We spend so much of our lives trying to be impressive. We polish our edges and hide our cracks because we’re terrified that being "real" means being weak. But what if the very things we are hiding are actually the only bridges to real connection? It is a scary thought, but one that completely changes how we show up in the world.

Here’s what we explore together:

- Why being "invulnerable" is sometimes just as important as being open and how to know the difference.

- How accepting your own foolishness can actually make you invincible to humiliation.

- Why we feel "boring" with some people and alive with others and why it is not your fault.

- How to use curiosity to metabolize pain and crisis into understanding.

- Why following your "gut" in love can sometimes lead you straight into disaster.

- Why the truth sometimes needs to be delivered in "small pieces" to be heard.

- Why a functioning relationship is the most difficult achievement of a human life.

- How to find a path that fits your unique nature in a world that wants you to conform.

Love, Sarah Ann 💛

***

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***

The Great British Veg Out

How to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/p/the-great-british-veg-out

Reset Your Health

If your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.

👉 https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/s/reset-your-health-in-30-days

👉 Practical beats perfect.

Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.

https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve

👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who read

The Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

***

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***

If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:

The 7 Pillars to Finding Genuine Love Beyond Dating Apps | Francesca Hogihttps://youtu.be/aGqlB61ldoA

***

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***

Highlights

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:24 The Vulnerability Paradox: When to Put Your Wall Up

00:02:44 Connection as a Risk: Gateways to Friendship

00:03:45 The Power of Declaring Yourself an "Idiot"

00:06:25 Shared Humanity: Kings, Philosophers, and Us

00:10:20 Why We Feel Different with Different People

00:12:12 Curiosity as a Survival Mechanism for Pain

00:13:58 Relationships: The Hardest Thing We Do

00:16:02 The Dangers of "Instinct" in Love

00:26:57 The Cruelty of Ghosting and Lack of Closure

00:29:41 Understanding Self-Compassion Through Heartbreak

00:47:43 Philosophy vs Psychotherapy: How We Absorb Truth

01:08:00 Managing Moods: Why Happiness comes in 15-Minute Bursts

01:13:09 Defining Success: Fitting Your Nature to the World

01:31:20 Why We Sometimes Refuse the Love We Want

***

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