S5. Episode 4: How to Cope With Losing Friends – Show Notes

7. Understanding and Overcoming Shame: Insights, Strategies, and Personal Stories – Distressed to Joyful; Bailey's Way

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In this episode I delve into the challenging yet crucial topic of “How to Cope with Losing Friends.” Drawing from both extensive research and my own personal experiences, I compassionately guide you through the intricacies of navigating the often painful process of losing friends.

Join me as I open up about my own journey and share valuable insights into the reasons why friendships might come to an end. Through a blend of research findings and heartfelt anecdotes, I shed light on coping mechanisms and strategies to navigate the emotional terrain of friendship loss.

Not stopping there, I courageously discuss instances where I chose to end friendships, providing you with a roadmap to identify red flags and avoid common pitfalls. By sharing my experiences, I aim to empower you to make informed choices in your relationships, fostering healthier connections and personal growth.

Tune in to this emotionally resonant episode of Distressed to Joyful; Bailey’s Way, where my authenticity creates a safe space for you to explore the complexities of friendship dynamics. Whether you’re grappling with a recent loss or simply seeking guidance on nurturing meaningful connections, this episode is a must-listen. Subscribe now for a dose of empathy, research-backed insights, and practical advice on the art of letting go while embracing personal growth.

Announcements

The announcements in this episode centered around two books I’m currently reading and why I’ve chosen to read them. You’ll find links to both of them below, as well as an article to help you learn more about Brené Brown’s works. Additionally, you’ll find links to two different previous podcast episodes to tune into if you’re interested in learning more about my non-existent relationship with my parents. 

• Here’s the link for The Book of Forgiving by Desmond Tutu & Mpho Tutu on Amazon 
• And here is the link to Rising Strong by Brené Brown on Amazon
• If you’re interested in learning more about Brené Brown’s works, check out my article, Brené Brown’s Books Ranked in Order of Most Valuable 
• Additionally, if you’re interested in hearing more about why I don’t have an active relationship with my parents, tune into Season 4, Episode 8: Mother Dearest & Season 3, Episode 8: I Wish My Parents Would Have… (side note: I did not intentionally choose for these topics to both occur on an “episode 8”, it just coincidentally happened that way!)

Self Reflection Corner

This week’s topic was my revelation on how childhood trauma has affected my ability to be flexible as an adult. Scroll to find the short Instagram Reel I created about this topic last month, but be sure to tune into the episode to hear all of the details! 

Also, be sure to tune into Travel Tales #2: Fun Times with Friends in Hot Springs, Arkansas to hear what happened on this trip that helped me to overcome my “fear of being agile”. While it wasn’t easy, I’m so grateful for this trip as it’s helped change my life significantly for the better! 

My Challenge for You: If you’re currently struggling with being flexible when plans change, I encourage you to take a few moments to reflect on why that might be the case and write it down in your journal. Ask yourself, why do I have a hard time “going with the flow”? Did something happen in my childhood that might cause me to panic when plans change? Was I conditioned to think this way via someone else’s influence? Taking the time to reflect on your life and why you might be struggling to be flexible might lead you to an answer…which often will bring you a solution. 

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Win of the Week!

I was thrilled to tell you about my next trip abroad to Germany and Amsterdam later this year! My husband and I are specifically going to Germany so that we can tour Neuschwanstein Castle, AKA the “Disney Castle” as it was the inspiration for the incredible castle in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. 

Have a recent win you want me to celebrate with you? Head on over to the Win of the Week webpage and submit your win for me to shoutout on an upcoming episode of the show! You can also send me an email via whatisheybailsdoing@gmail.com if that better suits you. Can’t wait to hear from you, friend! 

Resources

• While you’re here, I encourage you to check out the article I referenced throughout this episode, How to Cope When You Lose a Best Friend, found on healthline.com 
• For more information on how to identify red flags in friendships, tune into Season 1, Episode 17: Red Flags in Friendships where I devote an entire episode to discussing what types of traits to avoid when seeking new friendships. 
• To learn more about the Enneagram, tune into Season 2, Episode 4: What is the Enneagram?
• Here’s the link to get 15% off your first purchase from my Etsy Shop, Bailey’s Way Designs: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BaileysWayDesigns?coupon=NEWCUSTOMER15
• Be sure to follow @distressedtojoyful_baileysway on Instagram and join the Facebook community group to keep up with the latest information pertaining to the show!
• The podcast can now be found on YouTube! ? The most recent episodes will even include video so you can see my face while I talk to you. ?? Be sure to check out and subscribe to @whatisheybailsdoing on YouTube to stay up-to-date with all episode releases.
• Never want to miss an episode? Click here to sign up to have new episode releases sent right to your inbox! I’ll throw in some other goodies also, just for you!
• Lastly, if you enjoy tuning in and want to help support the show, your kindness and generosity is much appreciated! Head on over to the Support the Show page to learn more!

Until next time friends… Take it easy, stay grateful and be joyful!

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