The Baggage Reclaim Sessions

In this week's episode, Natalie explains the 5 stages of relationships and how you can use these to recognise whether you are experiencing the intimacy you need in order to take the relationship in the direction you want to go.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Following on from last week’s episode about try-ing, Natalie explains why you deserve to feel secure while dating or in a relationship, and why you don’t have to burn up your energies trying to convince or convert them into giving you that security of knowing that you’re liked, loved, cared for, trusted and respected.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

I just try so hard. I just keep trying. No matter what I do… No matter what I try… Sound familiar? In the first episode of 2019, Natalie shares a recent experience that flagged up to her that we just don't have to try THAT hard. You know, the kind of hard where we're only 'trying' because we feel as if we're "not good enough" or are aware of the other person's bottomless pit ways.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In another episode from the friendship series, Natalie tackles the painful subject of when a friend distances or cuts off.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

It's that time of the year when there can be a temptation to text/Facebook message/call/gift your ex or someone you fell out with. In this episode, Natalie explains why reaching out has the potential to cause more harm than good if you're unaware of your intentions.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

People often get in touch with Natalie feeling as if they've been rejected for being the real them, but a bit of digging often reveals that they were pretending to be something they're not. This week, Natalie tackles faking it, blending in and trying to be perfect.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Natalie revisits the topic of needs, delving into why we all give and feel love differently and so we can't assume that people will know what we need or that they'll be "just like us". She also shares what she learned from finally getting around to reading The 5 Love Languages, as well as why it's essential to be mindful of a need that drives us far more than any others.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

How confident do you feel about raising an issue with a friend? If you avoid talking about what’s on your mind for fear that the friendship will end or you do speak up, but feel as if it always backfires, you’re not alone. Natalie delves into the topic of conflict in friendships. Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Starting to feel a niggling anxiety about family, your social life, how much money you have to spend or whether you’re a “success”? It’s that time of year where thanks to a succession of celebrations and hallmark days, many of us fall prey to what Natalie refers to as the 10-12 Weeks of Self-Esteem Torment. Find out why we feel like this and how to avoid getting sucked in.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Whether it’s life stage, personal growth or the friendship stagnating, sometimes we feel as if we’ve outgrown a bond (or that our friend has outgrown us). Natalie explores the subject including why assumptions and judgement cloud our, well, judgement and cause us to distance ourselves unnecessarily, and why our friends being “different” doesn’t mean they’re not our friend.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Ever found yourself feeling trapped in a conversation or drama that you don't want to be a part of? Turns out, you don't have to hold yourself hostage to it. Yes, even with family! Natalie shares how to recent experiences with family helped her to be aware of her anger as well as the need to create a clear boundary that opted her out of an issue.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In this episode, Natalie delves into the tricky topic of emotional blackmail. What is it, which of our feelings alert us to its presence, how it manifests, and how to recognise it so that we can begin nipping it in the bud.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In this episode, Natalie talks about getting on board with the need for self-care so that we can protect and nurture our emotional and psychological well-being.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Natalie delves into the topic of jealousy and envy in friendships, including recognising the difference, some of the reasons why they show up, why they're not 'bad' emotions, and what we can do to move forward from a place of love, care, trust and respect.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In this episode, Natalie explains how if we desire a mutually fulfilling relationship where our emotional needs can and will be met, we need to be, recognise and seek out four qualities.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In the second in a series of episodes this autumn on friendship, Natalie explores how and why some of the expectations we have lead to pain. It turns out, we often expect a friend to be, say or do something, not because it's who *they* are but because of who we think we are or what we think we've done to earn it. Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In this week's episode, Natalie talks anxiety and intuition, and why we're bound to feel anxious in any situations where we've routinely ignored our intuition and pretended to be something we're not.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

They say our friends are the family we'd choose for ourselves, but so many people who struggle with friendship tolerate unsatisfying relationships the way they suffer through family they can't escape. This autumn, there will be several episodes on the topic of friendship. In this episode, Natalie looks at what friendship means and why tension, rules, imbalances, lack of genuine mutual affection and more, contribute to some of our angst about friendship.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

In this episode, Natalie explores why so many people experience pain over receiving (or not receiving) an apology. From feeling unworthy due to how someone has responded to their wrongdoing, to feeling guilty that someone needs to apologise to us, to backing down in an attempt to provoke the other party into doing so and more, we have a complicated relationship with apologies.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership

Chatted with somebody online or been on a first date that seemed so promising, only to experience crickets or hear that they don't feel the same way? Natalie explains why we find these situations so perplexing and the common assumptions and misconceptions that cause dating blind spots.  Instagram | Events | Blog | Membership