Podcasts > On Purpose with Jay Shetty > Why You Are Restricting Your Desires in Your Relationship & How to Stop Blocking Yourself from the Happiness You Deserve with Lisa Bilyeu

Why You Are Restricting Your Desires in Your Relationship & How to Stop Blocking Yourself from the Happiness You Deserve with Lisa Bilyeu

By iHeartPodcasts

In this episode of the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, Jay Shetty and Lisa Bilyeu explore the nature of confidence and its role in personal growth, goal-setting, and relationships. They discuss how confidence is not a prerequisite but rather develops from practicing and building competence over time.

Bilyeu and Shetty highlight the importance of self-validation, overcoming the fear of failure, questioning beliefs, and aligning on core values for healthy relationships. The conversation touches on open communication, honesty, flexibility, and adaptability as essential elements for navigating challenges and sustaining long-term partnerships as individuals evolve together.

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Why You Are Restricting Your Desires in Your Relationship & How to Stop Blocking Yourself from the Happiness You Deserve with Lisa Bilyeu

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Why You Are Restricting Your Desires in Your Relationship & How to Stop Blocking Yourself from the Happiness You Deserve with Lisa Bilyeu

1-Page Summary

The Nature of Confidence

Lisa Bilyeu explains that confidence is not a prerequisite for taking action, but rather develops as a byproduct of practicing and building competence over time. She illustrates how starting from insecurity and actively engaging leads to confidence growth. Bilyeu compares confidence to a muscle that needs constant exercise for each situation.

Confidence in Personal Growth and Goals

According to Jay Shetty and Bilyeu, confidence comes from self-validating one's abilities instead of seeking external validation. They identify overcoming the fear of failure as crucial for pursuing ambitious goals. Bilyeu emphasizes questioning one's frame of reference and beliefs to propel progress.

Confidence and Values in Relationships

Bilyeu discusses aligning on core values through open communication of wants and boundaries as essential for healthy relationships. Shetty highlights practicing self-awareness to lead based on strengths and understanding attraction trade-offs.

Both stress determining personal values and non-negotiables to find compatibility. They advise avoiding assumptions by clarifying expectations to prevent conflicts rooted in differing values.

Open Communication in Relationships

Bilyeu shares how radical honesty, even when uncomfortable, allows couples to constructively navigate challenges with a growth mindset. Shetty notes apologizing only when genuine leads to deeper resolution.

They underscore maintaining flexibility and adaptability as partners evolve over time as vital for sustaining long-term relationships.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • In relationships, aligning on core values means sharing fundamental beliefs and principles with your partner. This alignment fosters understanding, respect, and harmony in the relationship. It helps in making joint decisions, resolving conflicts, and building a strong foundation for a lasting bond. When partners share core values, it enhances compatibility and mutual growth in the relationship.
  • Understanding attraction trade-offs in relationships involves recognizing that individuals may prioritize different qualities in a partner. It means understanding that while someone may possess certain attractive traits, they may also have characteristics that are less desirable. This concept highlights the need for individuals to weigh the pros and cons of a potential partner's attributes to determine compatibility in a relationship. In essence, attraction trade-offs suggest that individuals may need to make decisions about what they are willing to compromise on or prioritize in a partner based on their own values and preferences.
  • Determining personal values and non-negotiables is crucial in relationships as they serve as guiding principles for behavior and decision-making. Personal values are beliefs that are important to an individual, shaping their priorities and actions. Non-negotiables are boundaries that individuals establish to protect their values and well-being in relationships. Understanding and communicating these aspects help in finding compatibility and fostering healthy connections.
  • Radical honesty in communication within relationships involves being completely transparent and authentic in expressing thoughts, feelings, and experiences without holding back or sugarcoating. It emphasizes sharing even uncomfortable truths to foster deep understanding and trust between partners. This approach aims to create a space for open and honest dialogue, enabling couples to address issues directly and work towards resolving conflicts constructively. Radical honesty encourages vulnerability and genuine connection by promoting a culture of truthfulness and authenticity in communication.

