The shame of estrangement lives in all of us. You may not be estranged from anyone right now, but a strong likelihood exists that you may in the future. Does that surprise you?

When you consider that over 70 million people in the U.S. alone are estranged from at least one person, it’s no wonder that it’s far reaching. Estrangement doesn’t play favorites as it affects all levels of society.

A parent, child, sibling, close friend or relative, co-worker and every other relationship is at risk. And it’s often called the silent epidemic because of the shame they feel. I’ve known that shame and the emotional pain that ensues.

Shame can linger deep in your soul and affect all other relationships both personally and professionally. You’ll want to listen today to find out how to move past the shame of estrangement and experience healthy relationships.

Find the full transcript for this episode plus resources for women at Estrangement: Turning Pain into Peace at beckykolb.com/15.

Becky Kolb helps people with estranged relationships find peace and the ability to move forward from guilt & shame, learn to live with the relationship as it is, overcome a shredded self-esteem and develop boundaries and non-negotiables for healthy relationships. Contact Becky at www.beckykolb.com/contact

As one who is estranged from someone you love, do you wonder where God is in the relationship? Does he see your pain? Does he hear your prayers? Do you wonder why he doesn’t seem to care or lend any support to your broken heart?

I asked all those questions many times. I wondered if he even cared or if I should even bother him with my hurting heart since surely, he had bigger fish to fry than this.

And in that search and years of brokenness, I discovered that he was there all along, even when I didn’t feel or sense it. Today, I want to offer you hope and encouragement. He is there for you. He understands your pain because he experienced it too.

Do you wonder where God is in your estrangement? Let’s discover some truths and a new perspective in today’s episode.

Find the full transcript for this episode plus resources for women at Estrangement: Turning Pain into Peace at beckykolb.com/14.

Becky Kolb helps people with estranged relationships find peace and the ability to move forward from guilt & shame, learn to live with the relationship as it is, overcome a shredded self-esteem and develop boundaries and non-negotiables for healthy relationships. Contact Becky at www.beckykolb.com/contact

If you’ve been through a marriage breakup then you know that divorce and estrangement go hand in hand. Divorce is hard and complicated. Relationships suffer. People think divorce affects the two married partners and kids, but its tentacles reach much further.

That’s what I discovered in my divorce 30 years ago. No two divorces are the same. Breakups occur for a variety of reasons. What remains constant however is the effect on kids.

There is a scripture in the Bible where God says, “I hate divorce.” And I know why. It teaches people to hate, and it destroys relationships.

What I want to offer you today is tips on minimizing the negative impact on your kids. And how to minimize divorce and estrangement with those you love and care about.

You may look back at your divorce and wish you had overseen it differently. I sure do. Don’t beat yourself up. There’s hope.

Let’s talk more about this issue.

Find the full transcript for this episode plus resources for women at Estrangement: Turning Pain into Peace at beckykolb.com/13.

Becky Kolb helps people with estranged relationships find peace and the ability to move forward from guilt & shame, learn to live with the relationship as it is, overcome a shredded self-esteem and develop boundaries and non-negotiables for healthy relationships. Contact Becky at www.beckykolb.com/contact

Today’s episode is about mothers who have strained or estranged relationships with an adult child. A mother’s love is a different relationship than any other she may have in life. Whether you birthed or adopted your child, your love as a mother is fierce, protective, and unending.

If you are like me, you’ve experienced some rough patches throughout the rearing of your kids, and you may have rightful anger and even indignation about parts of their choices in life. But your love remained unconditionally. Because they are your children no matter what they have done in their past.

And that makes it even more difficult to deal with an adult child who has decided they don’t want you in their life anymore. It may be because of something you’ve done or not, but whatever the reason, it’s painful. But a mother’s love will not die.

Let’s dive into today’s episode to find out how to deal with an adult child’s rejection and your undying love and desire for connection with them.

Find the full transcript for this episode plus resources for women at Estrangement: Turning Pain into Peace at beckykolb.com/12.

Becky Kolb helps people with estranged relationships find peace and the ability to move forward from guilt & shame, learn to live with the relationship as it is, overcome a shredded self-esteem and develop boundaries and non-negotiables for healthy relationships. Contact Becky at www.beckykolb.com/contact

There’s always hope no matter what the situation. But that’s not easy to see or feel if you’ve been abandoned or rejected. It can seem so elusive at times and that’s why I love the scripture in the Bible that says God is always with us.

