Grow with Robin Breckenridge
Join Grow with Robin Breckenridge for transformative conversations on personal growth, emotional wellness, and relational living.
Hosted by Robin, a dedicated life and relationship coach, this podcast dives into the art of self-discovery, boundary-setting, and conscious connection.
Whether you're looking to heal, grow, or simply live more authentically, Robin brings insights and tools to help you cultivate a life in full bloom.
Grow with Robin Breckenridge
Ep. 65: Shifting Codependent Patterns: Letting Go of Overfunctioning
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Last week, we talked about codependency as chronic self-neglect. This episode, I want to talk about one of the most common ways that self-neglect shows up in our relationships: overfunctioning.
Overfunctioning is what happens when you begin taking more responsibility than actually belongs to you. You work harder on the other person's life than they do. And somewhere in that process of trying to keep everyone else okay, you slowly start to abandon yourself and your needs. It can look like care and love on the surface, while quietly leading to exhaustion, resentment, and disconnection underneath.
If you’ve been overfunctioning for a while, creating internal boundaries and prioritizing your own needs can feel like abandoning the people you love. But there’s a big difference between supporting and rescuing. Support says, “I will walk beside you during this hard time.” Rescuing says, “I will carry you even when carrying you is hurting me.”
Remember, Your needs matter too. Your limits matter. Your bandwidth matters. Delegating might be the next kind choice. Setting a boundary may be the next loving choice. And allowing someone else to carry their own life may be the very thing that allows both of you to grow.
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