Welcome back.
Annie HendersonI am so happy you are here.
Annie HendersonRaise your hand if you are a people pleaser.
Annie HendersonActually throw your hand in the air if you're a recovering people pleaser too.
Annie HendersonAnd if you're listening in a public place, just nod your head or give a little wink.
Annie HendersonJust so you all know, I'm raising my hand right along with you.
Annie HendersonI found people pleasing to be one of my most difficult personality traits to shift on my path of healing and trying to be a better human being.
Annie HendersonHave you found that too?
Annie HendersonEven though I logically understand the how and the why, the emotional connection has lingered and I've had thoughts like, am I being mean?
Annie HendersonDo they think I don't care?
Annie HendersonOthers along that line of thinking and feeling, this is a long, long road of being aware and of practicing.
Annie HendersonEven this week, when faced with a situation where I had a clear choice of going the people pleaser route or staying connected to my truth, I was hyper aware and momentarily conflicted.
Annie HendersonThat self doubt piece is sneaky.
Annie HendersonSo my apologies if you tuned in today hoping for the next stage of the coming out process for your child that will be up next.
Annie HendersonBut I think you will equally enjoy my guest today because among other things, she is going to talk about people pleasing.
Heather HesterWelcome to Just Breathe Parenting your LGBTQ team, the podcast transforming the conversation around loving and raising an LGBTQ child.
Heather HesterMy name is Heather Hester and I am so grateful you are here.
Heather HesterI want you to take a deep breath and know that for the time we are together, you are in the safety of the Just breathe ness.
Heather HesterWhether today's show is an amazing guest or me sharing stories, resources, strategies or lessons I've learned along our journey, I want you to feel like we're just hanging out at a coffee shop having a cozy chat.
Heather HesterMost of all, I want you to remember that wherever you are on this journey right now, in this moment in time, you are not alone.
Annie HendersonAnnie Henderson is a certified professional life coach specializing as a coming out coach for the LGBTQIA community and helps people pleasers that avoid conflict over, apologize and struggle to say no start living authentically and find the peace that they have been missing.
Annie HendersonAfter going from an unfulfilled existence checking all the boxes of perceived quote unquote success to breaking into an intentional, abundant life, she now uses her experiences and professional background as a teacher, counselor and life coach to teach and mentor others and working with her diverse clientele to discover unapologetic joy, including the LGBTQIA community and people pleasers.
Annie HendersonHer teachings focus on releasing self doubt, embracing the power in setting boundaries and removing the habit of over apologizing.
Annie HendersonShe's the international best selling co author of she did it.
Annie HendersonWhich follows women from around the world their transformational journey.
Annie HendersonAnnie's master's degrees in education, school counseling and professional counseling complement her mission and inform her regular content shared with loyal followers on TikTok and Instagram.
Annie HendersonI am so excited to have Annie here and I know you are going to enjoy our chat.
Speaker CAnnie, I would like to welcome you to Just Breathe.
Speaker CI'm so happy that you're here today and I am really excited about the conversation that we're going to have and for everyone to hear about what you do and who you are in this world.
Speaker CBecause we just had such a fun conversation a few weeks ago.
Speaker CAnd I'll share later in the conversation what Annie gave me the courage to do.
Speaker CBut I am so delighted that you're here and would love to just start with kind of you sharing a little bit about who you are and what you do.
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker DThank you so much for having me, Heather.
Speaker DYeah, I loved our conversation.
Speaker DI could just do that for a long time and lose track of the day.
Speaker DSo I appreciate you and your energy and everything that you do.
Speaker DOh.
Speaker DSo my story.
Speaker DGoodness, my.
Speaker DI do have a kiddo.
Speaker DI'm gonna.
Speaker DI'm gonna hop all around.
Speaker DIs that okay?
Speaker CAbsolutely.
Speaker CYes, that is.
Speaker DI do have a kiddo that has come out to me as pansexual.
Speaker DSo I appreciate what you do and what you offer.
Speaker DBeing someone that lives in a smallish town, I know that the people that I work with and just even ourselves, that we can be in this bubble and not have a lot of representation or people going through the same thing.
Speaker DAnd when that happens, we just kind of shove worries and fears and important conversations down.
Speaker DSo I like what you provide to people.
Speaker DJust that warm, safe place to grow and share and learn a better way to do things.
Speaker CThank you very much.
Speaker CI appreciate that.
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker DSo my story.
Speaker DI grew up being an excellent people pleaser.
Speaker DJust doing everything I thought I was supposed to do.
Speaker DIf I go way, way back, I do remember a more confident Annie that didn't care yet.
