Filter Optional

Filter Optional

Addiction Counselor Chico West and his wife Shannon lend their years of experience to listeners from all walks of life offering a unique perspective from both the filter (Shannon) and the no filter (Chico). Welcome to Filter Optional.

  1. 1 天前

    Healthy Friendships | #25

    In this episode of Filter Optional, Chico and Shannon West unpack what it really means to have healthy friendships—and why most people are asking the wrong question. Instead of labeling people as “good” or “bad,” they challenge listeners to shift their mindset toward something more practical: Is this relationship healthy or unhealthy for me? Through real-life examples—from girls trips and group texts to birthday expectations and social pressure—they explore how codependency, people-pleasing, and fear of judgment quietly shape adult friendships . If you’ve ever felt anxious in a group dynamic, struggled to set boundaries, or questioned whether your friendships are truly supportive, this episode offers clarity and language to help you navigate it Key Points Why labeling people as “good or bad” creates judgment and disconnection The shift to thinking in terms of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships How codependency and people-pleasing show up in friendships The importance of boundaries—and what happens when they aren’t respected Understanding friends for a reason, season, or lifetime Why group dynamics can create anxiety, pressure, and insecurity How to recognize if a relationship allows you to be seen, heard, and respected Takeaway You can’t control other people—but you can control your boundaries. When you stop labeling relationships as good or bad and start asking what’s healthy for you, everything becomes clearer.

    49 分鐘
  2. 3月31日

    Safety, Belonging & Significance: Understanding Your Core Emotional Needs | #22

    In this episode of Filter Optional, Chico and Shannon West continue their deep dive into The Seven Primal Questions, focusing on the three core emotional needs that drive behavior: safety, belonging, and significance. What are you really seeking underneath your reactions, stress, and relationship patterns? Whether you’re constantly scanning for danger, overextending to feel connected, or striving to prove your worth, this episode helps you identify the root cause behind your behaviors—and how unmet core needs can quietly hijack your decisions . Using real-life examples, coaching insights, and practical frameworks, Chico and Shannon show how to move beyond surface-level “quick fixes” and start doing the deeper work that leads to lasting emotional health and stronger relationships. The three core emotional needs: safety, belonging, and significance Key Points - How each need connects to specific primal questions - Why unmet needs can hijack behavior and relationships - The difference between quick fixes (branches) and root-level healing - How fear, over-connection, and striving show up in daily life - Why awareness is the first step to emotional growth and self-leadership - How to move from your primal question to your primal truth Takeaway If you stay focused on surface-level problems, you’ll stay stuck. Real growth happens when you get to the root—identify your core need, and learn to meet it in a healthy, intentional way.

    51 分鐘
  3. 3月17日

    The Seven Primal Questions: Understanding Your Core Emotional Need | #20

    In this episode of Filter Optional, Chico and Shannon West explore a powerful framework for understanding emotional triggers, relationship dynamics, and personal growth: The Seven Primal Questions, developed by coach and author Mike Foster. These core questions—formed through early childhood experiences and emotional imprints—shape how we interpret the world and how we respond when our needs feel threatened. Whether your core question is Am I safe?, Am I loved?, Am I good enough?, or Do I have a purpose?, each one influences the behaviors, coping mechanisms, and relationship patterns you carry into adulthood. Chico and Shannon break down how these primal questions form, how they trigger the “scramble” when we feel threatened, and how self-leadership helps us move toward the deeper truth that brings emotional stability and healthier relationships. Key Points: - What the Seven Primal Questions are and how they shape emotional behavior - How early childhood imprints influence adult relationships and reactions - Understanding the “scramble”—the chaotic behaviors we use to force our needs to be met - Why self-leadership is essential for emotional growth - The difference between primal questions, avoidance behaviors, and primal truth - How recognizing your core question can improve communication, marriage, and friendships - The unique gifts and strengths associated with each primal question  Takeaway Everyone is asking a deeper question beneath the surface. When you learn to recognize your primal question—and lead yourself back to its truth—you can move out of reactive behaviors and step into your emotional gifts.

    1 小時 6 分鐘
  4. 3月10日

    Capacity, Friendship & the Midlife Shift | #19

    In this episode of Filter Optional, Chico and Shannon West explore a topic many people in midlife quietly wrestle with: changing capacity. As life shifts into new stages—empty nesting, aging parents, evolving friendships, and changing energy levels—many people find they no longer have the same tolerance for the commitments, expectations, and social dynamics they once carried. Shannon vulnerably shares what it feels like to realize your operating system has changed—less capacity for constant group communication, fewer social obligations, and a growing desire for deeper one-on-one connection rather than activity-based friendships. Together, Chico and Shannon unpack how codependency can show up in friend groups, why people struggle to say no, and how learning to honor your limits can actually lead to healthier relationships. Key Points Why midlife often brings changes in emotional capacity and toleranceHow codependency can appear in friend groups and social expectationsThe difference between group friendships and intentional one-on-one connectionWhy evolving boundaries can feel lonely—even when they are healthyHow accumulated life experience reduces patience for patterns that no longer serve youThe role of vulnerability in navigating changing seasons of life  Takeaway Growth often requires grieving who you used to be. As your capacity changes, learning to honor your limits—without guilt—can open the door to deeper, healthier relationships.

    48 分鐘
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簡介

Addiction Counselor Chico West and his wife Shannon lend their years of experience to listeners from all walks of life offering a unique perspective from both the filter (Shannon) and the no filter (Chico). Welcome to Filter Optional.