Share
Project Loving Myself
213: Moving On vs. Moving Forward: Healing Complex Grief and Emotional Triggers with Dr. Michelle Peticolas
•
Why You Can’t Just “Move On”—And What to Do Instead 🖤
You’ve tried journaling. You’ve tried “staying busy.” But deep down, you’re still grieving something—or someone—you thought you were over. Why does it still hurt? Why hasn’t time done its job?
In this powerful episode of Project Loving Myself, Sanaiyah is joined by Dr. Michelle Peticolas, award-winning filmmaker, international best-selling author of Step Into Your Brilliance, and life transformation coach for high-achieving women navigating grief and loss. Together, they unpack what’s really going on when we feel stuck in pain that seems to last forever.
Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or emotional abandonment from childhood, Dr. Michelle explains how complex grief embeds itself in the body—and how to finally release it using emotional awareness, body-based healing, and her signature SERVE method.
If you've been stuck in a loop of heartbreak, repeating the same emotional patterns, or feeling like your grief is “too big” to ever get over—this conversation is your turning point.
💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✨ What complex grief really is—and how it sneaks into your relationships
✨ How unprocessed loss from childhood becomes adult abandonment patterns
✨ Why your body holds onto grief (and how to start listening to it)
✨ A powerful mindset shift to reframe grief into purpose and personal power
✨ How to emotionally and energetically release your ex (so you can finally move forward)
📲 Ready to Heal at the Root?
💖 Take the Complex Grief Checklist at www.complexgriefchecklist.com
🎁 Claim your free healing tools at www.secretsoflifeanddeath.com
📲 Follow Dr. Michelle:
🔗 Instagram: @michellepeticolas
🔗 Facebook: Dr. Michelle Peticolas
🎙️ Subscribe, Share & Tag Us!
If this episode shifted your perspective, share it with a friend who’s ready to stop carrying pain alone. 💌 Tag @projectlovingmyselfpodcast & @sanaiyahgurnamal with your biggest takeaway.
Because moving on doesn’t mean forgetting—it means finally choosing you.
More episodes
View all episodes
274. 274: What If Marriage Isn’t the Dream You Were Told It Would Be? with Sarah Gallucci
39:51||Season 1, Ep. 274We often think freedom comes from having more choices, more independence, or more control over our lives. But sometimes the thing that's keeping us stuck isn't what's happening around us. It's the expectations we've been carrying for years without ever questioning them.On this episode, we talk with Sarah Gallucci — journalist, TEDx speaker, professor, and author of *Laid: A Memoir of Love, Sex, and Marriage*. What began as an exploration of her marriage became a much deeper journey into identity, gender roles, personal freedom, and the beliefs we inherit about what love and relationships are supposed to look like.We explore how cultural expectations shape the choices we make, why so many women lose themselves trying to hold everything together, and what happens when you finally start listening to the truth you've been avoiding.Episode Resources✨ Join the 30-Day Self-Love Challenge — a simple way to start choosing yourself again through small daily practices that build self-trust, self-worth, and a deeper connection with who you are.In this episode, we explore:✨ The invisible expectations many women carry in relationships and family life✨ How gender roles can quietly shape our choices, wellbeing, and identity✨ Why high-achieving women often struggle to speak up about what they need✨ The difference between speaking your truth and trusting your truth✨ What happens when you stop living by expectations that no longer fitIf you've ever felt torn between who you are and who you're expected to be, this conversation offers a powerful reflection on what it means to choose yourself and create a life that feels true to you.Connect with Sarah📸 Instagram: @_sarah_gallucci_🌐 Website: www.sarahgallucci.comConnect with Me🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamalIG @sanaiyahgurnamal
273. 273: Why You Keep Ending Up in One-Sided Relationships