Speaker DLike, I just wanted to play sports and hang out with my brothers and that was it.
Speaker DI was just who I was.
Speaker DSo I'm thinking maybe around.
Speaker DMaybe around middle school is when things started to change.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DPeople start to grow up.
Speaker DGuys start to ask people out on dates.
Speaker DAnd I was a.
Speaker DOkay, yes.
Speaker DI was just.
Speaker DYes.
Speaker DAnd I didn't really even realize my.
Speaker DWhere's my partner?
Speaker DIs Knew when she was 5 that she was gay.
Speaker DI was oblivious.
Speaker DI was just Annie and I was just living my life.
Speaker DAnd I don't, you know, I.
Speaker DMy kiddo introduced me to the term demisexual.
Speaker DAre you aware of that?
Speaker DRight, so more of a relationship.
Speaker DMore of a, you know, I wasn't like just noticing attraction to everybody or like, oh, I can.
Speaker DNope.
Speaker DIt was very much, I need to build and develop that relationship so that I don't know if that played a part in me just being kind of oblivious and going through the motions and doing what I was supposed to do.
Speaker DI was raised Catholic, had lots of Southern Baptist friends.
Speaker DAnd really, you know, I heard.
Speaker DThe only thing times I heard about being gay was probably, you know, church and maybe talk shows.
Speaker DBut at the time, talk shows, they were not pro gay.
Speaker DIt was, you know, what it says in the Bible and so far, sorry for your family and this is happening.
Speaker DIt was just like a tragedy.
Speaker DSo even though I don't think my parents ever, you know, were like, don't do this.
Speaker DIt was just kind of in.
Speaker DIn the community and church and just implied.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DSo, yeah, I dated lots of guys because they would ask and I didn't.
Speaker DAs a people pleaser, you don't want to hurt anybody, so you just say, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker DOkay.
Speaker DOkay.
Speaker DSo it was just that, like nonstop.
Speaker DOnce I would finally build up the courage to be like, okay, that's this can end now.
Speaker DThen like, the next one would be there.
Speaker DAnd I was like, okay.
Speaker DAnd eventually I got married at 19.
Speaker DAt the time, of course, you know, I thought I was grown up and I was ready.
Speaker DI was definitely ready to get out of my home because I think my mom was going through probably some depression and menopause and divorce.
Speaker DMy dad had some undiagnosed mental illness.
Speaker DSo all the things.
Speaker DBut I was like, I'm ready to get out of this.
Speaker DI think I can do this better.
Speaker DYou know, So I did it.
Speaker DAnd I was the best little people pleaser wife.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DNot a lot of fights.
Speaker DAnd I hear this a lot with my clients.
Speaker DSo I work with people pleasers and later in life, lesbians, we usually have a nice model relationship.
Speaker DThere's, you know, the guys that we marry are usually good guys.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DThere's no abuse.
Speaker DThere's, you know, all the reasons that we should stay.
Speaker DSo I was married for seven years and didn't come out until after, you know, I checked all the boxes that I was supposed to.
Speaker DTo lead to success.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DI went to college, we built a house And I was married and had a career, went to grad school, had a kid.
Speaker DI did all the things like I was supposed to.
Speaker CYou did.
Speaker DBut something was still off and missing.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DI went to church.
Speaker DI did all the things.
Speaker DSo for me, it was like a catalyst situation where someone came into my life and I was like, oh, oh, okay, this is not friendship.
Speaker DI just thought, we're going to be great friends.
Speaker DSo just that awakening.
Speaker DI know a lot of people use a lot of my clients and people.
Speaker DAnd we grew up with the phrase midlife crisis.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DWhich definitely has a negative connotation of like, you're having a breakdown.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DGet over it.
Speaker DInstead, I like the word awakening.
Speaker DLike, oh my gosh.
Speaker DLike, I can see now, like, this is interesting.
Speaker DThis is a whole different world where I can say no and I can figure out who I am and what I like instead of just going along with what everyone has always told me to quickly learned about toxic relationships.
Speaker DAnd yeah, and just because I came out doesn't mean my people pleasing would automatically go away.
Speaker DSo that was something I had to figure out and go through a toxic relationship.
Speaker DAnd you know, health wise, this toxic relationship was actually, you know, less healthy than, than my marriage.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DI was out.
Speaker DSo that, you know, in my head counteracted the, this is so much better.
Speaker DEven though it's worse, it's better.
Speaker CRight, Right.
Speaker DSo after that, it was, after that ended and it was, you know, three to four years of just roller coaster.
