Untangling the Heart

Elizabeth Gifford Maffei

Have you ever felt emotionally stuck, unsure how to move forward, or ready for change but not sure where to begin? Untangling the Heart is a space for honest conversations about healing, vulnerability, courage, and becoming your truest self. Hosted by Elizabeth Gifford Maffei, this weekly podcast blends solo insights with powerful guest stories to explore what it really means to grow. Here, we talk about the things that matter, emotional resilience, self-awareness, confidence, and reclaiming your voice. This is not surface-level inspiration. This is growth that moves you. New episodes every week. 

  1. 19h ago

    Triggered for a Reason - Discovering the Hidden Patterns with Elizabeth Gifford Maffei | Ep 29

    What if the moments that trigger us are also the moments that help us understand ourselves more deeply? In this solo episode of Untangling the Heart, Elizabeth Maffei invites us to look at emotional triggers through a different lens. Those moments when we feel hurt, frustrated, defensive, or unexpectedly upset can reveal emotional patterns that have been influencing our reactions for years. Often, our responses are shaped by past experiences, familiar beliefs, and expectations we may not even realize we're carrying. A simple interruption, constructive feedback, or unanswered message can stir up feelings that seem much bigger than the situation itself. But what if, instead of judging ourselves for these reactions or trying to eliminate every uncomfortable emotion, we became curious about what they might be showing us? Elizabeth explores how awareness, self-compassion, and conscious choice can help us recognize familiar patterns and create space for a different response. Emotional freedom isn't about becoming unaffected by life. It's about understanding ourselves well enough to choose how we want to respond. In this episode, you'll explore: - How emotional triggers can reveal unconscious patterns and familiar emotional responses. - Why two people can experience the same situation but interpret it very differently. - How past experiences influence the meaning we attach to words, actions, and interactions. - The beliefs that can drive reactions such as defensiveness, people-pleasing, fear of rejection, and perfectionism. - Why recognizing a familiar emotional pattern is an important first step toward change. - How self-compassion and giving yourself grace can help you understand your reactions without adding another layer of criticism. - Practical ways to respond consciously, communicate your needs, and establish boundaries. - Why emotional freedom isn't about ignoring harmful behavior or accepting situations that genuinely need to change. Sometimes the moment that triggers us is also the moment that helps us recognize we're ready for something different. You are ready. You can do this. And you are amazing. Continue the Conversation What emotional patterns have you begun to recognize in yourself? And how has becoming more aware of them changed the way you respond? We'd love to hear your reflections and continue the conversation. 🌐 Connect with Elizabeth: [https://www.elizabethgiffordmaffei.com/](https://www.elizabethgiffordmaffei.com/) 🎧 Listen to Untangling the Heart on YouTube, LinkedIn, and wherever you enjoy podcasts. Follow and subscribe so you never miss a conversation. #UntanglingTheHeart #ElizabethMaffei #EmotionalTriggers #EmotionalFreedom #SelfAwareness #EmotionalPatterns #PersonalGrowth #SelfCompassion #EmotionalIntelligence #HealthyBoundaries From my heart to yours. 💜

  2. Oct 23

    Learning to Be a Safe Place for Myself | Blake Art & Elizabeth Gifford Maffei | Ep 28

