16th February 2026
#499: Codependency is Keeping You Small

I'm Mark
Human Connection Specialist, Speaker, Author, Coach, Podcast Host and founder of Create The Love. 
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Liberated Love



Summary

In this episode I go straight at the truth most of us avoid: if you don’t decide who you are, someone else will decide for you. I unpack how people pleasing, codependency, and the fear of saying no quietly steal your dreams, your health, and your self respect, and how every external betrayal usually starts with an internal one. I challenge you to audit where you’re abandoning yourself, where you’re choosing belonging over authenticity, and where you’re consuming instead of creating.  If you’re ready to stop outsourcing your identity, stop living for approval, and finally build relationships that help you grow instead of shrink, this conversation will light a fire under you.


Discover

00:00:00 Who Are You—Deciding Your Identity Before Others Do

00:01:34 The Fine Line Between Compromise and Self-Abandonment

00:04:00 “You Complete Me”—Romantic Myths Debunked

00:06:49 Growing Together vs. Staying Together

00:09:29 Healing Codependency: The Power of Saying No

00:14:20 Outsourcing Self-Worth—Social Media & Trolls

00:19:35 Becoming the Curator of Your Own Life


Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by:

Institute for Integrative Nutrition: Certified Health Coach Training: Use code MARKGROVES20 for 20% off ALL courses from IIN & Chopra at https://l.shareiin.com/Zs6uK
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