Counterarguments

  • While confidence can develop through competence, some argue that a basic level of confidence may be necessary to initiate action, especially in high-stress situations.
  • The comparison of confidence to a muscle might oversimplify the complexity of psychological factors that contribute to confidence, such as past experiences and mental health issues.
  • Self-validation is important, but external feedback can also play a significant role in shaping one's confidence and should not be entirely discounted.
  • While overcoming fear of failure is important, some might argue that a certain degree of caution and risk assessment is prudent when pursuing goals.
  • Questioning one's beliefs is valuable, but there is also a place for holding firm to certain convictions that are foundational to an individual's identity and moral framework.
  • While aligning on core values is important, some relationships thrive on diversity and the challenge of differing perspectives.
  • Self-awareness is crucial, but overemphasis on personal strengths might lead to neglecting areas where growth is needed.
  • Determining non-negotiables is key for compatibility, but inflexibility can also hinder the development of a relationship where compromise and growth are possible.
  • Clarifying expectations is important, but it is also necessary to leave room for spontaneity and the natural evolution of relationship dynamics.
  • Radical honesty must be balanced with tact and consideration for the other person's feelings, as too much honesty can sometimes be harmful.
  • Apologizing only when genuine is ideal, but there are situations where an apology can be a starting point for healing, even if full understanding hasn't been reached.
  • Flexibility and adaptability are important, but so are stability and consistency, especially in long-term commitments.

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Why You Are Restricting Your Desires in Your Relationship & How to Stop Blocking Yourself from the Happiness You Deserve with Lisa Bilyeu

The nature of confidence and how to cultivate it

Lisa Bilyeu unfolds the often-misconceived nature of confidence, emphasizing its development as a byproduct of action rather than a prerequisite for it.

Confidence is not a prerequisite to take action, but rather a byproduct that develops through consistent practice and building competence

Confidence is frequently misunderstood as a necessary condition to begin any endeavor, while in truth, it is something that grows gradually as you face new challenges. Bilyeu shares her own journey, where she initially believed that she needed confidence to chase her ambitions. Through her experiences, she realized that confidence actually emerges as a result of taking action, even when that action starts from a place of insecurity.

Confidence is often misconceived as a necessary starting point, when in reality it grows over time as one takes on new challenges

Bilyeu illustrates that by actively engaging in something and practicing over time, despite insecurities, a person can develop competence. This competence, in turn, fuels confidence. She insists that confidence follows action; it is not something that must be present at the outset.

Confidence is a muscle that must be regularly exercised to remain dul ...

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The nature of confidence and how to cultivate it

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Confidence as a byproduct of action means that instead of needing to feel confident before starting something, you gain confidence as you take action and build competence. It emphasizes that confidence grows gradually through experience and practice, rather than being a prerequisite for beginning a task. This concept suggests that by engaging in activities despite initial insecurities, individuals can develop the confidence needed to excel in those areas. It highlights the idea that confidence is not static but can be cultivated over time through consistent effort and facing challenges.
  • Confidence grows gradually as one faces new challenges because each successful experience builds a sense of capability and self-assurance. By overcoming obstacles, individuals prove to themselves that they can handle difficulties, leading to increased confidence over time. This process is iterative, with each challenge tackled contributing to a stronger belief in one's abilities. As individuals repeatedly confront and conquer new situations, their confidence naturally expands.
  • Confidence can develop through action even when starting from a place of insecurity because taking steps forward, despite initial doubts, allows individuals to gain experience and competence, which in turn boosts their self-assurance over time. This process involves facing challenges, learning from mistakes, and gradually building a sense of mastery in a particular area, leading to increased confidence in one's abilities. By actively engaging in activities that push personal boundaries and embracing discomfort, individuals can expand their comfort zones and cultivate a stronger belief in their capabilities, regardless of initial feelings of uncertainty. Confidence is not a fixed trait but a dynamic quality that can be nurtured and strengthened through continuous effort and perseverance, even in the face of self-doubt.
  • Confidence being compared to a muscle that requires regular exercise means that like a muscle, confidence can be strengthened through consistent practice and effort. Just as muscles grow stronger with exercise, confidence can increase when regularly challenged and developed. Neglecting to work on confidence can lead to it weakening, similar to how muscles can atrophy without use. This analogy highlights the im ...

