E129: Empathy, Boundaries, and Re-Parenting: Lessons from Sarah Shields

Adult Child of Dysfunction

In this heartfelt episode, we welcome Sarah Shields, a Master Life Coach, communications consultant, and fervent learner, who shares her deeply personal journey of navigating a challenging family dynamic while learning to set boundaries and re-parent her inner child. Sarah opens up about the struggles of balancing her innate people-pleasing tendencies with the needs of her younger self, who desperately sought protection and validation.

Growing up in a large Italian family, Sarah took on the role of protector and mediator, trying to bridge the gap between her narcissistic father and younger sibling. For decades, she believed it was her responsibility to parent her father while holding the family together. But over time, she realized that her efforts came at a significant cost to her own emotional well-being.

Sarah recounts her father’s shift from being the life of the party to creating harmful narratives, lies, and pain that fractured her family. For years, she excused his behavior with compassion and empathy for his upbringing, but by 2021, she reached a turning point. It was time to stop playing mediator and prioritize her own healing.

In this episode, Sarah shares how re-parenting her younger self has been transformative—not just for her but also for her sibling. She explains how understanding family dynamics, establishing firm boundaries, and healing from the inside out have improved her relationships with her sibling, partner, and mother. Sarah also reflects on how these lessons have shaped her career, communication skills, and coaching philosophy.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the aftermath of dysfunctional family dynamics, struggling with people-pleasing, or looking for inspiration to re-parent their inner child and live a life of authenticity and empowerment.

To find out more about Sarah visit:

Www.groundandgrowcoaching.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560180342936

https://www.instagram.com/ground_grow_coaching/

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Resources:

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About Tammy:

Tammy Vincent, a survivor and thriver, has transformed her life from the challenges of being an adult child of two alcoholic parents. With a Masters in Education and addiction and recovery certifications, shes a beacon of hope for others on their paths to transformation.

As a devoted mother of three grown children and a loving wife, Tammy's personal journey of healing and empowerment has led her to become a certified life coach and NLP practitioner. Her dedication to growth has been illuminated through her best-selling books, two powerful volumes that offer insights, guidance and inspiration to those seeking their own paths to healing.