Speaker DAnd I think a lot of people pleasers also have that, oh, I want to, I want to fix.
Speaker DLike, I can, I can be patient.
Speaker DI can handle it.
Speaker DPeople pleasers are used to putting themselves last.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DTaking things personally.
Speaker DSo instead of, oh, this is an issue for you, it's, oh, what did I do wrong?
Speaker DOh, I'll try better.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DI failed.
Speaker DI will try to fix it.
Speaker DSo a lot of times just clinging to something for too long.
Speaker DAre you, are you familiar with the phrase sunk cost fallacy?
Speaker CNo.
Speaker DActually it's a really good one.
Speaker DIt's a really good one.
Speaker DAnd I, you know, not just in our niche, but all over the place, people do this.
Speaker DAnd sunk cost fallacy has to do with, I've already invested this many years to this relationship.
Speaker DI can't, I can't get out now.
Speaker DLike, I've already done the time or I've already put in this much money or time towards this degree.
Speaker DWell, I've got to do it.
Speaker DEven though I already know I don't want to do this.
Speaker DI have to I've already put this much into commitment and energy and time.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DSo people like, anyone listening right now, you can think of what's something I'm holding onto because I've invested time, energy, or money into it.
Speaker CI think we all probably have something.
Speaker DYes.
Speaker CAt least one something.
Speaker CRight?
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker DAnd I love that, you know, you do so much with parents, because I think this is an important message that parents can pass on to their kids is if you're in something.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DDon't feel like you have to keep doing it for so many years to prove that it's not the right thing.
Speaker DIf you know that, okay, I shouldn't be married, even though I've already planned this wedding.
Speaker DYou can get out at any time that you realize that this is not for me, whether it's a career.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DA lot of people do it with careers.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DThey start making the money, then they have the bills, and then they can't stop it even though it's.
Speaker DIt's miserable.
Speaker CRight?
Speaker CRight.
Speaker DSo fast forward a little bit.
Speaker DI figured out who I was.
Speaker DI hung out with friends, just getting to be myself and not having.
Speaker DNot in a relationship.
Speaker DSo I got to see, like, make my own decisions.
Speaker DNo, no.
Speaker DWhere my bal.
Speaker DAnd what was me and what I was doing with other people.
Speaker DAnd then I met my.
Speaker DMy partner.
Speaker DSo this year is 11 years.
Speaker DWe've been together for 11 years.
Speaker DJust easy and amazing.
Speaker DAnd, you know, those previous relationships, Right.
Speaker DThey weren't a waste or any of that.
Speaker DThey were.
Speaker DThey provide great contrast to my relationship now of, oh, my gosh, this is healthy, and it's easy and it.
Speaker DIt's.
Speaker DIt's passionate and, you know, all the things.
Speaker DSo it's just been so amazing.
Speaker DAnd then of course, I say, I think career wise, this is all over the place.
Speaker DHeather, I appreciate it.
Speaker CI love this bearing with me, but.
Speaker DMy career path was education and psychology and then elementary school counselor, and then I was a therapist.
Speaker DAnd then back in 2019, I switched over to being a life coach.
Speaker DAnd I love it.
Speaker DI know everyone, you know, a lot of people love their jobs, but this is.
Speaker DThis I'm pretty sure is the best.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DJust getting to help people.
Speaker DOne thing I love about coaching is that I don't have necessarily the local limitations as I did when I was a counselor.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker DI'm able to have a client in Finland and Hawaii, and I've talked to people in South Africa.
Speaker DIt's just.
Speaker DIt's just limitless.
Speaker DSo when you people are in that bubble where they're like, there's no one that will understand me.
Speaker DLike, I'm.
Speaker DI wish.
Speaker DRight on TikTok.
Speaker DPeople are like, oh, I wish I was closer.
Speaker DAnd I'm like, well, you're in luck, right?
Speaker DYou don't even have to be closer.
Speaker DSo love, love the Internet.
Speaker DLove what it provides.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CI mean, that is definitely one of the best benefits is that it brings, it brings people closer and it gets rid of that isolation, which, oh, my goodness, so huge.
Speaker CAnd you know, and what both of us do and, and all, you know, the people that we work with and the people that we know.
Speaker CAnd so that is just, that is amazing.
Speaker CAnd I had so many thoughts come up as you were talking because I'm like, oh, yes, yes.
Speaker CPeople pleasing everybody.
Speaker CRaise your hand if you're a people pleaser or were a people pleaser at some point.
Speaker CRecovering.
Speaker CPeople pleaser.
Speaker DRecovering.
