Hey, Boss Moms! If you’ve ever found yourself saying “yes” when you really meant “no,” or if setting boundaries feels like climbing Everest, you’re in the right place. Relationships are hard work—whether it’s with your spouse, kids, friends, or that one client who always emails at 9 PM.

That’s why I’m so excited to share insights from Michelle Farris, a licensed psychotherapist and expert on all things relationships. She’s not just about theory—she’s all about giving you practical tools to create healthy, drama-free connections.

Oh, and bonus: Michelle totally gets us. She’s a coffee-loving mom who built her career while raising her son. So, if you’re juggling kids, business, and the occasional meltdown (yours or theirs), she’s got your back.

Let’s dive in!

Michelle’s Journey from Stay-at-Home Mom to Entrepreneur

Like many of us, Michelle didn’t start out knowing exactly where she’d land. Growing up, her parents followed pretty traditional careers—her mom was a secretary, and her dad captained cargo ships. But Michelle? She felt called to something different.

After 13 years as a stay-at-home mom, Michelle hit a crossroads. She loved being home with her son but knew she needed something just for her. So, she decided to take a leap and go back to work, eventually building a private therapy practice.

Here’s the thing, though: She didn’t just stick with the usual one-on-one sessions. Michelle got creative—offering online courses, webinars, and flexible options so she could still be present for her son while growing her business. She’s living proof that you can build a career and a life that lights you up.

What’s Codependency Anyway?

Okay, let’s talk about something that hits close to home for a lot of us: codependency. Don’t worry—if you’re not totally sure what it is, you’re not alone. Michelle breaks it down like this:

Codependency happens when you spend so much time and energy focusing on others that you lose sight of yourself. You’re always the helper, the fixer, the “yes” person. And while that sounds super generous (and let’s be real, it often is), it can also leave you feeling burnt out and resentful.

Here’s how Michelle explains it:
“You know that gut feeling you get when someone asks for help? Sometimes it’s an easy ‘yes,’ but other times there’s hesitation. Codependency is when you ignore that hesitation and think, ‘I should do this.’ The key to breaking free is learning to honor what your gut is telling you.”

Are You Codependent? Here’s How to Tell

Not sure if this applies to you? Michelle shared a few signs that you might be caught in the codependency trap:

• You say “yes” to things you don’t have time or energy for.
• You feel guilty when you set boundaries (or just don’t set them at all).
• You constantly put other people’s needs ahead of your own—even when it’s draining you.
• You feel responsible for everyone else’s happiness, and their problems feel like your problems.

Sound familiar? Take a deep breath—it’s okay. The good news is that codependency is a learned behavior, which means you can unlearn it too.

Simple Steps to Build Healthier Relationships

Michelle is all about practical steps you can start using today. Here are a few of her go-to tips:

1. Pause Before You Say Yes: If someone asks you for something, take a moment. Check in with yourself. Do you really want to say yes, or are you just trying to avoid guilt?
2. Start Small with Boundaries: You don’t have to go from zero to “Nope, not doing that!” overnight. Practice setting boundaries in low-stakes situations—like saying no to hosting the next PTA meeting.
3. Get Comfortable with Discomfort: Let’s be real—saying no can feel awkward at first. But the more you do it, the easier it gets. Remember, boundaries aren’t mean; they’re how you show up as your best self for the people who matter most.

Why This Matters for Boss Moms

Here’s the thing: You’re not just running a business—you’re raising humans. And they’re watching you. When you show them what it looks like to prioritize your well-being, set boundaries, and build healthy relationships, you’re giving them a gift they’ll carry for life.

Michelle’s story is such a great example of this. By prioritizing her own growth, she didn’t just transform her career—she showed her son what it means to chase your dreams and create a balanced life.

When life becomes overwhelming, as it often does, finding your way back to yourself can feel impossible. Trust, intuition, and boundaries are the foundation for building a life where you can truly become your own best friend. But what does that look like in practice, and how do you get there?

In this continuation of our journey, inspired by Michelle’s invaluable insights, we’ll break down actionable steps for nurturing trust in yourself, embracing your intuition, and setting boundaries that empower you to thrive—whether you’re a mom, entrepreneur, or someone navigating the messy middle of life.

Start with Trust: The Foundation of Everything

Trusting yourself is a journey, not a destination. If you’ve ever doubted your decisions—especially after a major life event like divorce, becoming a parent, or starting a business—know that you’re not alone. The key to rebuilding trust in yourself starts with one simple practice: checking in with how you feel.