17:51||Season 1, Ep. 273So many women spend years asking the same question in love: Does he like me? Does he want me? Am I enough? And without realizing it, they build their entire dating experience around finding the answer.In this episode, we unpack one of the biggest shifts you can make in your love life: moving from trying to be chosen to becoming the one who chooses. Because when your focus is on whether someone wants you, it's easy to lose sight of what you actually need, want, and deserve in a relationship.We explore why so many women fall into "pick me" energy, how over-focusing on someone else's feelings causes us to abandon ourselves, and the simple question that can completely change the way you experience love.Episode Resources ✨ Book a Relationship Clarity Call — uncover the pattern keeping you stuck in overgiving, overthinking, or waiting to be chosen, and learn what needs to shift so you can create healthier, more fulfilling relationships.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why so many women unconsciously audition for love✨ How seeking validation can quietly shape your dating choices✨ The difference between being chosen and choosing✨ Why pulling away from love isn't always the same as healing✨ The question that changes who you attract and what you tolerate✨ A simple self-worth check-in for mixed signals, inconsistency, and overthinkingIf you've ever found yourself analyzing texts, waiting for clarity, or wondering whether you're enough for someone, this episode is a reminder that the real question isn't whether they choose you—it's whether you're choosing what truly feels right for you.Connect with Me🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamalIG @sanaiyahgurnamal
272. 272: Dating Burnout: Why You’re Drained by Dating (And How to Stop Wasting Energy on Mixed Signals) with John DeOca
36:08||Season 1, Ep. 272Dating today can feel like a full-time job. One minute you're excited about a new connection, and the next you're analyzing texts, questioning mixed signals, and wondering why something that should feel simple suddenly feels so complicated.On this episode, we talk with Dr. John DeOca — psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who helps people make sense of how we connect, communicate, and date in today's world. Through his work, he brings clarity to the confusion so many people experience in modern dating.We explore why dating feels harder than ever, how overthinking quietly drains our energy, and why the strongest relationships often begin with a stronger connection to ourselves rather than a stronger pursuit of someone else.Episode Resources✨ Take the Love Blocks Quiz — uncover the hidden relationship patterns that may be keeping you stuck in confusion, mixed signals, and unhealthy dating dynamics.✨ Download John's free PDF — practical insights to help you navigate modern dating with more clarity, confidence, and self-awareness.In this episode, we explore:✨ How modern dating has changed and why it feels more overwhelming today✨ The difference between healthy connection and unhealthy attachment✨ Why ambiguity and mixed signals have become so common✨ How overthinking steals energy from genuine connection✨ What it means to stay open to love without losing yourself in the process✨ Why knowing yourself is one of the most important dating skills you can developIf you've been feeling exhausted by dating, confused by mixed signals, or wondering whether you're doing something wrong, this conversation will help you approach dating with more clarity, confidence, and self-trust.Connect with John📸 Instagram: @dr__johndeoca🌐 Website: www.therelationshipprescriber.comConnect with Me🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamalIG @sanaiyahgurnamal
271. 271: The Midlife Reset: What to Do When You've Outgrown Your Old Life with Heike Yates
40:34||Season 1, Ep. 271There comes a point in life when what used to work just… doesn’t. The routines, habits, and strategies that once felt effortless suddenly leave you feeling frustrated, stuck, or questioning yourself. On this episode, we talk with Heike Yates — midlife fitness expert, author, and creator of the SPARK Framework, who helps women navigate the in-between seasons of life when old ways no longer fit and the path forward isn’t always clear.We explore why change can feel so uncomfortable, what keeps so many women stuck in outdated versions of themselves, and how rebuilding self-trust starts with embracing where you are instead of trying to go back to who you used to be.Episode Resources✨ Download Heike's Midlife Reset Guide — practical tools and mindset shifts to help you navigate change, rebuild self-trust, and create habits that fit the season of life you're in now.✨ Download the Self-Love Cheat Sheet — simple reminders to help you reconnect with yourself, trust your inner wisdom, and move forward with more confidence and clarity.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why what worked before may not work in this season of your life✨ The hidden cost of constantly trying to go back to the old version of yourself✨ How shame and self-doubt keep women stuck longer than they need to be✨ Why momentum matters more than willpower✨ Heike's SPARK Framework for navigating change and reinventionIf you've been feeling frustrated because life, work, health, or even your goals don't seem to fit the way they once did, this episode will remind you that you're not failing. You may simply be entering a new season that requires a different approach.Connect with Heike📸 Instagram: @heikeyates🎙️ Podcast: Pursue Your SparkConnect with Me🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamalIG @sanaiyahgurnamal