Speaker CAnd I think I love, you know, stories like yours because I think that it gives, it gives people permission to take a minute and be like, wait a second, I can do that.
Speaker CI'm allowed to do that.
Speaker CI'd never heard that phrase before, the sunken cost fallacy.
Speaker DBut.
Speaker DFallacy?
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker CHow?
Speaker CI mean, that's so very true and certainly something that I tell my kids now.
Speaker CYou know, if you don't like what you're doing, why are you doing it?
Speaker CLike, that's right.
Speaker CCrazy.
Speaker CYou know, Connor started college as a computer science major and he's graduating with a degree in May of motion graphics.
Speaker CI mean, you know, kind of in the same, but it's different, very different.
Speaker CSo I'm like, just keep trying until you figure.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CLike, that's just a tiny example.
Speaker CBut I think that that is.
Speaker CI admire that you.
Speaker CAnd I guess there's kind of a question here, which is at what point did you realize this is not working for me either?
Speaker CWhether it was the people pleasing or being married or was there kind of like a one singular moment or is it just kind of this gradual awakening?
Speaker DYeah, so the, the people pleasing awakening came.
Speaker DCame later.
Speaker DLike it was a.
Speaker DOh.
Speaker DBecause sometimes people pleasers think it's not a bad thing.
Speaker DLike, oh, I'm.
Speaker DWhen they sign up for a consultation call, there's like, what are some struggles?
Speaker DWhat are some strengths?
Speaker DAnd sometimes their strengths are like, I put others first.
Speaker DI, I care a lot.
Speaker DI'm like, oh, those are great.
Speaker DThere are also some people pleasing tendencies that might be holding you back.
Speaker DSo it can be confusing because other people love that.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DThey love that you give endlessly and do anything for me anytime.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker DBut like, so it takes a while to shift and go, oh, okay, I don't have good boundaries.
Speaker DWhat are boundaries?
Speaker DWhat is this?
Speaker CWhat are those?
Speaker DRight.
Speaker CExactly.
Speaker DAnd realizing, you know, it's not selfish to have boundaries, like, it's necessary and it usually involves something good for.
Speaker DFor both sides, even if it doesn't feel like it in that moment, even if there's that resistance to the boundaries initially.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DIt builds something better.
Speaker DSo, like, my mom is not someone that wants to.
Speaker DIs interested in growth.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DI'm like, here's a Brene Brown book.
Speaker DAnd then I don't think she read it.
Speaker DAnd I was like, oh, could I, Could I get it back?
Speaker DAnd she was like, I don't know where it is.
Speaker DSo I don't know if she just gift re gifted it or what happened.
Speaker DBut she is not one that you can be like, oh, do this, try this.
Speaker DBut by living my life and having healthy relationships and having some boundaries and just how our family interacts, she's been able to kind of that rising tide kind of make some growth along with us, but not because we're pushing it, but just kind of as a role model.
Speaker DThose beautiful ripple effects that can affect people in our lives without us, like shoving it down their throat.
Speaker CThat is exactly right.
Speaker CThat.
Speaker CAnd I think that is maybe the most effective, if not one of the most effective ways too, because nobody likes to be told you're wrong.
Speaker CDo it my way.
Speaker CDoesn't matter how old you are.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CSo I think that by, you know, shifting in the ways that you shifted, and certainly I think that a lot with.
Speaker CWith my family as well, that, okay, well, I'm going to shift and lead by example.
Speaker CAnd they are, you know, they have choices.
Speaker CChoices are right.
Speaker CAnd making those, Making those choices clear as part of the setting boundaries, which is, again, it was a foreign concept to me as well.
Speaker DSame.
Speaker CYeah.
Speaker CI mean, holy cow, I read this.
Speaker CReally cool.
Speaker COr maybe I heard it.
Speaker CI don't know if I read it or heard it on the podcast, but somebody was talking about being selfless.
Speaker CThe idea of being selfless and which goes along with being people pleaser.
Speaker CAnd they were saying that being selfless is actually selfish.
Speaker CI was like, oh, yeah, I like that.
Speaker CReally think about it.
Speaker CAnd gosh, I wish I could remember who this was to give them credit, but I just thought it was so brilliant because it's true.
Speaker CYou're kind of wrapped up in that whole, like, well, I can do everything for everybody and I can make it all better.
Speaker CAnd people love that about you.
Speaker CRight?
Speaker CThey'll take until you are like a shriveled up, burned up little.
Speaker DYes.
Speaker COkay.
Speaker CI can't do anymore.
Speaker CAnd then that.
Speaker CWhat.
