Love, Happiness and Success with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby

Are you seeking to increase your social circle with true-blue friends who have your back? (And weed out the selfish people who take more than they give?) On today's episode of the Love, Happiness & Success podcast, Val Walker is here to share expert advice for how to cultivate relationships with friends you can count on. In this emotionally intimate interview, Val talks about the moment she realized she had "400 Friends & No One To Call" (the title of her latest book), and how it launched her intentional, successful creation of a supportive community of meaningful friendships.  Val has so much fantastic advice to share with you for how to build up a community of support for yourself. I hope you listen! xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby GrowingSelf.com

Most busy professionals feel they don't have the luxury to "just hang out." Yet investing in healthy friendships is one of the single most impactful things you can do to improve your mental, emotional, and even physical health. To support YOU in your understanding of the importance of healthy friendships, and to deepen you understanding of what it really takes to build supportive relationships in your life, I’ve invited science journalist and author Lydia Denworth to speak with me about her new book, “Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life’s Fundamental Bond.”   She shares what her painstaking research has uncovered about why friendships are so important to us, the risks of neglecting your friendships, the impact of friendships on children and adolescents, and — perhaps most importantly — concrete strategies for how to build and nurture your friendships during social distancing. Listen, and learn about the importance of healthy friendship and how to build strong friendship connections in your own life. xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby GrowingSelf.com

How to Deal With Cultural Differences in a Relationship As a marriage counselor and couples therapist l know that all relationships bring a variety of challenges and opportunities for growth. At the same time, some couples  — particularly those in cross-cultural relationships — feel that they have further to go in bridging the gap. It’s very easy for couples to get entrenched in conflict rooted in a core belief of “right and wrong” when it comes to how to approach various aspects of their shared life. This can be especially true around hot-button issues such as: “How much influence should my mother-in-law have in our family?” “How do we handle money as a couple?” “How do we parent our children together?” “How do we communicate with each other when we’re stressed?” “Who is in charge of what, around our home?” “How do we handle racial prejudice directed at one of us, or our children?” To tackle these questions, and provide some direction for how to begin building bridges to the center, I’ve asked some multicultural relationship experts to join me for this episode of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast. Growing Self relationship coaches Dr. Georgiana Spradling, MFT, Tania Chikhani, M.A, and Teresa Thomas, M.A. often work with cross-cultural couples and interracial couples, and have great relationship advice for how to create peace and harmony in your gloriously diverse family. All the best, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby GrowingSelf.com

We are living in historic times. In the midst of a global pandemic, our country is also fighting another battle: One that seeks to shine a light on injustice and systemic racism, end abuse and discrimination of Black Americans and other people of color, and begin the hard work of healing. This reality brings up questions that need to be answered: How can a person of color cope with feelings of anger and pain due to being directly impacted by (or bearing witness to) racial injustice in our society? What are some strategies that Black Americans can use to stay empowered in their relationships, and to make informed, affirming decisions that honor their needs and rights? Where do you turn for safety, support and understanding in a divided and uncertain world? How can people of color honor the reality of the past and present, and also remain hopeful about the future? Growing Self therapists Teresa Thomas, M.S., and Zachary Gaiter, M.S., LPCC tackle these questions and more, on this episode of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast. Join us! Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby www.GrowingSelf.com      

Ever feel like your ex is living rent-free in your head, even though the relationship is so over? Whether it’s been weeks, months, or (gulp) years since your breakup, if you’re wondering “Why do I keep thinking about my ex?” and you’re still caught in a loop of thoughts, memories, or even fantasies about them, I made this episode just for you. I know firsthand — both as a therapist and from my own experience — that getting stuck on an ex is exhausting. But there is a path forward. In this episode of Love, Happiness and Success, I’m walking you through exactly why this happens (spoiler alert: it’s not your fault — it’s biology), and more importantly, how to finally break free so you can move forward into peace, clarity, and emotional freedom. Timestamps: 00:00 – Why Do I Keep Thinking About My Ex? 06:30 – Love and Addiction: Your Brain on Heartbreak 14:58 – The Truth About Breakup Recovery 28:17 – Emotional Loose Ends: The Silent Saboteur 38:05 – Rebuilding Your Self & Reclaiming Your Future 48:14 – You’re Not Doomed to Keep Thinking About Your Ex If your ex is still living rent-free in your mind, please know you don’t have to stay stuck here. The first step to getting your power back is understanding exactly where you are in your healing process. That’s why I created a free tool just for you. 👉 Take the Breakup Quiz: How Over Your Ex Are You? In just a few minutes, this quiz will show you which stage of healing you’re in — and what specific steps will help you move forward. Whether you're still in emotional withdrawal or starting to let go, you'll get personalized insight and a roadmap for what to do next. And, if you're tired of spinning in circles, overthinking every memory, every mistake, every what-if — you don’t have to navigate this alone. Sometimes, the fastest way to start feeling better is simply talking to someone who truly gets it. Our team at Growing Self includes licensed therapists and breakup recovery coaches who specialize in this kind of healing work. 👉 Schedule a Free Consultation — to talk to one of the experts on our team and take the next brave step toward peace, healing, and freedom. You deserve to feel like yourself again. And yes, it’s absolutely possible to stop thinking about your ex — not because you forced yourself to forget, but because you’ve grown into someone who no longer needs to hold on. And you can start your healing today. Xoxo Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby www.growingself.com P.S. If you know someone who keeps spiraling over their ex, share this with them. Forward the link, post it on your story, or send them a little nudge. Be the friend who helps them start healing.

