Disney didn’t just entertain us — it conditioned us.

From princess stories to cultural messaging, many women were taught at a young age what to expect, tolerate, and sacrifice in the name of “love.” Self-abandonment was romanticized. Emotional labor was normalized. Endurance was praised. And choosing yourself? Rarely modeled.

In this episode, we unpack how early conditioning—from Disney movies, family dynamics, religion, and society—shapes the partners we choose and the unhealthy beliefs we carry into adult relationships.

We explore:

• Why so many women confuse self-sacrifice with love

• How trauma, attachment styles, and nervous system dysregulation affect attraction

• Why intensity gets mistaken for chemistry

• How being “chosen” became a measure of worth

• Why staying too long is often praised more than leaving when something is no longer healthy
  

  This conversation is especially for divorced or divorcing women who are realizing: “I didn’t choose wrong because I was broken — I chose based on what I was taught.”

If you’ve ever wondered why you tolerated less than you deserved, why safe love felt boring, or why leaving felt harder than staying — this episode will help you connect the dots and start rewriting your relationship blueprint.

✨ Healing starts with unlearning. And you don’t have to do it alone.

If this episode resonates, check out The Next Chapter membership — a supportive space for divorced moms who are ready to heal, rebuild confidence, set boundaries, and stop repeating the same relationship patterns. 👉 https://www.samandleah.com/services