Speaker CWho's.
Speaker CWho are you good for at that point?
Speaker CNo one.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DAnd then they're going to be upset because you can't do it anymore.
Speaker CCorrect.
Speaker CCorrect.
Speaker CYeah.
Speaker DWhat happened to you?
Speaker DYes.
Speaker DYes.
Speaker CSo.
Speaker COh, my goodness.
Speaker CSo you have a kiddo who is pansexual.
Speaker DYes.
Speaker CWhich is awesome.
Speaker CSo can we talk a little bit about them?
Speaker DYeah, let's.
Speaker DOkay.
Speaker CIs that okay?
Speaker CI just didn't want to talk about anything that was off limits.
Speaker CSo when did they come out?
Speaker CAnd I guess before that.
Speaker CHow were they.
Speaker CHow old were they when you came out and how have they been with kind of the shifts and relationships around them?
Speaker DYeah, so I came out when she was one.
Speaker DSo I was like, you're never going to remember any of this.
Speaker DBut it was also motivating because I was like, okay, I don't want to model being a people pleaser.
Speaker DAnd for her to grow up watching me go through because I was still going through, like, the unhealthy relationship, like when she was like 2 and 3.
Speaker DSo I had to be like, nope, that's not good.
Speaker DLike, I don't want her to be like, this is normal.
Speaker DLike this back and forth and yelling or any.
Speaker DAny kind of, you know, some of this is something that's normal and you can talk to your kids about.
Speaker DBut if I can have my choice, right?
Speaker DIf I can pick the healthiest version of myself and a partner, then that's what I wanted.
Speaker CShe.
Speaker DAnd it's funny because even with what I do, I.
Speaker DShe still struggled to come out to me, which was.
Speaker DWhich was funny.
Speaker DSo at first she came out as.
Speaker DAs bi.
Speaker DAnd I'm trying to think of how she did it.
Speaker DAnd this was, I think, also around middle school age.
Speaker DSo like sixth and seventh grade.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DThere's a lot of.
Speaker DI'm not a elementary school kid anymore.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DI'm having, you know, you lose that baby group of friends that your parents sometimes choose for you and invite everyone and start to have more of an opinion and realization and all of that.
Speaker DAll of that.
Speaker DBut she came out to me, not her father, though, so that relationship is still.
Speaker DHe goes to a very conservative church.
Speaker DWe also go to church, but we have some very affirming pastors.
Speaker DSo it's interesting just kind of seeing both sides.
Speaker DAnd what I like to reassure people is that it doesn't.
Speaker DIt can.
Speaker DYou can have one parent.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DYou can have your One person that is supportive and validating and listening.
Speaker DAnd just because the other side isn't there yet doesn't mean it's going to break the kid.
Speaker DRight?
Speaker CVery important, important point.
Speaker DI did read the book the Four Agreements with my child a long time ago, like, when she was 10.
Speaker DThat is a book I have all my clients read.
Speaker DAnd I was like, let's just go through this, because if I think of my mom, she struggles with all of those, so.
Speaker DWhich is probably why I love that book so much.
Speaker DSo I was like, I'm just gonna slowly inch away at this book and talk about it.
Speaker DAnd each time I was like, what are the four Agreements again?
Speaker DJust the.
Speaker DShe'd be like, don't take things personally.
Speaker DDon't make assumptions.
Speaker DAnyways, you were just, like, practice drilling it in.
Speaker DAnd she's a confident kiddo.
Speaker DShe did come out.
Speaker DAnd again, we're still in the smallish town.
Speaker DIt's not like Dallas or any of the big, big cities.
Speaker DShe, like, decided to wear, like, a rainbow sticker, like, every day to school.
Speaker DJust, like.
Speaker DJust so it's clear.
Speaker CJust so y'all know exact.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DSo it was very interesting.
Speaker DLike, that whole generation I'm so impressed with.
Speaker DAnd I'm sure, you know, I'm sure Internet and just, you know, TV shows these days.
Speaker DI remember when I was coming out, they would.
Speaker DWhen there was, like, one gay character in a show, we'd be like, oh, my goodness, did you hear this show?
Speaker DAnd now it's almost a staple.
Speaker DLike, there's always one, so it's not, like, as shocking or a surprise anymore.
Speaker DBut just being brought up around, that doesn't undo everything.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DThere's still so many people I talk to that it's just a struggle because church and their parents.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DThat's a daily kind of message.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker DAnd it's hard when you are in that bubble, but.
Speaker CSo, yeah, those are difficult ones.
Speaker CYes, for sure.
