Dear Friend,
Let me share something close to my heart this month—because I have seen it far too many times, and maybe you’ve lived it too.
Real love can’t survive in the trap of codependency. It may look like love. It may feel like love. But the truth is, when our relationships are built on control, fear, rescuing, or constantly losing ourselves to hold someone else together—what we’re living is not love. It’s a slow death of our identity, our peace, and sometimes, our God-given purpose.
Codependency is subtle. It can sneak in with good intentions. But over time, it builds a one-sided relationship where one person gives and gives—and the other takes and takes. That might be with your spouse, your child, your best friend, your boss.
Here’s how you can tell if you’ve slipped into codependency:
You constantly worry about the other person’s emotions, decisions, or moods. You feel responsible for making sure they’re okay—even if you’re falling apart inside.
You try to fix, rescue, or “save” them. You tell yourself, “If I don’t help, who will?” But in truth, you’ve become the emotional glue holding them together—and you’re crumbling.
The relationship feels imbalanced. You show up, you work hard, you sacrifice. But they don’t reciprocate. You’re exhausted. And yet… you feel guilty for wanting more.
Your own needs and boundaries have disappeared. You say yes when you mean no. You walk on eggshells. You don’t speak truth in love because you’re afraid they’ll fall apart or walk away.
Let me be the voice of love and wisdom in your life today:
You are not selfish for wanting a healthy relationship.
You are not mean for needing space.
And you are not called to be someone’s savior. That job is already taken.
This month, I encourage you to check your heart.
Are you giving from a full well—or pouring from an empty cup?
Are you staying in a relationship out of love—or out of fear and obligation?
Are you thriving—or just surviving?
You are a woman of means? That means you get to pause, pray, and pivot.
You get to ask: “Is this God’s best for me?”
And if the answer is no… you get to start choosing you again.
Let’s stop calling it love when it’s actually codependency.
Let’s call it what it is, so we can heal at the root.
Let’s reclaim our peace, our voice and our freedom!
Yours truly in wisdom and grace,
Dr. Kathy