Why are you so hard on yourself? In this solo episode, life coach Kara Schug shares the inner critic she lived with for decades ("Way to go, genius… Can't you do anything right?") and the moment it switched sides and became her cheerleader.

You'll learn where your inner critic comes from, what it's really costing you and your relationships, and four simple, research-backed steps to turn it down: Notice, Laugh, Reword, Breathe. Kara closes with a short guided breathwork and sentence-completion exercise. Please don't do it while driving.

Free resource:✨ Destiny — a free guided experience to discover your superpower, your biggest internal block, and what you truly want: https://destiny-production-2619.up.railway.app/

Research mentioned:
Li, Luyten & Midgley (2020), Childhood emotional abuse and depression: a systematic review
Zalta et al. (2014), Change in negative cognitions in prolonged exposure therapy
Masuda et al. (2004), Cognitive defusion and self-relevant negative thoughts
Hatzigeorgiadis et al. (2011), Self-talk and sports performance: a meta-analysis
Kross et al. (2014), Self-talk as a regulatory mechanism
Balban et al. (2023), Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood
Gilovich, Medvec & Savitsky (2000), The spotlight effect

#InnerCritic #SelfTalk #SelfCompassion

Are you a people pleaser, or just a kind person?

In this solo episode, recovering people pleaser and life coach Kara Schug breaks down how to tell the difference between genuine kindness and people pleasing — and why the difference matters.

You’ll learn:

5 signs you might be a people pleaser
The difference between kindness and people pleasing
Where people pleasing starts and why it can become a survival strategy
What people pleasing is costing you — and the people around you
Why people may push back when you stop saying yes
An 8-step “retraining manual” for setting boundaries without guilt
Simple ways to say no without over-explaining
A guided breathwork and sentence-completion exercise to help you practice

Free resources:

📧 Full people-pleasing sentence-completion set: email kara@karaschug.com with “people pleasing” in the subject line

✨ Destiny — a free guided experience to discover your superpower, your biggest internal block, and what you truly want: https://destiny-production-2619.up.railway.app/

Research mentioned:

Butler, Gross et al. (2003), The Social Consequences of Expressive Suppression
Lebowitz et al. (2020), SPACE parent-based treatment for childhood anxiety
Wood, Quinn & Kashy (2002), Habits in Everyday Life
MacBeth & Gumley (2012), Self-compassion meta-analysis
Neff & Beretvas (2013), Self-compassion in romantic relationships

In this episode, we sit down with Brigitta Dau, a Certified Life Coach, Reiki Master, Author, and Pilates Instructor, to talk about self-sabotage, breaking bad habits, personal growth, and creating a more meaningful life.

Brigitta shares her unique journey from professional actress in Canada and Los Angeles to Pilates instructor, life coach, and Reiki Master. We discuss why people often get in their own way, how negative habits develop, and what we can do to create lasting change.

We also talk about:

Why we self-sabotage and how to recognize it
Breaking negative habits and creating empowering ones
The connection between physical and personal well-being
Brigitta's experience giving up alcohol
Body image and personal growth
Meditation and mindfulness
Reiki and energy healing
The importance of creativity, play, and crafting
Finding purpose and living a meaningful life
Brigitta's journey from acting to coaching

Brigitta has written two books and works with clients through virtual one-on-one coaching sessions and online workshops.

Learn more about Brigitta:
Website: BrigittaDau.com
Instagram: @BrigittaDauCoaching
Facebook: Brigitta Dau Coaching

🎁 FREE OFFER:
Mention this podcast episode when reaching out to Brigitta and receive a free distance Reiki transmission with her Reiki Transmission Group.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to like, subscribe, and share the podcast with someone who might benefit from the conversation.

Destiny, the app we built to help people self-discover their biggest superpower, their biggest internal block, and what they really want.

Destiny App:
https://destiny-production-2619.up.railway.app/