Speaker CSo how old is she now?
Speaker DShe's 16 now.
Speaker CYes.
Speaker CI have one of those.
Speaker CThey're super fun.
Speaker CYes.
Speaker COh, my goodness.
Speaker CI love that.
Speaker CAnd I think that I love the middle school coming out.
Speaker CI think so many people are surprised by it, but it's really not that surprising if you think about it.
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker CThat's kind of when everybody has their first crush.
Speaker CRight?
Speaker CI mean, you're just entering puberty and noticing, you know, all of these thoughts and attractions.
Speaker CSo it is.
Speaker CI find it, you know, people are like, oh, my gosh.
Speaker CThat normal.
Speaker CI'm like, yeah.
Speaker CWhen did you have your first Cross probably when you were like 12 or 13.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CI mean, some of us were older, some of us were younger, but that is the general.
Speaker CSo I do.
Speaker CAnd I think that that is.
Speaker CI love when kids are able to express that.
Speaker CAnd, you know, likewise, I am just in awe of this generation of kids, especially considering, you know, what they do face in so many other ways.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CI mean, just.
Speaker CWe were talking how much we love the Internet because we can do things like this for them.
Speaker CIt's different, and it can be so much more dangerous and scary and just stuff is out there.
Speaker CSo, yes, these.
Speaker CThese kids are amazing.
Speaker CThey're quite extraordinary, and they're fun to learn from, which I think is another gift that.
Speaker CThat we get.
Speaker CAnd I think that, you know, we.
Speaker CWe did not collectively, as a generation grow up with parents just because.
Speaker CAnd this isn't, you know, I don't say this to blame, but it's just a fact.
Speaker CWho were interested in learning from their children.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CWe were to learn from them.
Speaker CThat was just Right.
Speaker CAnd the miniature versions of them or we were reflections of them.
Speaker CAnd I think that is one of the most fun things of, you know, the shifts that.
Speaker CThat we have made as a generation is, oh, my gosh, we could learn a lot from these kids.
Speaker CLike, you sit and observe them or listen to them, and there's a lot there.
Speaker DI mean, you.
Speaker CAnd I learned how to be on TikTok.
Speaker CI learned how to be on TikTok because of you.
Speaker CSo this is my announcement for today, y'all.
Speaker CAnnie gave me the courage to be on TikTok because she has an amazing channel.
Speaker CSo that will be one of the things that we have to share because not only do you do just these awesome.
Speaker CI'm gonna say all of this wrong because I'm still such a newbie, but you do great videos, but you also do lives, and they're so wonderful and so educational and so I.
Speaker CI love.
Speaker CAfter I sat.
Speaker CAnd I mean, it took me like a good week and a half after we talked to, like, I was watching you and watching you because of course, you know, the stuff our kids watch.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker CThat's not coming up on my for you page.
Speaker CWhich now I know what they're talking about because my.
Speaker CBecause Connor used to be like, Rowan, I don't think we have the same for you page.
Speaker CYou know, the 22 year old and the 16 year old definitely do not have the same for you.
Speaker CIt's so funny.
Speaker CBut now, like, observing and watching and doing all this, it's such a, you know, it's such a great way to communicate with people and reach people.
Speaker CAnd so, you know, that's something that this generation has brought to us.
Speaker DBravo.
Speaker DYeah, I think, yeah.
Speaker DJust staying open to.
Speaker DTo all the conversations and changes.
Speaker DLike, yeah, I don't know.
Speaker DI don't know about you or any of the listeners, but I was not a go to my mom and have these conversations kid.
Speaker DIt was.
Speaker DNope, this is.
Speaker DThis is toeing the line.
Speaker DThen there's Annie.
Speaker CRight, Exactly.
Speaker CWe did not have conversations.
Speaker CSo, yes, it is.
Speaker CIt is so nice.
Speaker CAnd I always.
Speaker CI kind of giggle because they each share certain, like, different amounts of information with me.
Speaker CConnor shares the most, but I think that's because of everything we've been through together.
Speaker CSo he's kind of like, well, you know, you saw my Grindr account, so I can tell you pretty much anything, Mom.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CSo, I mean, seriously.
Speaker CYes.
Speaker CSo, you know, some of these things were learned by.
Speaker CWhat is it.
Speaker CWhat is the phrase?
Speaker CSomething by fire, baptism by fire, trial by fire, trial by fire, something by fire.
Speaker CAnyway, that's what it was.
Speaker CThat's what it is.
Speaker CSo, yes, it is.
Speaker CIt is fun that they do share.
Speaker CAnd I think the other piece of that is that they share.
