Posts by Barb Nangle
Why You Can Know Exactly What You Need and Still Disappear in the Moment
photo credit: Curated Lifestyle This is part of The Hidden Mechanics of Boundaries, a limited series about what happens under the surface before, during, and after a boundary. You can walk into a conversation knowing exactly what you need. You’ve thought it through, written it down, and perhaps even practiced what you’re going to say.…
Read MoreWhy You Say Yes Before You’ve Actually Decided
photo credit: Getty Images This is part of The Hidden Mechanics of Boundaries, a limited series about what happens under the surface before, during, and after a boundary. Someone asks if you can help with something, attend something, take something on, or change your plans for them. Before you’ve considered your schedule, your energy, what…
Read More20 Years Ago Today My Brother Pat Died
June 20, 2026 ✨ Higher Power Coaching & Consulting ✨ 20 years ago today, my brother Pat died. He was 35. He was my “little brother“ (even though he was much taller and bigger than me). He died of Legionaire’s Disease, which only about 5% of people who get it do. He was severely debilitated…
Read MoreHow Do I Stop Over-Giving Without Being Selfish?
May 20, 2026 ✨ Higher Power Coaching & Consulting ✨ One of the biggest fears people have when they begin setting boundaries is this: “What if I become selfish?” They worry that if they stop over-giving, over-functioning, people-pleasing, and putting everyone else first, they’ll somehow become cold, uncaring, or self-centered. But in my experience, selfishness…
Read MoreHow Do I Get Over the Guilt I Feel When Setting Boundaries?
May 13, 2026 ✨ Higher Power Coaching & Consulting ✨ photo credit: Diego Martz Most people think the goal is to stop feeling guilty when they set boundaries. But that’s not actually the goal. The real goal is learning how to stay with yourself when guilt shows up. That’s a very different thing. One of…
Read MoreWhy Do I Keep Saying Yes When I Really Want to Say No?
May 6, 2026 ✨ Higher Power Coaching & Consulting ✨ Have you ever agreed to something and immediately regretted it? Maybe someone asked for a favor, invited you somewhere, or put pressure on you in a conversation, and before you even had time to think, the word “yes” came out of your mouth. Then later,…
Read MoreHow to Take Control by Setting Digital Boundaries for Peace and Productivity
Issue 162, April 10, 2026 ✨ Higher Power Coaching & Consulting ✨ The Moment Everything Changes Two years ago, I coached a woman on the podcast who was overwhelmed by her living situation. She was doing all the work, her roommates weren’t contributing, and nothing changed despite repeated conversations. When we got off the call,…
Read MoreHow Internal Boundaries Help You Stop Over-giving and Reclaim Your Energy
Issue 161, April 3, 2026 ✨ Higher Power Coaching & Consulting ✨ For most of my life, I thought over-giving was a strength. I was helpful, generous with my time (and sometimes with my money), and reliable. The one people could count on. I thought I was “nice.” And I was all of those things.…
Read MoreHow Internal Boundaries Free You from the Need to Hide
Issue 160, March 27, 2026 ✨ Higher Power Coaching & Consulting ✨ I realized something recently that feels both simple and profound. I don’t feel like I have to hide anymore. For most of my life, I did, but I didn’t even realize that’s what I was doing. It wasn’t in obvious ways. It’s not…
Read MoreHow a Simple Nightly Practice Helps You Stop Abandoning Yourself
Issue 159, March 20, 2026 ✨ Higher Power Coaching & Consulting ✨ There’s a simple practice that has helped me maintain my boundaries more than almost anything else I’ve done. It’s not complicated, doesn’t take long, and you can start doing it tonight. If you’re in 12-step recovery, you’re probably familiar with it: it’s called…
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