Expectations and Authenticity: Navigating Friendships, Joy and More featuring Dr. Rebekah Tennyson

In this episode of the Love, Laugh, Let it Go podcast, I hang out with Dr. Rebekah Tennyson, a clinical psychologist from the UK and an Enneagram 2 who loves music, coffee, pastries, and Disney movies. Even though Rebekah and I have never met, chatting with her feels just like catching up with an old friend.

We talk about the struggles women face when trying to take up space without being labeled "difficult." Rebekah shares her journey of doing what was expected of her and how she fit into those neat little boxes society loves. We dig into people-pleasing and how she’s working on breaking free from that habit.

Friendships come up a lot in our chat, too. We talk about how they evolve from childhood to adulthood and the importance of being intentional with our connections. Rebekah reminds us that some people are in our lives for a reason, a season, or forever, and keeping those relationships strong takes effort and communication.

As an Enneagram 2, Rebekah knows all about caring too much about what others think. She opens up about learning to sit with the discomfort of not being liked by everyone and finding self-acceptance. We also touch on joy and happiness, and how we shouldn’t feel guilty about feeling joyful.

We share a laugh about how wild it is to be adults with real responsibilities. Rebekah points out that it’s okay to cancel plans or not be your usual self without having to explain every detail. People aren’t entitled to know everything going on in your life. We also discuss the frustration of feeling like other people are allowed to do certain things, but you aren't.

One of my favorite parts of our chat is when Rebekah quotes Anne Lamott: "Expectations are resentments waiting to happen." We talk about the differences between expectations, hopes, and needs, and how managing them can help in our relationships.

Towards the end, we talk about therapy and then things get really silly. We had a blast, but just a heads up: proceed with caution because we go off the rails a bit.

Join us for an episode filled with laughs, deep insights, and a heartfelt conversation about living authentically and cherishing our friendships. You won't want to miss it!

Trigger Warning: Pregnancy and Miscarriage

Connect with Dr. Rebekah Tennyson on Instagram: @enneagrampsych 
Connect with Lindsey: @lovelaughletitgo