Counterarguments

  • While confidence can indeed be a byproduct of action, for some individuals, a certain level of confidence may be necessary to initiate action, especially in high-stakes or public situations.
  • The idea that confidence grows solely through facing challenges may overlook the role of reflection, cognitive restructuring, and emotional support in building confidence.
  • Confidence can sometimes emerge from a place of security and self-assurance, not just from taking action despite insecurities.
  • There are instances where overconfidence can result from taking action without the necessary competence, leading to negative outcomes.
  • The muscle analogy for confidence might oversimplify the complex psychological nature of confidence, which can be influenced by a variety of factors beyond practice, such as genetics, upbringing, and life experiences.
  • Confidence may not always be specific to each situation; there is a concept of generalized self-efficacy where confidence in one's abilities across various domains can influence performance in specific tasks.
  • Some people may experience a stable sense of confidence that does not require constant practice ...

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Why You Are Restricting Your Desires in Your Relationship & How to Stop Blocking Yourself from the Happiness You Deserve with Lisa Bilyeu

The role of confidence in personal growth and achieving goals

Confidence, as described by experts, is a crucial element in personal development and the realization of one's ambitions. Jay Shetty and Lisa Bilyeu explain how embracing self-validation and overcoming fear can have a transformative effect on achieving success.

Confidence allows one to validate their own abilities, qualities, and skills without relying on external validation

Jay Shetty defines confidence as an acknowledgment of one's own abilities, skills, and qualities. This self-validation, according to Shetty, is instrumental in enabling individuals to recognize and affirm their competencies internally, without the need for external approval. Lisa Bilyeu echoes this sentiment, explaining that transitioning to self-validation propelled her in building confidence and shifted her away from the stagnation that resulted from seeking validation from others.

Overcoming the fear of failure and believing in one's potential is crucial for pursuing growth and ambitious goals

Bilyeu discusses the need to surmount the fear of judgment or mockery, which often prevents individuals from exploring new endeavors. Both Shetty and Bilyeu agree that the fear of failure, and sometimes the experience itself, can be paralyzing. The key to personal growth and the pursuit of ambitious goals is to rise above these fears. Bilyeu's insight in "Radical Confidence" emphasizes how handling one's internal negative voice and learning from failure are essential steps in this process.

Developing self-awareness to question one's frame of reference and belief systems ...

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The role of confidence in personal growth and achieving goals

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Jay Shetty and Lisa Bilyeu emphasize the importance of self-validation and overcoming the fear of failure in personal growth and goal achievement. Shetty defines confidence as recognizing one's abilities internally, without relying on external validation. Bilyeu discusses the need to confront the fear of judgment and learn from failure to pursue ambitious goals. Both stress the significance of questioning and challenging one's beliefs and perspectives to foster personal progress.
  • Self-validation is the act of recognizing and affirming one's own abilities, qualities, and skills without seeking external approval. It involves building confidence from within rather than relying on validation from others. This process is crucial in personal development as it fosters a sense of self-worth and independence in pursuing goals. By embracing self-validation, individuals can overcome the need for external validation and cultivate a stronger belief in their capabilities.
  • "Radical Confidence" is a concept that emphasizes a deep, unwavering belief in oneself and one's abilities, going beyond traditional notions of self-assurance. It involves challenging internal doubts and fears, embracing failures as learning opportunities, and redefining personal values and beliefs to foster growth. This mindset encourages individuals to break free from seeking external validation and instead rely on their own self-assessment and validation. By cultivating radical confidence, individuals can overcome limitat ...

Counterarguments

  • While self-validation is important, external feedback can also be valuable for personal growth and should not be entirely discounted.
  • Overconfidence can sometimes lead to unrealistic expectations and potential failure; a balance between confidence and humility is often beneficial.
  • Fear of failure can sometimes serve as a cautionary mechanism that prevents individuals from taking reckless risks.
  • Believing in one's potential is important, but it should be coupled with a realistic assessment of one's current abilities and limitations.
  • Self-awareness is crucial, but too much introspection can lead to analysis paralysis, where an individual becomes so caught up in questioning their beliefs that they struggle to take action.
  • Questioning one's frame of refer ...