    What does it mean to feel safe within yourself when life feels uncertain? And how can adversity become an unexpected catalyst for personal growth, self-awareness, and emotional freedom? In Episode 28 of Untangling the Heart, Elizabeth Maffei welcomes her friend, artist and storyteller Blake Art, for a thoughtful conversation about building inner safety over time. Drawing from pivotal experiences in his life, including a profound period of self-examination and a near-death experience, Blake shares how confronting difficult truths and seeking a deeper understanding of existence shaped his perspective on fear, faith, and personal freedom. Together, Elizabeth and Blake explore how we can begin to feel more grounded by remaining curious, questioning our assumptions, and learning to see life's challenges from a broader perspective. Their conversation also examines the relationship between individual well-being and collective safety, reminding us that we are not meant to navigate life's uncertainties entirely on our own. In this episode, you'll explore: How adversity can become a catalyst for self-discovery and personal transformation. The connection between creativity, self-reflection, and emotional safety. How Blake's near-death experience influenced his understanding of life and existence. Why curiosity, humor, and a willingness to question our beliefs can help us navigate fear. The role of faith, inner authority, and spiritual perspective in cultivating a greater sense of security. How connection, mutual support, and allowing ourselves to receive help can strengthen our sense of safety. Why building inner peace is an ongoing practice rather than a destination we reach once and for all. A reminder for your healing journey: Learning to become a safe place for yourself doesn't mean you'll never experience fear, uncertainty, or discomfort. It means developing the willingness to meet those experiences with greater awareness, openness, and trust in your ability to keep growing. Sometimes, coming home to yourself begins with asking a different question, considering a new perspective, or remembering that you don't have to have all the answers today. Meet Our Guest: Blake Art Blake Art is an artist and storyteller whose work explores art, philosophy, spirituality, and the human experience. Through his personal journey and creative expression, he invites others to question familiar narratives, seek knowledge, and consider new perspectives on life's challenges. Explore Blake's art and philosophy at reality-redesign.com. Continue the Conversation What does it mean for you to feel safe within yourself, even when life is uncertain? Join Elizabeth and Blake for this conversation about resilience, self-discovery, and the slow, transformative process of coming home to who you are. To learn more about Elizabeth Maffei and her work, visit her website at elizabethgiffordmaffei.com. Subscribe to Untangling the Heart on YouTube, connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn, and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts for more honest conversations about emotional healing, self-awareness, relationships, and finding your way back to yourself. From my heart to yours. 💜 #UntanglingTheHeart #ElizabethMaffei #BlakeArt #InnerSafety #EmotionalHealing #PersonalGrowth #SelfDiscovery #Resilience #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAwareness

  3. Oct 16

    Are You Safe, or Just Used to Surviving? - with Elizabeth Gifford Maffei | Ep 27

    What does it actually feel like to be safe within yourself? And how do you know when your nervous system is beginning to feel regulated? In this episode of Untangling the Heart, Elizabeth Maffei invites you to look beyond the familiar signs of stress, anxiety, and emotional activation to recognize something we often overlook: the quiet moments when we feel safe, present, and at ease. Emotional healing isn't just about understanding what triggers us. It's also about learning to recognize what happens when we aren't triggered. She explores the subtle ways nervous system regulation can show up in everyday life, from taking a natural, relaxed breath to enjoying a conversation without monitoring everyone's emotions. She shares how safety can influence our thoughts, relationships, emotional flexibility, and ability to receive the good things life has to offer. We'll explore: How to recognize the difference between emotional activation and regulation. The physical signs that your body may be beginning to feel safe. Why safety doesn't always feel like peace, happiness, or complete calm. How nervous system regulation creates space for curiosity instead of jumping to conclusions. Why feeling safe can help you stop managing everyone else's emotions and become more present in your own life. How to navigate disagreements without automatically interpreting differences as disconnection. Why recognizing your needs earlier helps build self-trust. How to recover from emotional triggers without believing you've lost all your progress. The quiet signs of healing that appear in ordinary moments. A reminder for your healing journey: A regulated nervous system doesn't mean you'll never feel sad, frustrated, overwhelmed, or triggered. It means you can gradually build the capacity to experience those emotions without needing to fix them, escape them, or let them take over. Sometimes healing looks like setting a boundary. Sometimes it means allowing yourself to rest. And sometimes it's simply sitting on the porch, taking a breath, and realizing, This is nice. You don't have to wait for a life-changing breakthrough to recognize that something within you is changing. Reflection question: When was the last time you felt completely present without needing to fix, anticipate, or manage anything? What did that moment feel like in your body? Stay Connected with Untangling the Heart Subscribe to the channel and follow Untangling the Heart on YouTube, LinkedIn, and your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss future conversations about emotional healing, self-awareness, relationships, and finding your way back to yourself. From my heart to yours. ❤️ #UntanglingTheHeart #ElizabethMaffei #NervousSystemRegulation #EmotionalHealing #InnerSafety #EmotionalAwareness #SelfTrust #Mindfulness #PersonalGrowth

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Have you ever felt emotionally stuck, unsure how to move forward, or ready for change but not sure where to begin? Untangling the Heart is a space for honest conversations about healing, vulnerability, courage, and becoming your truest self. Hosted by Elizabeth Gifford Maffei, this weekly podcast blends solo insights with powerful guest stories to explore what it really means to grow. Here, we talk about the things that matter, emotional resilience, self-awareness, confidence, and reclaiming your voice. This is not surface-level inspiration. This is growth that moves you. New episodes every week.