What happens when you stop trying to be “good” and start listening to your body? In this intimate and eye-opening conversation, Aideen welcomes back empowerment coach Julie Vander Meulen to explore the hidden rules of Good Girl Syndrome—how it frays our nervous systems, shapes our relationships, and quietly erodes our joy.Through real stories and practical, compassionate tools, Julie shares how a single word like“ouch” can soften conflict, why pausing to feel fear can change the entire direction of a conversation, and how circling back later can repair moments where panic once shut everything down. Together, we dig into the deeper roots: why so many of us confuse praise with love, why criticism can feel like exile, and how gentle self-acceptance practices can rebuild inner safety.Julie offers grounded rituals for reclaiming your worth: mirror moments, affectionate self-talk, and giving yourself rest without permission slips. We challenge achievement as the measure of value and offer a truer anchor: your essence is worthy by existing. From that truth, your voice softens, your boundaries strengthen, and connection becomes a place of honesty rather than performance.And then there’s joy. Joy as a practice, not a prize. If happiness feels far away, begin with a memory of laughter and let your body remember. Reclaim small delights you once dismissed as unproductive: music that moves you, simple meals, playful imitation. In a world that hurts, joy isn’t denial—it’s fuel. When we allow ourselves to feel fully and show up fully, we become safer for each other.Connect with JulieInstagram: @juvdmeulLinkedIn: @julie-vander-meulen-the-empowerment-coach    Website: www.ownyourlife.academyNewletter: Free Own Your Life Newsletter     Quiz: Good Girl Syndrome QuizArticles: My articles on Good Girl Syndrome Booking Page: Work with JulieIf this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with someone who needs permission to be imperfect, and leave a review so more people can find their way back to their own voice. Your voice matters here.Support the showThanks for listening! To book a free consultation with Aideen visit https://www.confidenceinsinging.com/contact/