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This episode continues our four-part Substack truth-telling series, The Cost and Calling of Living in Your Truth. In Part 2, I reflect on a rupture in our home—one that caught me off guard and pushed me to ask: What does it mean to repair without pretending? I explore the emotional labor of choosing restoration over retreat and what happens when honesty isn't elegant, but necessary.

From leadership to parenting, I unpack how emotional honesty challenges us to move beyond defensiveness into deeper relationship. And I invite you to consider: what does it take to stay present when everything in you wants to walk away?

This one is tender, y’all. But it’s also sacred.

Chapters

[00:53] Recap of Previous Episodes in the Series

[02:36] Exploring Part Three: When Truth Feels Overwhelming

[04:53] Emotional Honesty in Relationships

[06:06] Leadership, Friendship, and Calling People In

[10:44] Parenting, Generational Norms, and Emotional Intelligence

[19:53] What It Means to Repair Without Pretending Nothing Happened

[26:25] Staying Present in the Middle of the Mess

[28:40] How Unprocessed Trauma Can Spill Onto Others

[29:30] The Power of Spiritual Grounding and Somatic Tools

[32:03] Disrupting Narratives and Knowing What’s Yours to Carry

[35:11] From Resistance to Restoration

[43:14] Co-Creation, Curiosity, and Waking the Sleeping Giants

[47:29] What Kind of World Are We Racing Toward?

[52:49] Final Reflections + Collective Invitation

Curiosities (Journal, Reflect, or Discuss):

1. What narratives have I internalized about what a “good” parent or leader should never say out loud?
2. What parts of myself have been made to feel “too much,” and where did that belief begin?
3. What would it mean to repair without pretending nothing happened?
4. Where am I being invited to stay present—even when it’s messy?
5. What structures am I co-creating that reflect the world I want to leave behind?
6. What kind of world am I racing toward—and what needs to shift in me to help build it?

Suggest Podcast Questions

Resources

• Pods and Pod Mapping Exercise by Mia Mingus
• “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution” by MLK

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @natural_inclination

Youtube: @naturalinclination

TikTok: Amber Sessoms

LinkedIn: Dr. Amber M. Sessoms, NCSP

Bluesky: @ambersessoms.bsky.social

Facebook: Natural Inclination

Website: www.aninclination.com

Like, Comment, Share, Engage
If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who would love these conversations. Engage with the Curiosity Cards and ask the youth in your life about their experiences because you might be surprised by what you learn. Share your thoughts and reflections in the comments or on social media using #LivingIn3DPower. And, don’t forget to subscribe and stay tuned for next week’s conversation!