You have already tried the conversations. You have tried slowing down, choosing better words, waiting for the right moment. And still something derails it — the same wall, the same disconnect, the same feeling that you are speaking into air. What you have probably not tried is understanding why you communicate the way you do, and more importantly, where that pattern came from. Jason VanRuler is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and nationally recognized speaker whose new book, Discovering Your Communication Type, names a truth that changes everything: your communication style was not chosen — it was formed, shaped by the environment you needed to survive as a child. In this conversation, Jason introduces the PATHS model (Peacemaker, Advocate, Thinker, Harbor, Spark), but the framework is only the surface. Beneath it is something more confronting: most heated arguments are not about words. They are about wounds. And the same survival instincts that protected you then are likely the ones sabotaging your closest relationships now. What does it cost a relationship when secrets corrode it slowly, the way carbon monoxide fills a room — undetectable until real damage is done? What happens when you lead with your explanation instead of your apology, and why does that single inversion invalidate everything that follows? If you have been in survival mode so long that dysregulation feels like Tuesday morning, this conversation names the path out — and the grief that comes with it. The question Jason puts to you, whether he says it directly or not, is this: do you actually want connection, or do you want validation for remaining exactly as you are? Only one of those is available here. Guest Bio Jason VanRuler is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and nationally recognized speaker based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, specializing in communication, attachment, and relationships. He is the author of Discovering Your Communication Type: The 5 Paths to Deeper Connections and Stronger Relationships and founder of a thriving private practice. Jason leads retreats, workshops, and intensives for couples and organizations, and hosts his own podcast, Ok, What's Next? He lives with his wife and three children. Show Partner SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
