Why Do I Feel Guilty Saying No? Breaking the People-Pleasing Cycle with Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez | Part 2

Empowering Women In Conversations · 18 сентября 2026 г. · 28 мин

What was your biggest Takeaway from this Episode! I would Love to hear from you! Why can saying no feel so uncomfortable—even when you know you’re overwhelmed? Why does setting a boundary sometimes leave you feeling guilty, selfish, or responsible for someone else’s disappointment? In Part 2 of my conversation with emotional intelligence expert Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez, we continue exploring the HEART in Mind model and take the conversation deeper into people-pleasing, boundary guilt, emotional awareness, relationships, and reconnecting with yourself. For so many women, people-pleasing doesn’t look like weakness. It can look like being dependable, caring, productive, and always being the person everyone can count on. But underneath all that giving, you may be exhausted, resentful, disconnected from your own needs—or afraid of what will happen if you finally say no . In this episode, we explore why your emotions are not the enemy, how emotional intelligence can help create space between what you feel and how you respond, and why learning to listen to yourself matters when you’re breaking the people-pleasing cycle. 💗 Because choosing yourself doesn’t mean you stop caring about other people. It means you finally include yourself in the care you so freely give everyone else. 🎧 Haven’t listened to Part 1 yet? Start with  Episode 42:  Why Am I So Tired? The Hidden Burnout of People-Pleasing with Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez | Part 1. In Part 1, Dr. Lorea shares her personal experience with burnout, the warning signs she initially missed, why pushing through isn’t always the answer, and how emotions can become valuable information rather than something we need to suppress. Then come right back here for Part 2. 💕 Make It an EmpowerHer Binge Weekend If this conversation has you thinking about the ways you’ve been overgiving, losing yourself, or trying to keep a relationship together at your own expense, keep listening. Go back to my two-part conversation with Kameran “Kam” Al-Areqi: 🎙️  Are You Fighting for Your Marriage—or Abandoning Yourself?  | Part 1 🎙️  Why You’ve Lost the Spark: Emotional Safety Comes Before Intimacy  | Part 2 Together, these recent conversations explore a bigger question at the heart of Empowering Women in Conversations : How do I love other people without continuing to lose myself? Find Empowering Women in Conversations on your favorite podcast platform here: Choose where you want to listen ☕ Want the Inside Scoop + Free Resources? Join Therapist Tea: Things I Notice in Therapy   for conversations and insights that go beyond the podcast, plus access to free resources including the Confidence Reset   and Why Am I So Tired? worksheets. Join Therapist Tea + Get the Free Resources 💗 Connect With Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez Dr. Lorea Martínez Pérez is an emotional intelligence expert, educator, author, and creator of the HEART in Mind model. Her work combines emotional intelligence, neuroscience, mindfulness, and her own exp