The Balance Theory

What if the reason positive thinking hasn’t worked for you… isn’t because you’re doing it wrong, but because no one ever showed you how your mind actually listens? In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Marisa Peer, and we go far beyond motivation or feel-good affirmations. This is a practical, step-by-step breakdown of how the words you use, especially the ones you say to yourself, directly shape your self-worth, confidence, and the reality you experience. We talk about why so many people know what they should think, yet still feel stuck… why saying “I’m trying” quietly reinforces failure… and how subtle language patterns can either work with your brain or cause it to push back entirely. If you’ve ever: * Felt like you’re “doing the work” but nothing is changing * Struggled with feeling not enough, even when life looks good on paper * Tried affirmations that felt fake or forced * Wondered whether you can really have it all, career, health, relationships, fulfilment …this conversation will land. Marisa shares the exact phrases, sentence structures, and mindset shifts that actually create change, including one powerful sentence you can start using today to rebuild self-worth and self-trust. This is an episode you may want to listen to twice, not because it’s complex, but because it’s precise. LINKS 💆‍♀️ COZY EARTH - Use code “ERIKA” to get 20% off HERE (I’m currently loving their comforters to enhance deep sleep)! 📸 I⁠nstagram⁠ Marisa Peer's I am Enough Book - ⁠https://marisapeer.com/marisa-peer-books/⁠ Marisa Peer's Free Gifts - ⁠https://marisapeer.com/free-gifts/⁠ TIME STAMPS (03:17) Can we have it all? (06:21) Did you always believe you could have it all? (10:26) How do we actually use our thinking to change our reality (12:25) Surviving Cancer (14:02) Crafting your phrases for success (17:34) How to like yourself more (24:13) Are you making someone else’s story, yours? (27:07) Tools for kids to instil skills (27:15) Is work-life balance a myth? (35:24) Is AI being used as therapy a bad thing? (39:51) Start saying this one sentence to yourself TODAY WHO AM I? My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 ⁠Connect with me on IG!⁠ RESOURCES ▶︎⁠ 25 Day Self Development Marathon⁠ ▶︎ ⁠21 Day Self Growth Challenge⁠ ▶︎ ⁠Goal Setting System E-Book⁠ LET’S BE FRIENDS 📸 ⁠Instagram⁠ 📱⁠Tiktok⁠ MY FAVOURITE STUFF 💻 Email & Calendar tool - ⁠Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

In this episode, we explore what self-respect actually means, beyond confidence, beyond success, beyond applause. For years, today’s guest chased respect externally, having thoughts like: If you liked me, I liked me. If you approved, I felt safe. But as she shares, that way of living slowly disconnects you from yourself. I’m joined by Dr Katherine Iscoe to unpack: • Why people-pleasing is often rooted in the “fawn” trauma response • How you might be subtly trading yourself away in everyday moments • The restaurant “steak” example that reveals more than you think • How to audit your calendar to see if you truly respect yourself • Why boundaries aren’t just with other people, they’re with yourself • How overthinking steals years of your life • The difference between chasing happiness and building self-respect • What it actually looks like to make decisions from self-respect Self-respect isn’t loud.It isn’t aggressive.It isn’t about becoming selfish. It’s about choosing yourself in small, daily ways, even when it feels uncomfortable. Because the truth is, confidence might get you in the room... but self-respect is what keeps you standing tall. If you’ve ever felt like: * You say yes too often * You overthink simple decisions * You care more about others’ opinions than your own * You don’t feel fully like yourself anymore This episode is for you. The life you want doesn’t start with more discipline. It starts with self-respect. CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST 📸 Instagram Dr Katherine Iscoe's book - https://www.drkatherine.com/self-respect-playbook Dr Katherine Iscoe Website - https://www.drkatherine.com TIME STAMPS (01:50) Introduction (05:40) Taking back ownership over your life (09:29) Obvious Ways you are trading yourself away (14:43) First time you felt proud of yourself (17:37) Self Respect Zones (21:49) Does your calendar show you respect yourself? (25:58) Top Skills for Mastering your Self Respect (29:11) Advice for people to move into self respect (31:57) Resilience vs Abandon ship (36:25) Leaving CEO Role (39:27) How do I make decisions with self respect? (44:19) Why do we lose momentum? (49:17) Define Self Respect WHO AM I? My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG! RESOURCES ▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon ▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge ▶︎ Goal Setting System E-Book LET’S BE FRIENDS 📸 Instagram 📱Tiktok MY FAVOURITE STUFF 💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trial

