Confidence doesn't arrive before you do the thing, it shows up after your feet hit the ground. Nikki and Chris break down how insecurity actually works and why sensitive people often avoid confidence because they're terrified of becoming the arrogant narcissist who hurt them. They reveal the specific moments that built their confidence, from food poisoning disasters to stage fright at 17, and explain why pretending confidence actually creates real confidence over time. Chris shares the Tony Robbins technique for triggering confident states on command, while Nikki explains why your brain needs to do scary things while feeling weak to actually get stronger. They tackle a listener question about a boyfriend who won't let his girlfriend join his D&D campaign because he thinks she's too dumb, and discuss why that's either terrible communication or genuine arrogance.
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51:42
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51:42
Sleep Meditation: The Winter Bear
A cozy guided sleep meditation to help you relax, unwind, and get in touch with your sleepy grizzly side. Perfect for a cold winter night tucked beneath the covers of your warm bed.
Resources:
PATTERNSCAPES DECK:
https://getpatternscapes.com/
WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1:
EmotionalBadass.com/coaching
30 Days to Peace Course
EmotionalBadass.com/peace
THE BI-WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER
EmotionalBadass.com/newsletter
SUPPORT US ON PATREON
Patreon.com/emotionalbadass
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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23:36
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23:36
This is What Confidence Looks Like
Confidence isn't about being the loudest person in the room, it's about having faith in your own influence and ability. Using The Emotion Thesaurus as a guide, this exploration breaks down exactly what confidence looks like physically (strong posture, wide steps, relaxed muscles) and what it feels like internally (calm breathing, positive outlook, mental ease). Highly sensitive people often get their confidence knocked down by living in a world where 80-85% of people aren't wired like them, leading to constant feedback that they're "too much" or "wrong." The physical signs reveal patterns like choosing the middle seat instead of hiding in corners, steering conversations instead of shrinking back, and that interesting connection between confidence and a positive outlook. There's also the shadow side where confidence can escalate into smugness or contempt, plus suppressed confidence showing up as minimizing compliments, downplaying your own comfort to make others feel better, and changing topics to deflect spotlight. The reluctant leader phenomenon gets explored too, where HSPs have all the attributes of wonderful leaders but stay sheepish about stepping up, then risk becoming complainers when they don't like how things are run.
Resources:
PATTERNSCAPES DECK:
https://getpatternscapes.com/
WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1:
EmotionalBadass.com/coaching
30 Days to Peace Course
EmotionalBadass.com/peace
THE BI-WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER
EmotionalBadass.com/newsletter
SUPPORT US ON PATREON
Patreon.com/emotionalbadass
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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28:10
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28:10
How to Scare Away Human Predators: PART 2
Predators can detect trauma on highly sensitive people, and it on us to learn how to stop broadcasting vulnerability. Our body language, posture, and energy signals either invite predatory behavior or repel it, and you can shift this immediately. The signs are specific: shrinking to appear smaller, avoiding eye contact, over-apologizing, and moving through the world trying to be invisible. These patterns read as "easy target" to manipulators and abusers. The fix starts with practicing boundaries in low-stakes situations, trusting your gut even when it feels confusing, and understanding that when someone rushes intimacy or isolates you from support systems, your body knows something's wrong before your mind catches up. The goal isn't avoiding all predators but recognizing targeting fast, cutting off access immediately, and becoming so boundaried that manipulators pass you over like a house with a barking dog.
Resources:
WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1:
EmotionalBadass.com/coaching
30 Days to Peace Course
EmotionalBadass.com/peace
THE BI-WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER
EmotionalBadass.com/newsletter
SUPPORT US ON PATREON
Patreon.com/emotionalbadass
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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38:51
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38:51
How to Scare Away Human Predators: PART 1
Predators identify trauma survivors in seconds flat just by watching how you walk into a room. A hunched posture, downward eyes, constantly saying "I'm sorry"... This is a neon sign that screams easy target. Fawning and tiptoeing around people's moods tells manipulators exactly what they want to know: you won't fight back. Predators smell that shift in the air and know they can rewrite reality on you. Love bombing feels like the meal you've been starving for your whole life, but it's just intermittent reinforcement working you like a casino slot machine. When chaos registers as normal for you, and calm feels dangerously boring, your threat detection system is backwards. Time to rewire from prey to predator-proof.
Resources:
WORK WITH NIKKI 1:1:
EmotionalBadass.com/coaching
30 Days to Peace Course
EmotionalBadass.com/peace
THE BI-WEEKLY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER
EmotionalBadass.com/newsletter
SUPPORT US ON PATREON
Patreon.com/emotionalbadass
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hosted by psychotherapist Nikki Eisenhauer, M.Ed. LPC, LCDC. This show provides essential emotional education on Mental Health, HSP (Highly Sensitive People), Narcissists & Manipulative personalities, healing from Trauma and PTSD, calming your nervous system, inner child work, and setting healthy boundaries. Emotional Badasses are survivors, thrivers, seekers, and healers! Expand and awaken to your higher purpose, be more present and authentic, find strength in spirituality, quiet the monkey mind of modern society with meditation, and connect deeply with yourself and safe others. We let go of what doesn't serve us to heal old wounds, find our voice guilt-free, and learn to be the hero in our own story. Embrace guerrilla self care, and laugh with lightness on the self development path. Nikki Eisenhauer is an International Life Coach, Licensed Professional Counselor, Yoga and Meditation Teacher. This show is designed to mindfully be the emotional education so many of us crave; Emotional Badass is where we learn to love ourselves without apology. Emotional Badass is where Moxie Meets Mindful.
Listen to Emotional Badass, Miracle Mentality with Tim Storey (Motivation, Self Help, and Mental Health) and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app