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The Reality Between UsExploring the hidden dynamics behind love, conflict, and connection. Author: Aja Rutledge
The Reality Between Us explores what happens underneath relationships. Through the lens of trauma, nervous systems, self-awareness, and relational patterns, Aja Rutledge examines the forces quietly shaping how we connect, conflict, communicate, avoid, trust, and make meaning of our experiences. Most relationship advice focuses on behavior. This podcast explores what's driving the behavior. Rather than offering formulas or quick fixes, The Reality Between Us looks beneath the surface of our relationships, with partners, family, friends, coworkers, and most importantly, ourselves, to understand the hidden dynamics influencing how we show up and why we keep repeating the patterns we do. Because what happens between people rarely starts between people. Most relationship advice is looking in one place. We're going to look somewhere else. Language: en Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Relationships, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Wanting the Relationship Is the Easy Part
Episode 8
Wednesday, 19 August, 2026
Wanting a relationship doesn't mean you're equipped to have one.We spend a lot of time thinking about the relationships we want, the kind of people we want in our lives, and what we want those relationships to give us. But how often do we stop and consider what we're bringing into them? Wanting the thing is the easy part. Being able to create and sustain it is something else.In this episode, we explore:Why wanting a relationship doesn't automatically mean you're ready for one.The difference between deserving healthy relationships and being equipped to participate in them.Why relationships require us to consider the impact we're having on other people.What it means to consider the experience of being in relationship with you.Whether you're the person the person you want would actually want.Why it's worth questioning what we're asking relationships to fulfill for us.How entering relationships without considering our readiness can leave real damage behind.The skills and maturity it takes to create and sustain healthy relationships.Episode Thoughts to Sit With"Just because you want a thing doesn't mean you are equipped to have the thing.""Do you consider what the experience of you is to others? Like do you ever sit and ask, hey, what's it like to be my friend? What's it like to be in a relationship with me? What's it like to be my child?""I think everybody deserves healthy relationships. I think everybody wants them and that's fair and everybody deserves them and that's fair but everybody is not ready.""Relationships are major decisions and we don't treat them as if they are. We treat them as if they're experiences we get to jump into and jump out of when it's convenient for us.""The thing is you can leave some relationships but what trail are you leaving behind you?"If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it.To connect, ask a question, or share your thoughts, email: ajarutledgecoaching@gmail.com.Thank you for listening to The Reality Between Us.