Your body doesn’t lie. As Michelle explained, your physical reactions—like a knot in your stomach or a lump in your throat—are signals worth paying attention to. When something feels “off,” it often is. The problem is, many of us were conditioned to ignore these signals growing up. Whether it was being told, “You’re overreacting,” or, “That didn’t happen,” we learned to question our own reality.

To rebuild trust in yourself:

1. Pause before you respond. If someone asks for something and you’re unsure, give yourself permission to say, “Let me think about it.”
2. Honor your no. Every time you say no to something that doesn’t feel right, you’re saying yes to yourself.
3. Listen to your body. Start tuning in to the physical cues that arise in various situations. Over time, this will strengthen your confidence in your own intuition.

Intuition: Your Inner Compass

Intuition isn’t woo-woo; it’s a deeply practical tool for decision-making. It’s that quiet, knowing voice inside you that often gets drowned out by the noise of life.

Think of intuition as a muscle—it gets stronger the more you use it. Start small. Pay attention to what feels good and what doesn’t. One way to do this, as Dana shared, is to apply the idea of “thin-tuition” to eating: notice when your body signals fullness, take a breath, and put down your fork. This same principle applies to all areas of life.

Practical tips for building intuition:

• Journal your feelings. Spend 5–10 minutes daily writing down how you feel about situations, people, or decisions.
• Do a body scan. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and notice where you feel tension or ease.
• Act on small hunches. If you feel drawn to something—whether it’s reaching out to a friend or trying a new opportunity—follow through and see where it leads.

The Power of Boundaries

Boundaries are where trust and intuition meet action. They protect your time, energy, and emotional well-being, allowing you to live in alignment with your true self.

One of the simplest ways to practice setting boundaries is with the people you trust most. As Michelle suggested, start by saying, “Let me get back to you” when someone asks for your time or energy. This gives you the space to evaluate whether the request aligns with your priorities.

Remember, saying no doesn’t make you selfish—it makes you intentional. Every no frees up time to invest in what truly matters to you.

How to practice setting boundaries:

• Identify your “yes” and “no” zones. Write down what you’re willing to say yes to and what you need to say no to protect your time and energy.
• Communicate your boundaries clearly. Use “I” statements, like, “I need some time to recharge this weekend, so I won’t be able to make it to dinner.”
• Release guilt. Boundaries are about honoring your needs, not managing others’ expectations.

The Role of Community

While trusting yourself is vital, you don’t have to go it alone. Surrounding yourself with supportive people who validate your experiences and encourage your growth is just as important.

Dana shared how building a community based on permission—permission to care for yourself, start a business while raising a baby, or simply feel “not crazy”—has been transformative. When you’re surrounded by people who “get it,” you no longer feel like you’re the problem.

If you’re unsure about the health of your relationships, Michelle’s Relationship Checklist is a great place to start. It helps you assess supportive, challenging, and self-reflective behaviors to gain clarity about who’s truly in your corner—and where you may need to set new boundaries.

Embracing the Journey

The path to becoming your own best friend is not linear, and it’s never truly “done.” As Michelle beautifully put it, life is messy, and recovery is an ongoing process. But with each step, you gain confidence, clarity, and a deeper connection to yourself.

So, whether you’re navigating motherhood, entrepreneurship, or a major life transition, remember this: Trust yourself. Honor your intuition. Set boundaries. And above all, give yourself permission to live a life that feels good to you.

Resources to Support Your Journey:

• Relationship Checklist: Assess your relationships and discover where you can make shifts to protect your energy. Download here.
• Join the BossMom Community: Connect with like-minded women who understand the balancing act of business and motherhood.

What’s one small step you’ll take today to trust yourself more or set a boundary? Let us know in the comments!

Guest Bio- 

Michelle Farris is a licensed psychotherapist, anger management specialist. mother, author, course creator and one day at a time activist. She loves helping codependent people create healthy relationships without sacrificing their big heart. She’s been featured in Psych Central, Bustle, Your Tango, The Good Men Project and The Daily Positive just to name a few. In her private practice she believes that it doesn’t have to take years to heal your relationships. When you learn to trust yourself, you can create mutually satisfying connections that work. She can often be found with a Vente latte from Starbucks while working on her next course!

To connect with Michelle, go to her: Website |  Facebook |  Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter |  LinkedIn | Youtube

Get a copy of the The Codependency Workbook – A Guide to Being Your Best Self .