270. 270: The Secret to Dating With More Confidence (After 64 First Dates) with Talia Koren
42:15||Season 1, Ep. 270There’s a lot of pressure around dating these days… to find the right person, avoid the wrong one, and somehow not lose yourself in the process. But maybe dating isn’t supposed to be so hard. Maybe it’s also a chance to learn who you are, what matters to you, and what you actually want.In this episode, I’m joined by Talia Koren — founder of Dating Intentionally, podcast host, content creator, and entrepreneur who helps people date with more confidence, clarity, and ease. After a major breakup, Talia went on 64 first dates in under 10 months before meeting her now husband, and what she learned along the way completely changed how she approached love, dating, and relationships.We talk about what shifts when you stop focusing on being liked and start paying attention to whether someone is actually right for you, why dating can become a space for self-discovery, and how understanding your own patterns changes everything.Episode Resources✨ Take the Love Blocks Quiz — uncover the hidden pattern that may be shaping your dating choices, keeping you stuck, or making love feel harder than it needs to be.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why dating gets easier when you stop focusing on being chosen✨ What 64 first dates taught Talia about patterns, needs, and compatibility✨ How to know whether you overlook red flags or look for reasons to walk away✨ Why having fun might be one of the most underrated dating strategies✨ How understanding your needs changes who you choose and whyIf dating has started to feel heavy, confusing, or like too much pressure, this episode might help you approach it with more curiosity, confidence, and trust in yourself.Connect with Talia📸 Instagram: @dating.intentionally🎙️ Podcast: Dating IntentionallyConnect with Me🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamalIG @sanaiyahgurnamal
269. 269: [Meditation] Can't Switch Off? A Guided Self-Love Meditation for Mental Health Awareness Month
13:59||Season 1, Ep. 269This is a guided self-love meditation created for the moments when you feel emotionally drained, overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself. Not to fix anything or force positivity… but to help you pause, soften, and remember what it feels like to stop carrying so much on your own.Join me to slow down, release the pressure to keep performing, and reconnect with the version of you that exists underneath the expectations, responsibilities, and exhaustion.Episode Resources✨ Download Chaos to Calm — a simple reset to help you clear emotional overwhelm, slow the mental noise, and return to yourself when life feels heavy.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why exhaustion is not always about doing too much, but giving too much✨ What happens when you stop expecting yourself to keep pushing✨ How rest can become a self-love practice instead of something you earn✨ The connection between stillness and coming back to yourself✨ Why switching off isn’t weakness, but a return to what mattersIf you’ve been feeling emotionally tired, disconnected, or like you’ve been carrying too much for too long, this meditation is your reminder: you don’t need an excuse to rest.Connect with Me🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamalIG @sanaiyahgurnamal
268. 268: Why You Ignore Red Flags (Even When You See Them) with Ginny Priem
35:52||Season 1, Ep. 268What happens when what you thought was love comes crashing down? One moment, everything feels aligned — the connection, the chemistry, the way they show up. And then slowly, something shifts… and you’re left trying to make sense of what changed, what you missed, and why it no longer feels the way it did.In this episode, I’m joined by Ginny Priem — keynote speaker and #1 bestselling author of You’re My Favorite. Her work is rooted in a deeply personal journey that began with what felt like a fairytale relationship… and took an unexpected turn that challenged everything she thought she knew about love.Together, we explore why it can be so hard to see clearly when you’re emotionally invested, why we miss red flags even when they’re right in front of us, and what happens when the version of someone you believed in starts to unravel.Episode Resources✨ Get the first chapter of Ginny’s #1 bestselling book You’re My Favorite for free here.