The Successfully In Love Podcast
Katarina Polonska
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Why You Don't Push Back When Your Partner Criticizes You (And Where It Leads)
If your partner keeps criticizing you, everyone will tell you to set better boundaries. In this episode, Katarina Polonska explains why that advice almost never works, and names the pattern nobody talks about: chronic, subtle criticism at home is one of the most common on-ramps to an affair she sees in her work with founders and executives. She starts with the scene: you close a deal that took eighteen months, walk through your own front door four minutes later, and get met with a lecture about the dishwasher. You want to say something. You don't. You listen, you agree, you let it go, and you tell yourself you're picking your battles. Katarina shows how that choice, repeated for years, teaches your partner that criticism works and teaches you that you don't get to have needs. The needs don't go away. You just stop expecting them to be met at home, and the first person who meets them somewhere else becomes a magnet. Then the real culprit, which isn't the criticism at all. It's the belief underneath: that pushing back will cost more than staying quiet, that saying something makes you the bad guy, too much, or alone. She explains why "just set a boundary" fails while that belief is still running, the difference between a complaint and a criticism, and two composite stories from opposite sides of the breadwinner dynamic where finding and shifting that belief changed everything. The episode closes with a practice to find your own belief: what you're afraid to say, what you're afraid would happen, and what you believe that makes you so afraid. Write it down. That's where the work begins. Watch this free video to learn more: https://www.successfullyinlove.com/ Book a free strategy call with Katarina: https://calendly.com/katarinapolonska/20minconsult About the Host Katarina Polonska is a Strategic Relationship Advisor and a Gender Dynamic Social Scientist from the University of Oxford. She has 15 years of experience studying love, gender, and relationships. Follow Katarina on Instagram: @katarinapolonskaConnect with Katarina on LinkedInwww.theaffairadvisor.com Want deeper support? Apply for a free Consultation Call with Katarina today: Click here to book your call Enjoyed this deep dive into love and leadership? Please take a moment to subscribe, leave a 5-star rating, and download a few more episodes. As a gift of gratitude, I will send you my program, the Over-Givers Reset if you leave a 5-star review and share what you love about the show. To claim your gift, submit your review screenshot to this email: team@katarinapolonska.com Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not therapy, counseling, mental health treatment, or a substitute for working with a licensed healthcare or mental health professional. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, abuse, trauma symptoms, or thoughts of self-harm, please contact a licensed professional or emergency resource in your area. Testimonials and examples reflect individual experiences and are not guarantees of similar results. Coaching outcomes vary depending on the individual, circumstances, and implementation of coaching tools. Coaching is not therapy, counseling, or mental health treatment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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