Speaker CAnd we can have conversations where.
Speaker CIf we question or ask questions about, you know, why.
Speaker CWhy do you think that?
Speaker COr where did you find that?
Speaker COr it isn't this instant.
Speaker CLike, I'm not telling you, or, you know, it actually I think helps them develop more critical thinking skills.
Speaker CRight?
Speaker CLike, why do I think this?
Speaker CLike, where did I find this information?
Speaker CWas that a reputable source or what was it, you know, from so and so.
Speaker CSo anyway, I don't know why I got off on that tangent, but.
Speaker DThat'S beautiful because how we, you know, there's so many stories of that we can take from generations before, right?
Speaker DWe like to break those generational curses.
Speaker DBut I remember.
Speaker DI remember thinking early on that, like, oh, my ex is gonna have a hard time because he's not really doing this groundwork to build this relationship.
Speaker DAnd at one point he was like, yeah, I think she's just being a teenage girl.
Speaker DAnd I'm like.
Speaker DI was like, she doesn't do that over here.
Speaker DLike, that's not a teenage girl thing.
Speaker DIt's.
Speaker DAnyway, yeah.
Speaker DSo noticing when we can catch ourselves with some old, expired, outdated thoughts that we can question and be like, what if?
Speaker DWhat if this could be better?
Speaker CRight?
Speaker DI love those positive what ifs and turning them on their heads.
Speaker CRight?
Speaker CAnd I think so much, like, so many things that you've said have been because of being aware so much.
Speaker CI mean, your journey is you were so aware from so early on of how you were feeling and what you were thinking and.
Speaker CAnd perhaps how the two things didn't necessarily mesh together.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CBecause so much was like programming that.
Speaker CWe're like, go, go, go.
Speaker CAnd then we're like, wait a second.
Speaker DYes, yes.
Speaker DAnd I.
Speaker DAnd I don't think all that awareness was there then.
Speaker DIt was definitely a after the fact, like, oh, hindsight.
Speaker DLike, I can see, oh, this is why I did this.
Speaker DAnd this is what I was doing.
Speaker DBecause like I said, in the moment, you're just doing what you're supposed to be doing.
Speaker DAnd like in the book the Four Agreements, how the intro talks about domestication and how we're taught this is good and this is bad and this is right and this is wrong.
Speaker DAnd, you know, you hug your family immediately when you see them all, like, the rules and all supposed tos that will lead you, like, the path.
Speaker DBack then, I.
Speaker DI was not aware at all, which is why I just kept kind of falling along that path.
Speaker DLooking back now, I can be like, oh, maybe that was actually a crush.
Speaker DLike, it wasn't just, I really like hanging out with this person.
Speaker DIt's.
Speaker DOh, that's what that was.
Speaker DI was just.
Speaker DSo many areas.
Speaker DIt's clue.
Speaker DIt's cluelessness.
Speaker DBut going through and.
Speaker DAnd being able, like you said, learning from our kids and being able to have those conversations that we didn't with our parents, I think is.
Speaker DIs powerful and great.
Speaker DSo I.
Speaker DI'm excited for all of your listeners because they get to hear how to grow that relationship and, and like, this might be your old normal of parents don't talk to their kids about that kind of stuff.
Speaker DAnd kids are hard and tough to.
Speaker DOh, there's a better way to have this relationship so that y'all can support one another and.
Speaker DAnd know what's.
Speaker DWhat's normal and what's okay and what's that.
Speaker DThere's others like you.
Speaker DI think that's huge.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CExactly.
Speaker DAnd doing amazing things.
Speaker CAwareness piece, which I think is really.
Speaker CIt sounds difficult, but it really isn't.
Speaker CLike, when you.
Speaker CBecause it's really having that, like, pause.
Speaker CLike practicing that pause.
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker CAnd, you know, just kind of observing or recognizing what's going on.
Annie HendersonSo it's just.
Speaker CIt just takes practice.
Speaker CAll of these.
Speaker CAll of these things and things that I still am practicing all the time and.
Speaker CAnd, you know, still totally goofy from time to time.
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker CSometimes I'll Do.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker DThat practice isn't a bad thing.
Speaker DRight.
Speaker DIt's just.
Speaker DIt's just you just keep growing and taking one more step up and being able to look back and go, oh, I didn't know that.
Speaker DNow I do.
Speaker DAnd.
Speaker CExactly.
Speaker CWell, and I think the other thing too, that we've kind of learned from that is, you know, as we've grown and, and shifted over time, when we look back and we're like, oh, you know, that we did that or that happened, and.