If we go to the depths of the sea he is there. If we go to the far ends of the earth, he’s there too. He is the one you always count on. The one who promises that he will never leave you. Do you find that hard to believe? I did.

I talk with people who have faced rejection and found that they were always the ones reaching out. They longed for connection and when it was ignored or rejected, the pain came flooding over them again. And I’ve talked with women who aborted a baby only to discover they could no longer have children. The despair was so great.

I feel your pain and I know what it’s like to lose hope. And I want to encourage you today. No matter what’s happened, you can have hope that won’t disappoint. Let’s dive in.

Find the full transcript for this episode plus resources for women at Estrangement: Turning Pain into Peace at beckykolb.com/11.

Becky Kolb helps people with estranged relationships find peace and the ability to move forward from guilt & shame, learn to live with the relationship as it is, overcome a shredded self-esteem and develop boundaries and non-negotiables for healthy relationships. Contact Becky at www.beckykolb.com/contact

Rejection is a painful emotion. Whether it’s the little girl on the playground who is overlooked or a dream job that slipped away, it’s hurtful. And its effects can be lasting.

When I first began thinking of this topic, I related it to estrangement. If you’ve been rejected in a relationship, you know the pain and triggers that can keep you from moving forward in life.

As a woman who has had a fair share of estrangement. I feel your pain. I know the depth of emotions and the negative self-talk that looms. And you feel as if its just you. None of your friends are experiencing this level of rejection. Or are they?

I’m learning that rejection is a universal issue. Its target isn’t just women but children, siblings, parents, grandparents, co-workers and well – everyone.

So how do you deal with this rejection? What mindset needs to shift? What behaviors can change so that you can live your life to the fullest without guilt and shame so that you can move on? I’ll share that with you today.

Find the full transcript for this episode plus resources for women at Estrangement: Turning Pain into Peace at beckykolb.com/10.

Becky Kolb helps people with estranged relationships find peace and the ability to move forward from guilt & shame, learn to live with the relationship as it is, overcome a shredded self-esteem and develop boundaries and non-negotiables for healthy relationships. Contact Becky at www.beckykolb.com/contact

Communication is the hallmark to good relationships, and it seems like it’s a lost art today, doesn’t it? All you must do is turn on the television or jump on social media for a minute and you can see the vitriol. Families have stopped talking to one another if they don’t agree completely on politics. It’s terribly sad.

As I look back on estrangement in my own life, I see a breakdown of communication along the way. You become so one-sided in your perspective that you can’t see the other side. Even if you disagree with the person, they are entitled to their opinion just as you are.

Women tell me they’ve been in situations where they don’t feel they can be themselves anymore. The very mention of something they believe in sets another off and away they go. I’ve seen posts on social media where people declare that if their audience is supporting their opposing candidate they will be unfriended.

Is it possible to revive the art of communication in this day and time? It is and I believe it’s a strong key to healing estranged relationships.

Listen in today for some shifts in perspective that will be helpful.

Find the full transcript for this episode plus resources for women at Estrangement: Turning Pain into Peace at beckykolb.com/9.

Becky Kolb helps people with estranged relationships find peace and the ability to move forward from guilt & shame, learn to live with the relationship as it is, overcome a shredded self-esteem and develop boundaries and non-negotiables for healthy relationships. Contact Becky at www.beckykolb.com/contact

When they won’t forgive – that person or people with whom you are estranged – what do you do? That’s a question I asked myself hundreds of times.

You want to move on. You’ve forgiven and you don’t understand when they won’t forgive you. How many times must you try? How hard do you have to pray? Do you feel as though you are serving a life sentence for something?

That’s exactly how I felt. I pleaded with God. But to no avail. Nothing changed and the estrangement went on for years. I moved in and out of emotions ranging from forgiveness to anger to bitterness to judging.

And then one day I discovered the answer. If this is something you struggle with too, you’ll want to stay tuned today as we talk about what to do when the people you love and care about won’t forgive you.

Find the full transcript for this episode plus resources for women at Estrangement: Turning Pain into Peace at beckykolb.com/8.

Becky Kolb helps people with estranged relationships find peace and the ability to move forward from guilt & shame, learn to live with the relationship as it is, overcome a shredded self-esteem and develop boundaries and non-negotiables for healthy relationships. Contact Becky at www.beckykolb.com/contact