Choose Yourself, Expand Your Life

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text!What if shrinking isn’t your personality—it’s your programming? We sit down with author Candice Shepherd to unpack the hidden codes that keep so many of us stuck in people pleasing, perfectionism, and pretending to be fine. From the moment her marriage hit a crossroads to the day she chose her truth over approval, Candice maps a path that is brave, messy, and deeply human.We explore how the nervous system reacts before the mind can catch up, why a slammed cupboard can send you straight into freeze, and how to move from fight or flight into neutrality so choice becomes possible again. Candice shares the two core beliefs that ran her life—“not enough” and “unsafe”—and how those scripts fueled fawning, over-responsibility, and the illusion of control. Together we break down practical tools: free-writing to surface the inner critic, breath and orientation to regulate the amygdala, and small, embodied experiments that help you rediscover what you actually want.The conversation gets real about relationships, too. We talk about stepping back so kids can struggle and find their voice, transforming partnerships by choosing each other from a healed place, and letting go of friendships that only loved the version of you that abandoned herself. Healing isn’t linear; it’s a spiral. There are setbacks, grief that arrives years late, and days when choosing yourself feels terrifying. But on the other side is alignment, potency, and a life that fits.If you’re ready to stop shrinking, rewrite the story, and own your space with clear boundaries and calm confidence, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to tell us the one code you’re ready to disrupt.You can information about Candice's book and her services HERE. Support the showBUY ME A COFFEE or SUPPORT ALFIE'S TREAT STASHLearn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE.Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at [email protected]. Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingvioletsFollow me on Facebook and Instagram, and check out my website!