by Tania Henderson | Dec 19, 2025 | Abuse, Disappointment, Relationship, Self-esteem, Uncategorized
Years ago, I read a book by Gavin DeBecker titled “The Gift of Fear” and felt like I was given a metaphoric punch in the gut, highlighting a major blind spot. He made the radical claim that pushing children to hug people sends a harmful message. In a nutshell, this...
by Tania Henderson | Aug 31, 2022 | Communication, Disappointment, Relationship, Self-care, Self-esteem, Uncategorized
Thank you for joining me on this ten-month dive into the pervasive tendency to avoid disappointing others. The journey has been illuminating for me, allowing a window into some of the complex ways we maneuver through relationships. I can honestly say that I have so...
by Tania Henderson | Jul 27, 2022 | Disappointment, Relationship, Self-care, Uncategorized
When the moment arises to speak up, disappointing another person can be especially tough to get through if we are not in a grounded place. Emotional and mental messiness is fertile ground for anxiety. Images of consequences, rifts, and failure come to the surface,...
by Tania Henderson | May 11, 2022 | Anxiety, Communication, Disappointment, Relationship, Self-care, Uncategorized
Jane is furious that a friend, Lisa, did not respond when she called. “I never reach out after 9 p.m. so if I do, it’s urgent!” No voicemail message was left. Jane concluded that if Lisa did not pick up or notice an attempted call and get back to her right away,...
by Tania Henderson | Apr 16, 2022 | Communication, Disappointment, Relationship, Self-care, Uncategorized
Speaking up for ourselves can bring up significant distress. Many articles on the subject conclude that the discomfort is really about insecurity. For example, Sicinski states, “The fear of rejection is an irrational fear that has you convinced that people won’t...
by Tania Henderson | Jan 24, 2022 | Communication, Disappointment, Relationship, Self-care, Uncategorized
It is understandable that we want to avoid those things that are uncomfortable or involve risk. Even after being in the field for 25 years, I don’t relish the fact that some feedback I give is painful and hard to hear. It is tempting to try a variety of...