We all hear “You have to love yourself first.” But what if you don't know how to love yourself?  This episode is all about authentic self love: What it really means, why having compassion and care for yourself matters so much, and how to love yourself even if (and especially if) you don't always feel like it. You are worthy of love and respect, and today's podcast will help you build your relationship... with yourself. With love and gratitude for the gift that is YOU,  xoxo, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby GrowingSelf.com P.S. — For even more support in creating a healthy, loving relationship with yourself, check out my “cultivating self-confidence” collection. You'll find articles and advice about confidence and self-esteem, plus podcast playlists I put together for you.    

Feeling Trapped? When you're in a situation you're unhappy in but feel that the exits are blocked and that you have no good options, it's easy to feel trapped. Perhaps you're in an unhappy relationship, but can't leave. Or you feel forced to stay in a job you hate. Or your circumstances are limiting your empowerment and growth. When change feels futile, or impossible, it's easy to feel helpless, disempowered, and trapped. Does this sound familiar at all? If so, you're not alone. We all hit a wall sometimes. The good news is that there is a way out. Through using your creativity and giving yourself permission to entertain new thoughts, you'll either find new solutions... or inner peace. Listen, and learn about how to get unstuck when you're feeling trapped on this episode of the podcast.  Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby GrowingSelf.com

Is your partner threatening divorce? Are you? If so this is certainly a relationship crisis... but not necessarily the end. In fact, when couples are on the brink of divorce, it can be a turning point for a marriage. On this episode, I'm sharing some from-the-heart advice learned from my years as a marriage counselor about things you can do to stop this runaway train, and have new conversations with your partner to start the process of healing. I am also aware that there are situations where you cannot stop a divorce if your partner has made up their mind. I also have some advice for how to handle this, and offer some concrete strategies for having the healthiest and most collaborative parting as possible. I hope that all the advice helps you find your way through this confusing, and scary time, and that the path forward is one of growth for you -- no matter how things unfold. With love and respect, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby www.growingself.com

Your circumstances aren't what's making you unhappy. Your thoughts are. That might sound like a bold claim — but it's actually one of the most empowering ideas you'll ever encounter. Because if your thoughts are the source of your stress, worry, and self-doubt, then learning to work with your thoughts is the key to feeling better. And that's exactly what this episode is about. At Growing Self, one of the first things we help people understand is that happiness isn't something that happens to you when life finally goes your way. It starts on the inside. When you learn to manage what's happening in your own mind, everything else — your relationships, your confidence, your ability to take action — begins to shift too. What You'll Learn in This Episode In this episode of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast, I'm walking you through the exact framework we teach our counseling and coaching clients: What mindfulness actually is — and a simple present-moment awareness exercise you can try right now Why your brain responds emotionally to your thoughts the same way it responds to real events (and what that means for how you feel day to day) The most common types of unhelpful thoughts — and which ones you might be most vulnerable to How to recognize your inner critic and stop letting it run the show Practical, research-backed ways of thinking that can help you feel more confident, more at peace, and more in control — including a growth mindset, self-compassion, and flexibility This isn't abstract self-help. These are real, actionable skills that you can start practicing today. I hope this episode meets you exactly where you are — and helps you take one step closer to feeling like yourself again. Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby www.growingself.com

Feeling bad and being depressed are not the same thing. What some call "dark emotions" — grief, sadness, disappointment, regret, hurt — aren't just a normal part of life. They're actually essential to it. Uncomfortable feelings are often what push us toward change, growth, and a deeper understanding of who we are and what we need. When you sit with those feelings instead of running from them, something meaningful can happen. That's not depression. That's being human. What Is Depression? Depression is something else entirely. Unlike the difficult emotions that can spark insight and growth, depression isn't instructive or motivating — it's an illness. It affects the way you think, feel, and function, and it doesn't come with a silver lining. In fact, depression often needs to be addressed and treated before real personal growth becomes possible at all. In this episode of the Love, Happiness and Success Podcast, I'm breaking down what depression actually is — and what it isn't. I'll walk you through how to recognize the symptoms in yourself or someone you love. How to Tackle Depression We'll also cover what to do if you think depression might be affecting your life — including natural remedies, cognitive behavioral therapy, and when medication makes the most sense. I'll also talk about how to support a partner or loved one who may be struggling. Depression exists on a spectrum, and at its most serious, it can become life-threatening. If you or someone you love needs help right now, please reach out: Colorado Crisis Hotline: 1-844-493-8255 National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 My hope is that this episode helps you get clarity on what you're going through — and if depression is part of your story, that it leaves you feeling hopeful and ready to take your next step. Depression is very treatable, and you don't have to face it alone. Lisa Marie Bobby