What If Overextending Isn’t the Path to Love?

What if taking good care of yourself isn’t selfish — but the very foundation of how you care for others? This episode explores the tender, tangled process of shifting out of over-functioning, especially when people-pleasing patterns run deep. I reflect on the internal tug-of-war between the fear of being “too much” or “not enough” and the slow, sacred work of learning what true boundaries, congruent giving, and right relationship with self can look like. If you’ve ever struggled with guilt around saying no, or felt overwhelmed by nuance when all you want is clarity, this conversation is an honest and compassionate space to land.

Christabel Mintah-Galloway, RN, BSN's IG Posts I reference:

• "Put Your Mask On First" Is Individualism, Not Universal Truth: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/p/DGlmPrxR_pz/?igsh=OXlhc3FnamFwOWw3⁠
• The West Teaches "You Can't Pour From An Empty Cup." But Collective Societies Say: "If Your Cup Has Even A Little, You Share.": ⁠https://www.instagram.com/p/DGdvIy3Om7s/?igsh=ZnlzZHBxeW5naG9h⁠

Ready to take these conversations deeper?

• Share Your Voice — Leave a voice message with a question you’re living into: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/LivingTheQuestions⁠
• Book a 1:1 Conversation Session — Like your own personal episode, these sessions are a space to live your question through thoughtful conversation: ⁠https://www.ckoesterinspired.com/conversation-sessions⁠
• Rehumanizing YOU Coaching — This is a space for deep inquiry and integration, where your questions become the path. If you’re ready to untangle old patterns and step into a more aligned, embodied way of being, explore more here: ⁠https://www.ckoesterinspired.com/coaching-offerings⁠

Resources:

• Website: https://www.ckoesterinspired.com
• Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/livingthequestionspodcast
• Business IG: https://www.instagram.com/ckoesterinspired
• Coaching Offerings: https://www.ckoesterinspired.com/coaching-offerings

Enjoyed the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! You can also connect with us on Instagram @livingthequestionspodcast or join our community group at https://livingthequestionspodcast.substack.com

Things I Genuinely Love — Affiliate & Community Spotlights:

• ✨ Disobedient Goods & Apparel: offers judgment-free sticker tools for self-guided practice, discovery, and mapping — designed to spark curiosity, connection, and a deeper understanding of the paths we walk. Explore the collection at www.disobedientgoods.com and use code LIVINGTHEQUESTIONS15 for 15% off your entire order.

• ❤️ Nisha Mody Coaching: Nisha provides short- and long-term coaching to help people who were taught to meet everyone else’s needs except their own to stop keeping themselves small (and be in their fullest expression!) If you’ve never coached with Nisha, email her at ⁠nisha@nishaland.com⁠⁠⁠, mention what you loved about this episode, and she’ll give you a free coaching session until June 24, 2025.

• 🤍 FOND Bone Broth: my personal FAVORITE for nourishing, gut-loving bone broth that’s as comforting as it is healing! Use code: COURTNEY-KOESTER for 10% off at https://fondbonebroth.com/COURTNEY-KOESTER
• ☕️ Living Tea: my go-to source for wild and organic Teas, along with amazing Tea education to deepen your practice! Use code: CKOESTERINSPIRED for 15% off at https://www.livingtea.net/courtney
• ⭕️ Circle Community: A beautiful, all-in-one location for your community to gather, remain connected, attend workshops, join memberships, etc. Love an aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-organize digital community space. Explore more here: https://try.circle.so/8amtv3uilqpo