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Why You Are Restricting Your Desires in Your Relationship & How to Stop Blocking Yourself from the Happiness You Deserve with Lisa Bilyeu

How confidence and values impact romantic relationships

Lisa Bilyeu and Jay Shetty delve into the significant impact that confidence and alignment of values have on the sustainability and happiness of romantic relationships.

Aligning on core values and being willing to have difficult conversations about needs and boundaries is essential for a healthy, lasting relationship

Lisa Bilyeu discusses a period in her marriage when she was profoundly unhappy with her role in their relationship. She describes how confronting this issue required open communication, honesty, and the willingness to address difficult subjects, including their wants, such as the potential conflict over wanting children. Bilyeu recognizes the necessity of aligning on core values, emphasizing that even uncomfortable truths, like the decision not to have children, need to be discussed openly. Both she and her husband have found it crucial to align on their system of support, despite it sometimes leading to uncomfortable compromises, like adjusting his demanding work hours.

Jay Shetty talks about the importance of humility and using self-awareness in a relationship to allow each partner to lead based on their strengths. Bilyeu adds to this by reflecting on her needs for a tidy environment as part of coping with ADHD and how this contrasts with her husband’s view of time as a non-renewable resource.

Identifying and communicating one's value systems, priorities, and non-negotiables allows couples to find compatibility and compromise

Both Bilyeu and Shetty stress the importance of deep introspection to determine personal values separate from external influences. Understanding one's non-negotiables and finding a partner who respects and complements them is essential. Similarly, Bilyeu underscores the need for transparency in long-term commitments, sharing how her husband was upfront about not sacrificing ambition for family.

Shetty encourages recognizing what you are attracted to in a partner and understanding the trade-offs involved, insisting on the need for clear boundaries and priorities. For example, ambition in a partner might mean less time for the relationship.

Avoiding making assumptions and actively asking questions t ...

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How confidence and values impact romantic relationships

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Lisa Bilyeu is known for co-founding Quest Nutrition, a successful health food company. She is also a speaker and host of the "Women of Impact" podcast, focusing on empowering women. Jay Shetty is a former monk turned motivational speaker and author, known for his wisdom on personal development and relationships. Both bring their unique experiences and insights to discussions on confidence, values, and relationships.
  • Aligning on core values in a relationship involves ensuring that both partners share fundamental beliefs, principles, and priorities. This alignment creates a strong foundation for understanding each other's perspectives and making joint decisions. It involves open communication about important topics like family, career, spirituality, and lifestyle preferences. When partners are aligned on core values, they are more likely to navigate challenges together and build a fulfilling and lasting relationship.
  • In a relationship, humility involves being modest, open to feedback, and willing to learn from mistakes. Self-awareness in a relationship means understanding one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, which can lead to better communication and empathy towards one's partner. These qualities help partners appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses, fostering a more harmonious and supportive connection. Humility and self-awareness contribute to a healthier dynamic by promoting mutual respect, understanding, and growth within the relationship.
  • In a relationship, non-negotiables are values, needs, or boundaries that are fundamental to an individual and cannot be compromised on. These are aspects of a person's life or beliefs that they consider essential and are unwilling to change or give up for the sake of the relationship. Identifying and communicating these non-negotiables is crucial for establishing compatibility and ensuring tha ...

Counterarguments

  • While aligning on core values is important, some couples may find that differences in values can also enrich a relationship by fostering personal growth and new perspectives.
  • The emphasis on identifying and communicating personal values might overlook the dynamic nature of individuals, where values and priorities can evolve over time, requiring ongoing adaptation rather than a one-time alignment.
  • The idea of understanding trade-offs in what one is attracted to in a partner may oversimplify complex human relationships where attractions and needs can change and are not always subject to clear-cut trade-offs.
  • Actively asking questions to understand a partner's perspective is important, but it's also essential to recognize that some conflicts may arise fr ...