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Today, we break down the science of confidence, why self-doubt isn’t always the enemy, and how understanding your specific doubt pattern can unlock lasting self-trust, without becoming someone you’re not.In this conversation, I’m joined by Dr Shadé Zahrai, behavioural researcher, award-winning peak performance educator, and one of the leading voices on confidence, self-image, and self-doubt.This is not about hype or surface-level confidence. It’s about rewiring how you see yourself.✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode* Why confidence is trainable, not fixed* The role self-doubt actually plays in growth and performance* The 4 Self-Doubt Types and how they show up in behaviour* How to diagnose your own self-doubt profile (including mine, live)* The everyday habit that quietly erodes confidence* How posture, environment, and physicality shape self-belief* How to tell the difference between useful self-doubt and self-sabotage* Why your self-image is the blueprint for your entire life* Practical tools to build confidence in real time* How to set boundaries with negative people without losing yourselfWhen you change how you see yourself, your behaviour follows.Confidence isn’t something you chase, it’s something you build.CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST📸 InstagramLink to free quiz onlineLink to BIG TRUST TIME STAMPS(01:43) Introduction / Background(12:06) What is the role of self-doubt?(17:26) Self Doubt Profiles(25:48) Diagnosing Erika’s doubt profile(30:22) Tools for improving self doubt(47:49) This everyday habit is ruining your confidence(53:28) Do you need to change your environment to achieve?(57:53) Setting boundaries for loved ones who are negativeWHO AM I?My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!RESOURCES▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge▶︎ Goal Setting System E-BookLET’S BE FRIENDS📸 Instagram📱TiktokMY FAVOURITE STUFF💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trialSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Confidence today feels different.We’re navigating a world where AI can outperform humans, social media is increasingly curated (and often fake), and comparison is no longer occasional, it’s constant. Even the most grounded, capable people are quietly questioning themselves.In this episode, we explore how to stay confident when nothing online feels real anymore and how to use social media without losing yourself.Joining me is journalist, speaker, and mother Danae Mercer, who has worked at the highest levels of media and still found her confidence shaken by the online world. Together, we unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface of confidence in 2026, and what actually helps.This isn’t about deleting social media or fearing AI. It’s about learning the new confidence skill this era demands.💭 If You’ve Been Thinking…“I don’t feel as confident as I used to”“Everyone online seems ahead of me”“I know better, but I still feel affected”“I want my confidence back”then this conversation is for you!And if this episode resonates, share it with someone who might be quietly feeling the same way.CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST📸 Instagram TIME STAMPS(01:20) Introduction(06:40) How do we remain confident in the age of AI content?(18:23) Tools to find confidence(23:32) Do things you’re bad at(26:20) What's the line between being sucked in by social media and enjoying it?(29:26) The Proteus Effect(44:01) Consequences of phone use and emotions(47:01) Why did you start posting content?(51:14) What would you immediately change on social mediaWHO AM I?My name is Erika and I am an Australian living in Dubai. I have my own business as a strategic legal consultant and run this podcast to explore my passion + curiosity for all things health, wellness, self growth & mindset. A big focus of mine is how to sustainably navigate a busy schedule and live my best life in the process. Welcome to my Channel! 📸 Connect with me on IG!RESOURCES▶︎ 25 Day Self Development Marathon▶︎ 21 Day Self Growth Challenge▶︎ Goal Setting System E-BookLET’S BE FRIENDS📸 Instagram📱TiktokMY FAVOURITE STUFF💻 Email & Calendar tool - Sunsama for 1 Month free trialSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/thebalancetheory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.