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EPISODE · Feb 9, 2026 · 51 MIN

How to Create Healthy Love After a Difficult Past

from My Happy Ass Life · host Karen Smith

What happens when you stop living on autopilot and start choosing yourself with intention?Today, I sit down with the radiant and wise Kandi Gardiner Woods, performance psychologist, author, speaker, and mentor, for a deeply honest conversation about love, healing, mindfulness, and personal growth. Kandi shares her powerful life story, including growing up in a dysfunctional home, navigating abusive relationships, and how intentional inner work helped her break generational trauma patterns and reclaim her life.We talk about her book The MANual Chronicles and why understanding your core values is transformational. She explains how mindfulness, visualization, and daily mantras can shift your mindset, bring clarity, and help you build healthier relationships with others and yourself.This conversation is a reminder that no matter where you come from or what you’ve walked through, there is always a way forward. Healing is possible. Purpose is real. And you are worthy of joy, peace, and love.Episode Highlights[02:30] Meeting Kandi and her journey into psychology and authorship[07:00] Growing up in a “perfect-looking” but abusive home[12:00] Repeating patterns and learning how to break them[18:00] Mindfulness, mantras, and creating new behaviors[22:30] Discovering your true core values[28:00] Bringing people into your home wisely[33:00] Lessons from The MANual [37:00] Love & Life Unlocked seminar at Margaritaville[42:00] Visualization, faith, and speaking life forward[50:00] Choosing courage, gratitude, and living in the lightSpecial Thanks to Our SponsorsBuffalo Rock Pepsihttps://www.buffalorock.comHoliday Beach Mechanicalhttps://holidaybeachmechanical.comHue Salon & Boutiquehttps://www.huesalonandboutique.comCan’t Hide Prettyhttps://www.canthidepretty.comMinutes and Mileshttps://minutesandmiles.comJute & Palmhttps://www.juteandpalm.comBay Taxhttps://bay.taxAmor Boutiquehttps://amorboutiquepc.comShorehouse Furniturehttps://shorehousefurniture.comResources MentionedThe MANual Chronicles by Kandi  Gardiner WoodsLove & Life Unlocked Seminar — March 14Love & Life Managementhttps://loveandlifemanagement.comLet’s Stay Connected!Follow along @MyHappyAssLife on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and YouTube so you never miss an episode.🎙 Presented by ADF MediaBe sweet, y’all! 💛

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 9, 2026

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How to Create Healthy Love After a Difficult Past

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