Loving someone who hurts you can feel impossible—especially when you’re trying to stay kind and stay safe. This episode is about emotional intelligence in hard relationships: how to hold compassion without abandoning your peace.
Nikki P sits down with pastor and recovery leader Steve LeFebvre for an honest, grounded conversation about loving “difficult people” in real life—family, partners, friends, church communities, and even people you strongly disagree with. Steve shares how recovery shaped his ability to pause before judging, take responsibility without shame, and practice love with boundaries that protect healing.
You’ll hear why relationships have “gravity,” how resentment can quietly steal your peace, and what it can look like to detach without slamming the door—loving from a distance when that’s what your nervous system needs. They also explore the difference between accountability and blame, what community teaches us about belonging, and how faith (or a higher-power framework) can form us to stay human in a world obsessed with sides.
You’ll hear:
- How to love with boundaries (without guilt)
- Why “none are to blame, all are responsible” changes everything
- Tools to calm your nervous system and stay grounded
- When distance is the most loving option
Because life isn’t either/or—it’s both.
Get Connected & Support the Show:
- Listen to the companion podcast: It's Both- Guided Meditations for Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, & Real Life Transitions
- Subscribe, rate, & review It's Both on Apple Podcasts
- Join the Courageous Living Group Transformation
- Sign up for Hungryroot and get $50 off your first box
- It's Both on Instagram & Youtube
