Are You Protecting a Relationship That Isn’t Real?

Be Unmessablewith: The Podcast hosted by Josselyne Herman-Saccio · Jan 20, 2026 · 16m

Here’s something that might sting a little. If you are constantly making excuses for someone’s behavior, you may be in love with your idea of them, not the actual person. In this episode of Be Unmessablewith the podcast, I’m talking about the subtle but exhausting habit of protecting relationships that are not real. Not just romantic relationships, but friendships, work dynamics, and family relationships where you are hiding parts of who you are in the name of keeping the peace.

When you hide yourself, it can feel like you are protecting the relationship, but what you are really doing is…