✨ Take the Love Blocks Quiz — uncover the pattern that made you miss the red flags, stay longer than you should have, or feel confused about what was real.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why something can feel so real at the beginning… and still not be what you think✨ How emotional investment can make it harder to see what’s actually happening✨ The subtle ways we overlook what doesn’t fit✨ What keeps us holding on, even when something feels off✨ The inner conflict between what you feel and what you seeIf you’ve ever asked yourself, “How did I not see it sooner?” this episode might shift the way you look at your past — and your patterns.Connect with Ginny📸 Instagram: @ginnypriem🎙️ Podcast: Unsubscribe with Ginny PriemConnect with Me🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamalIG @sanaiyahgurnamal
267. 267: You Don’t Have to “Bounce Back” After Motherhood with Amanda Lim
43:27||Season 1, Ep. 267Motherhood changes you in ways no one fully explains. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and even in the way you relate to yourself. One minute you’re stepping into a completely new chapter of life, and the next you’re trying to understand who you are now, what your body needs, and how to move through this season with more strength and self-trust.In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda Lim — Harvard-trained health coach, perinatal strength expert, and director of Lift Clinic. Her work blends strength science, women’s health, and behavior change to help women navigate pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond with more awareness, resilience, and trust in their bodies.We talk about what really happens to your body during motherhood, the beliefs we’ve been taught about it, and how motherhood didn't break your body...it changed your relationship with it.Episode Resources✨ Download the Self-Love Cheat Sheet — simple, grounded reminders to help you reconnect with your body, build self-trust, and make choices that support your wellbeing.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why your body can feel different after motherhood✨ The pressure behind “bouncing back” and where it comes from✨ How physical and emotional changes are more connected than you think✨ The role of strength in rebuilding trust with your body✨ Simple ways to start reconnecting with yourself againIf you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body or unsure how to feel like yourself again after motherhood, this episode will help you start understanding what’s really going on beneath the surface.Connect with Amanda📸 Instagram: @coachamandalim🎙️ Podcast: The 40s FormulaConnect with Me🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamalIG @sanaiyahgurnamal@projectlovingmyselfpodcast
266. 266: Why Did I React Like That? What Your Emotions Are Really Telling You with Edit B Kiss
47:54||Season 1, Ep. 266Ever feel like you’re carrying emotions that don’t fully make sense… like the reaction is bigger than the moment, or the weight feels heavier than it should? One minute you feel grounded and in control, and the next you’re overwhelmed, triggered, or stuck in patterns you don’t fully understand.In this episode, I’m joined by Edit B Kiss — holistic mentor, success habit coach, best-selling author, and international speaker. Her work blends neuroscience with ancient healing practices to guide people from emotional overwhelm to inner peace by addressing not just the mind… but deeper layers like the ancestral and karmic.We unpack why some emotions don’t seem to fit the situation, how inherited and unconscious patterns shape your experience, and what might really be behind the feelings you can’t fully explain.Episode Resources✨ Free access to Edit’s Release with Ease Skool Community✨ Download Chaos to Calm — a simple reset to help you regulate emotional overwhelm, clear what you’re carrying, and feel grounded, steady, and back in control again.In this episode, we explore:✨ Why some emotions feel overwhelming without a clear reason✨ How unconscious patterns influence your daily reactions✨ What ancestral healing means and how it shows up in your life✨ The deeper layers behind recurring emotional patterns✨ Why mindset alone isn’t enough for lasting changeIf you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why did I react that way?” this episode will help you start seeing what’s really going on beneath the surface.Connect with Me🌐 www.sanaiyahgurnamal.com▶️ @sanaiyahgurnamalIG @sanaiyahgurnamal@projectlovingmyselfpodcastConnect with Edit📸 Instagram: @editbkiss🌐 Website: editbkiss.com