Speaker CAnd then being able to have that discussion, you know, with.
Speaker CWith.
Speaker CWith whomever it occurred with.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CYou know, obviously a lot of these things were with Connor.
Speaker CSo I can go back and be like, ooh, I said that, or I did that, and I'm really sorry because I had no idea.
Speaker CAnd.
Speaker CAnd, you know, he's able to, you know, say how it made him feel, and we can have this conversation and then it's, you know, of course it's okay, Mom.
Speaker CYou know, you had.
Speaker CYou.
Speaker CYou didn't know.
Speaker CRight.
Speaker CSo.
Speaker COr, you know, you're a moron.
Speaker CI mean, whatever.
Speaker CHe doesn't do that.
Speaker CBut yes.
Speaker CSo I think that that is.
Speaker CIt's a gift.
Speaker CIt's a gift for sure.
Speaker CSo as people are.
Speaker CI want people to find you and.
Speaker CAnd either follow you on TikTok or if somebody who is listening would like to speak with you, you know, work with you.
Speaker CHow.
Speaker CHow do you do that?
Speaker CHow would one find you?
Speaker DYeah, so I'm pretty consistent across all the platforms, but my website, whether.
Speaker DAnd then also on Facebook, also on TikTok, you can usually find me just by going to Annie M.
Speaker DHenderson.
Speaker DI don't know if that.
Speaker DYeah, so, like, if it shows, everyone can see the label on there.
Speaker DAnnie M.
Speaker DHenderson.com and then on Facebook, I usually just post just some good old coaching tips and reminders on a daily basis.
Speaker DAnd then TikTok Live is 3pm Central.
Speaker DAnd that's just fun.
Speaker DSometimes we start off on a certain topic and then I just start responding to comments and talking to people and it's nice.
Speaker DIt's not like a huge, massive group, but it's nice to.
Speaker DWhere people can ask and feel heard and just talk about whatever it is, whether it's boundaries or coming out or church or trauma, whatever the topic is for the day.
Speaker DSo I can't wait, Heather, to see your future lives.
Speaker COh, my goodness gracious.
Speaker CI will definitely let you know, I still have a little.
Speaker CA little while to go to get to that point.
Speaker DWe'll hop on together.
Speaker CWe definitely Will and I will put all of this information in the show notes as well, so people can click right through.
Speaker CAnd just in case you're driving as you're listening and you didn't get all of that.
Speaker DYes.
Speaker DYeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker DAnnie M.
Speaker DHenderson.
Speaker DThere's also a way to sign up for like a free consultation call some free groups, all for my website, an old podcast.
Speaker DSo all the things are there and they can lead you to the other places.
Speaker CBut yeah, wonderful.
Speaker COh, my goodness.
Speaker CIs there anything else you would like to share before we close?
Speaker DJust an extra reminder to check out the four Agreements if you haven't yet.
Speaker DI think it's a beautiful book.
Speaker DIt's pretty small.
Speaker DMy tip that I give to my clients is because I can highlight like crazy in a book or jot down notes, but once I put it back on the shelf, it's kind of gone and I won't look at it until I happen to pick it up again.
Speaker DMaybe never.
Speaker DSo the tip I like to give is that as you're going, as you're going through a section or a chapter, what you do highlight or take note of to put it in your calendar app on your phone and set it for like a weekly repeat.
Speaker DSo it's just going to.
Speaker DA little reminder will pop up and then you could always move to monthly or a yearly if you need a little reminder or check in.
Speaker DBut it's a great way to just kind of sink that good information in over and over because reading it once isn't gonna do the trick.
Speaker CNo, that is brilliant because I am definitely a serial highlighter and tab or.
Speaker DTab and it's too much to just retain, right?
Speaker CIt is.
Speaker CAnd you're right.
Speaker COnce you put it back on the shelf, it's, it's, it's.
Speaker DWhoever one day inherits those books, it's.
Speaker CGonna be like, oh, my goodness, she kept post it and business.
Speaker DYeah.
Speaker CWell, good.
Speaker CWell, thank you.
Speaker CThank you so much.
Speaker CThank you so much for being here today.
Speaker DThanks for having me on.
Heather HesterThanks so much for joining me today.
Heather HesterIf you enjoyed today's episode, I would be so grateful.
Heather HesterFor a rating or a review, click on the link in the show notes or go to my website chrysalismama.com to stay up to date on my latest resources as well as to learn how you can work with me.
Heather HesterPlease share this podcast with anyone who needs to know that they are not alone.
Heather HesterAnd remember to just breathe until next.