Modern Dating, Emotional Walls & Healthy Relationships | Natalia Rachel

Why do we abandon ourselves to be loved? And how do our past experiences shape the way we connect, date and build relationships? In this episode of CHANGE_liscious, Hedi Schaefer sits down with Natalia Rachel — therapist, educator and author — to explore modern dating, emotional protection, inherited patterns and what it takes to create more honest, fulfilling relationships. Swipe fatigue. Emotional armor. The pressure to perform. We have more ways to connect than ever, yet finding genuine connection can feel surprisingly difficult. Together, we explore the patterns we carry into love, how past experiences can shape our responses to intimacy, and what happens when protecting ourselves starts getting in the way of the connection we want. Because sometimes the biggest question isn't whether someone will choose us. It's whether we're willing to stay connected to ourselves while looking for love. IN THIS EPISODE Why modern dating can leave us emotionally exhausted Swipe culture, dating apps and the pressure to perform Emotional armor and the patterns we inherit Self-abandonment and the desire to be loved Recognizing the difference between protection and genuine connection Healing, grief and the nonlinear process of personal change How to build relationships rooted in honesty, presence and self-awareness ABOUT NATALIA RACHEL Natalia Rachel is a therapist, educator and author whose work explores emotional healing, relationships and the patterns that shape our lives. Her novel Other Lovers, the first book in her Love, Sex, Peace & Poetry trilogy, follows a divorced mother and entrepreneur navigating modern dating. She also created Heal for Love, a multimedia series exploring the deeper work behind love and connection. Learn more about Natalia and her work: https://www.nataliarachel.com/ ABOUT HEDI SCHAEFER & CHANGE_LISCIOUS I'm Hedi Schaefer — entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and change maker activator. I explore what it takes to navigate change, reinvent ourselves and create meaningful impact in life and business. CHANGE_liscious brings you conversations with people who question old patterns, challenge established ways of thinking and explore what's possible when we become more conscious of how we live, lead and relate. Subscribe for conversations about change leadership, change literacy, self-leadership, identity, personal transformation and the human side of change. Explore more: Website: https://www.hedischaefer.com Podcast: https://www.hedischaefer.com/podcast LET'S TALK Where do you think the line lies between protecting yourself and abandoning yourself? Share your thoughts in the comments. I'd love to hear your perspective. #ModernRelationships #SelfAbandonment #ChangeMakers