
Hosted by Kristi Angevine, MD · EN

Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by big emotions like anger or frustration? When emotions take over, it can feel hard to regain control. In today's episode, I'm going to share a simple but powerful tool from Internal Family Systems (IFS): using the language of parts. It's a practice of separating your emotions from your sense of self, allowing you to respond in a way that's calm and deliberate. By using the language of parts, you can identify the root causes of your emotions, respond with compassion, and create a more thoughtful approach to your feelings. I'll guide you through how to implement this tool in your everyday life and how it can lead to lasting change. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/216 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/

Do you find yourself saying yes when you already feel stretched too thin? In this episode, I unpack why saying no can feel so uncomfortable, even when you know it's what you need. For many high achievers, the difficulty isn't just about time or logistics, it's rooted in deeper fears about how we'll be perceived, how relationships might change, and what it might mean about us if we don't show up for everything. I walk through the subtle ways saying yes at your own expense can show up, from overextending your schedule to quietly abandoning your own needs without even realizing it. You'll learn why concerns about disappointing others, losing opportunities, or not being liked can make saying no feel risky, and how those fears often lead to overcommitment and burnout. I also share a simple, practical approach to help you start saying no with more clarity and confidence. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/215 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/

What if the habits you struggle with most are actually attempts to help you? In this episode, I revisit a powerful way of understanding habits through the lens of Internal Family Systems and the idea of using "the most generous interpretation," a concept popularized by Dr. Becky Kennedy. When we look at our patterns this way, habits stop looking like flaws and start looking like strategies that once served a purpose. I walk through the Internal Family Systems framework and explain how different parts of us work together to manage painful experiences. Some parts try to prevent discomfort, others step in to soothe overwhelming feelings, and still others carry the emotional burdens from past events. When these parts interact, they can create the repetitive thinking, feeling, and behavior patterns we recognize as habits. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/214 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/

Anger is often seen as something to avoid or suppress, but what if I told you it's actually an emotion that can offer valuable insights? In this episode, we'll explore how to rethink your relationship with anger and use it as a powerful tool for growth and clarity. For many of us, anger is tied to shame or the belief that it's an emotion we should hide. However, when we embrace anger as a signal rather than a problem, it can alert us to boundary breaches, compromised values, or injustices. I'll explain how shifting your perspective on anger can transform your emotional landscape and help you make decisions aligned with your core values. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/213 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/

When you think of trauma, do you picture only extreme, life-threatening events? In this episode, I expand the definition of trauma and explain why many high achievers unknowingly overlook their own experiences. Trauma isn't defined only by what happened, but by how your nervous system responded when you felt overwhelmed, powerless, or alone. I break down the difference between Big T and small t trauma and explain how stress and trauma exist on a continuum. Many of the habits we struggle with, like perfectionism, overachievement, hypervigilance, chronic worry, or emotional reactivity, may not be personality flaws but adaptive responses that once helped you cope. Understanding them with curiosity instead of judgment opens the door to healing and growth. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/212 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/

Do you take forever to make decisions, only to second-guess yourself once you finally choose? In this episode, I unpack why analysis paralysis feels so intense and how the belief that there is one right decision quietly fuels decision block, overthinking, procrastination, and chronic comparison. I offer a practical shift that makes decisiveness possible: letting go of the idea that there is one right choice and instead choosing to make your decision right. You'll learn a concrete process to identify what you would decide if you trusted yourself, uncover the inner objections that surface, and respond to those concerns with curiosity and compassion while still moving forward. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/211 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/

Curiosity gets a lot of praise, but not all curiosity actually leads to change. In this episode, I introduce the concept of pragmatic curiosity and explain why simply understanding yourself better isn't always enough to shift long-standing habits. I walk you through what true curiosity is and what it isn't, including how curiosity can quietly turn into judgment, fixing, or endless analysis. You'll also learn how to practice pragmatic curiosity by pairing insight with action so your self-awareness actually translates into real habit change. I share a simple framework you can use with any dilemma, pattern, or decision so that curiosity doesn't just stay in your head but helps you move forward in a concrete, supportive way. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/210 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/

When you're feeling stuck, stressed, or overwhelmed, the right question can shift everything. In today's episode, I share a list of my favorite productive questions that help me get unstuck, tap into curiosity, and break free from confusion. These questions are the antidote to overthinking, indecision, and self-doubt. Our habitual thought patterns often keep us in a loop of stress and overwhelm, especially when we're not clear on what we really want or need. By asking the right questions, we can break out of that cycle and start finding clarity. The powerful questions I'm sharing today help me connect to my deeper needs, quiet my inner critic, and tap into my intuition when I'm feeling lost. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/209 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/

Most habits aren't random or self-sabotaging. They're signals. In this episode, I explore the deeper needs and desires hidden beneath your habits and why understanding those needs is one of the most overlooked keys to lasting habit change. When you only focus on stopping a behavior, you miss the reason it's there in the first place. I explain how habits like procrastination, self-criticism, people pleasing, numbing, overthinking, and comparison often develop as solutions to something deeper. You'll learn a simple three-step process to identify the need beneath any habit so you can address the root cause instead of fighting the symptom. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/208 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/

We've all experienced the struggle of trying to figure out whether something is a "yes" or a "no." In this episode, I dive into how to discern the difference between what aligns with your core desires and values and what doesn't. You might think it's obvious, but in reality, it can be surprisingly tricky. The tension between saying yes when you really mean no — or vice versa — often stems from years of socialization, external expectations, and learned behaviors. The good news is, it's possible to regain clarity and trust your intuition again. I'll share why our ability to differentiate a true yes from a no becomes clouded over time, and how you can begin to tune back into your inner wisdom. Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://habitsonpurpose.com/207 Join the Habits on Purpose newsletter for extra tools, prompts, and stories between episodes: https://habitsonpurpose.com/