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Why You Are Restricting Your Desires in Your Relationship & How to Stop Blocking Yourself from the Happiness You Deserve with Lisa Bilyeu

The importance of open and honest communication in relationships

Open and honest communication is the cornerstone of a healthy relationship. Lisa Bilyeu and Jay Shetty reveal the transformative impact radical honesty and a growth mindset have in nurturing and sustaining deep connections.

Radical honesty, even when it's uncomfortable, and a growth mindset allow couples to work through challenges constructively

Lisa Bilyeu discusses a pivotal moment that could have bred resentment but instead brought her and her husband closer due to their strong relationship foundation. Lisa recognized she had been using gratitude to mask her unhappiness, a realization that led her to assert her desires and needs openly. By choosing honesty over suppression, Lisa and Tom could confront and work through issues collaboratively.

Jay Shetty reflects on the common trap where individuals hold in their unhappiness until it bursts out, often leading to a counterproductive, accusatory blame game. However, Lisa’s experience demonstrates that a mindset oriented towards growth can lead to resolution instead of conflict even if there's no certainty of a positive response from a partner. Jay Shetty, embracing this principle in his own marriage, shows that facing uncomfortable truths through communication is vital to personal and relational growth.

Lisa talks about the necessity of asking direct questions like what her husband needs to feel empowered, ensuring that both partners' needs are understood without assumptions. She shares that not having children with her husband was a decision that further highlighted the importance of radical honesty in protecting their marriage.

Shetty and his wife, Radhi, also stress the value of open dialogue in their relationship. For example, Shetty shared his need to move homes due to anxiety, a conversation that required addressing discomfort to find a collaborative solution.

Apologizing only when one genuinely means it, rather than to quickly resolve conflict, enables deeper resolution

The conversations reveal that a meaningful apology contributes more to conflict resolution than one made to simply defuse the situation. Both Lisa and Jay underscore not saying sorry unless it's heartfelt, which encourages a deeper understanding of each ...

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The importance of open and honest communication in relationships

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Lisa Bilyeu and Jay Shetty are public figures known for their work in personal development and relationships. Lisa Bilyeu is the co-founder of Quest Nutrition and Impact Theory, focusing on empowering individuals through content. Jay Shetty is a former monk turned motivational speaker and author, known for his insights on mindfulness and personal growth. Their personal experiences and insights shared in the text emphasize the importance of open communication, radical honesty, and growth mindset in nurturing healthy relationships.
  • Radical honesty in relationships involves being completely transparent and truthful with your partner, even when it's uncomfortable or difficult. This approach fosters trust and deepens emotional intimacy by encouraging open communication without hiding thoughts or feelings. A growth mindset in relationships means approaching challenges with a focus on personal and relational development, viewing difficulties as opportunities for learning and improvement together. Embracing a growth mindset allows couples to navigate conflicts constructively and evolve positively as individuals and as a partnership.
  • Using gratitude to mask unhappiness is a concept where individuals focus on being thankful for what they have rather than acknowledging and addressing their underlying feelings of discontent or dissatisfaction. It involves using positive thoughts and expressions of gratitude as a way to suppress or ignore negative emotions or issues that may be present in one's life or relationships. This behavior can lead to a lack of honest communication about true feelings and needs, potentially causing unresolved issues to fester beneath the surface. By recognizing and addressing this tendency, individuals can work towards more authentic and open communication in their relationships.
  • A heartfelt apology is one that is sincere an ...

Counterarguments

  • While open and honest communication is generally beneficial, there are times when too much honesty can be harmful or overwhelming, and discretion might be necessary to protect a partner's feelings or the relationship.
  • Radical honesty must be balanced with tact and empathy; otherwise, it can lead to unnecessary hurt and conflict.
  • A growth mindset is valuable, but it's also important to recognize and respect personal and emotional boundaries. Not all challenges can be overcome by growth alone, and sometimes acceptance is also a key component of a healthy relationship.
  • Direct communication is important, but it should be noted that not everyone has the same communication style. Some individuals may find direct questions confrontational or uncomfortable, and alternative methods of communication may be more effective.
  • Genuine apologies are important, but the timing and context of an apology can also play a significant role in conflict resolution. Sometimes an immediate apology, even if not fully heartfelt, can de-escalate a situation and serve as a starting point for deeper resolution l ...

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