needs, and compatibility ✨ How to know whether you overlook red flags or look for reasons to walk away ✨ Why having fun might be one of the most underrated dating strategies ✨ How understanding your needs changes who you choose and why If dating has started to feel heavy, confusing, or like too much pressure, this episode might help you approach it with more curiosity, confidence, and trust in yourself. Connect with Talia 📸 Instagram: @dating.intentionally [https://www.instagram.com/dating.intentionally] 🎙️ Podcast: Dating Intentionally [https://open.spotify.com/show/4564BuVSjVrmwXj4fz1QFl?si=aee900b693414a47&nd=1&dlsi=79cdaa6cd2234616] Connect with Me 🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com [https://www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/] ▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.youtube.com/@SanaiyahGurnamal] IG @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.instagram.com/sanaiyahgurnamal/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

269: [Meditation] Can't Switch Off? A Guided Self-Love Meditation for Mental Health Awareness Month

This is a guided self-love meditation created for the moments when you feel emotionally drained, overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself. Not to fix anything or force positivity… but to help you pause, soften, and remember what it feels like to stop carrying so much on your own. Join me to slow down, release the pressure to keep performing, and reconnect with the version of you that exists underneath the expectations, responsibilities, and exhaustion. Episode Resources ✨ Download Chaos to Calm [https://www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/from-chaos-to-calm/] — a simple reset to help you clear emotional overwhelm, slow the mental noise, and return to yourself when life feels heavy. In this episode, we explore: ✨ Why exhaustion is not always about doing too much, but giving too much ✨ What happens when you stop expecting yourself to keep pushing ✨ How rest can become a self-love practice instead of something you earn ✨ The connection between stillness and coming back to yourself ✨ Why switching off isn’t weakness, but a return to what matters If you’ve been feeling emotionally tired, disconnected, or like you’ve been carrying too much for too long, this meditation is your reminder: you don’t need an excuse to rest. Connect with Me 🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com [https://www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/] ▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.youtube.com/@SanaiyahGurnamal/featured] IG @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.instagram.com/sanaiyahgurnamal] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

268: Why You Ignore Red Flags (Even When You See Them) with Ginny Priem

What happens when what you thought was love comes crashing down? One moment, everything feels aligned — the connection, the chemistry, the way they show up. And then slowly, something shifts… and you’re left trying to make sense of what changed, what you missed, and why it no longer feels the way it did. In this episode, I’m joined by Ginny Priem — keynote speaker and #1 bestselling author of You’re My Favorite. Her work is rooted in a deeply personal journey that began with what felt like a fairytale relationship… and took an unexpected turn that challenged everything she thought she knew about love. Together, we explore why it can be so hard to see clearly when you’re emotionally invested, why we miss red flags even when they’re right in front of us, and what happens when the version of someone you believed in starts to unravel. Episode Resources ✨ Get the first chapter of Ginny’s #1 bestselling book You’re My Favorite for free here [https://deft-leader-8587.kit.com/852f298117]. ✨ Take the Love Blocks Quiz [https://go.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/love-blocks-quiz]— uncover the pattern that made you miss the red flags, stay longer than you should have, or feel confused about what was real. In this episode, we explore: ✨ Why something can feel so real at the beginning… and still not be what you think ✨ How emotional investment can make it harder to see what’s actually happening ✨ The subtle ways we overlook what doesn’t fit ✨ What keeps us holding on, even when something feels off ✨ The inner conflict between what you feel and what you see If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How did I not see it sooner?” this episode might shift the way you look at your past — and your patterns. Connect with Ginny 📸 Instagram: @ginnypriem [https://www.instagram.com/ginnypriem] 🎙️ Podcast: Unsubscribe with Ginny Priem [https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/unsubscribe-with-ginny-priem/id1642612019] Connect with Me 🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com [https://www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com/] ▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.youtube.com/@SanaiyahGurnamal/featured] IG @sanaiyahgurnamal [https://www.instagram.com/sanaiyahgurnamal/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.