Send us Fan Mail There’s a quiet kind of exhaustion that comes from constantly trying to make yourself understood by people who are committed to misunderstanding you. You explain, clarify, defend, and prove — not because you’re weak, but because you ache to be heard. In this episode of Beyond Words, Najwa unpacks why explaining yourself to the wrong people e ... Show More
Aug 4
54- How to Break a Trauma Bond (Part 4): Become Your Own Fixer
Send us Fan MailWelcome to Part 4 of How to Break a Trauma Bond.So far, we've learned how to recognize a trauma bond, decide whether to stay or leave, grieve what we thought we had, and stop waiting for the apology.Now comes one of the most transformative steps of all:Becoming yo ... Show More
48m 29s
Aug 2025
275. How to Advocate for Yourself When Others Don’t Understand You
Feeling misunderstood is exhausting. When you’re worried about being too much or too hard to read, it’s easy to slip into performing instead of simply being yourself. And during summer, when social situations ramp up, that pressure to change or fit in can feel even heavier.In thi ... Show More
34m 29s
Jun 2025
Brutally Honest Advice for People-Pleasers Who Are Done Performing
If you’ve ever found yourself constantly over-explaining, over-apologizing, or putting others’ comfort above your truth—you’re not alone. People-pleasing isn’t just a bad habit. It’s a trauma response. In this video, I break down the deep emotional roots of people-pleasing, how i ... Show More
20m 56s
Dec 2023
EVOLUTION: Stop trying to prove yourself to the wrong people
Are you trying to prove your generosity, worth, value, intelligence, or integrity to the wrong people? To people who will never really get it? In this episode of EVOLUTION, I talk about this insidious pattern of trying to prove yourself to everyone -- even people who will never a ... Show More
30m 32s
Jun 2025
436: Not Everything Needs to Be Said: The Energetics of Unsolicited Advice
You’ve been told to “speak your truth.” But what if that truth-telling… is actually pushing people away? In this fiery mini-sode, I’m unpacking the energetics and trauma patterns behind unsolicited advice, oversharing, and feeling the need to "educate" someone we don't agree with ... Show More
26m 16s
Jul 2023
524 Afraid to Speak Up For Yourself? How to Talk True
I am breaking down why it is hard for us to talk true (as I like to say), where we learn to dishonor how we feel or what we want, the consequences of staying silent, and the steps you can take to be more authentically known by the people in your life. Read the show notes for toda ... Show More
20m 39s