How do we communicate our needs in a way that doesn't feel like criticism? Welcome to today’s ICYMI, where we kick off the week with a quick game-changing tip from an episode that you might have missed.

Expressing our true desires, communicating what actually makes us feel good or safe, and dialling into our preferences and needs can be vulnerable territory with a partner... but it's a powerful path to intimacy when done with care. So we're throwing it back to this masterclass in feedback, communication, and relating more intimately with Darshana Avila.

Darshana is a trauma-informed somatic sex educator and Erotic Wholeness coach who has dedicated her career to helping people tune in to their truth, desires, and authentic relationships. Her work has been featured on Netflix’s Sex, Love & goop, and she’s spent over a decade guiding people out of the cultural patterns that keep them stuck.

Listen to our full episode with Darshana here.

Tune in every Monday for an expert dose of life advice in under 10 minutes.

Follow Darshana on her website and Instagram.

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Do you feel like you're in the driver's seat of your life, or does it feel like life is just happening to you?

Empowered people have an infectious confidence and energy, and a lot of that personal agency comes down to a powerful concept in psychology: locus of control.

Do our choices, habits, and actions shape our future? Or are we at the mercy of luck, circumstances, other people, and forces beyond our control? Your answer has a major impact on your confidence, resilience, motivation, mental health, relationships, success, and optimism.

In this episode, we unpack the difference between an internal locus of control and an external locus of control, why some people feel empowered while others feel stuck, and how our childhood experiences, upbringing, and life circumstances can shape the stories we tell ourselves about what's possible.

Tune in to hear:

• What the concept of locus of control is in psychology
• The difference between an internal vs. external locus of control
• Why locus of control influences confidence, resilience, happiness, motivation, and success
• The connection between external locus of control and anxiety/depression/stress
• How high performers often develop a stronger sense of personal agency
• How childhood experiences, parenting styles, and socioeconomic circumstances shape our beliefs
• Why your locus of control may differ across areas of your life
• Strategies to feel more empowered and build confidence in your abilities

Whether you're navigating anxiety, building self-confidence, or trying to feel more empowered in your life, this is a powerful framework for understanding how your mindset shapes your reality.

I believe in you!!

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teachmehowtoadult.substack.com

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@gillian.berner

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What if burnout isn't always caused by working too much?

I've been falling back into burnout lately, and a lot of people around me have been struggling with it too. So in this throwback episode, we're exploring a lesser-known cause of burnout that rarely gets discussed: a lack of meaning, purpose, connection, engagement, and fulfillment.

Most burnout advice focuses on reducing stress, taking breaks, and improving work-life balance... but tons of people are still experiencing chronic fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and low motivation even after taking a break and getting more rest.

That's because burnout isn't always about overwork. Sometimes it's about undernourishment. Enter "boreout": the exhaustion that comes from chronic disengagement, lack of purpose, misalignment with your values, and not having enough meaningful experiences, relationships, creativity, or excitement in your life.

Tune in to hear about:

• The other cause of burnout that most people overlook
• Why burnout isn't always caused by stress, overwork, or long hours
• How a lack of meaning, purpose, and engagement can create chronic exhaustion
• The connection between values misalignment and burnout symptoms
• How technology, overstimulation, and constant productivity impact mental health
• Why rest alone doesn't always fix burnout
• Practical ways to create more energy, joy, creativity, purpose, and fulfillment
• How to recover from burnout by building a life that energizes you

Sometimes the answer isn't doing less... it's reconnecting with what makes you feel alive.

For advertising and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Frequency Podcast Network.

Subscribe to my Substack:

teachmehowtoadult.substack.com

Follow us on the ‘gram:

@teachmehowtoadultmedia

@gillian.berner

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