Case Building: The Character Defect that Justifies Bad Behavior

“Let me explain why I acted like a lunatic.”
That’s the spirit behind case building — the sneaky habit of overexplaining the context of someone else’s behavior in hopes of making your own behavior look justified, reasonable, or at least understandable. The problem? It’s a trap.

In this episode of Worthy of Work, Stephanie Rivard breaks down the character defect of case building — a subtle but damaging pattern that keeps us from owning our behavior and growing in emotional maturity. With warmth, clarity, and a touch of humor, she exposes how this pattern:

• Uses storytelling to avoid self-responsibility

• Confuses emotional justification with emotional intelligence

• Keeps us stuck in a cycle of defensiveness, blame, and relational standoffs

• Reflects an old, childlike belief that “someone else started it, so I get a pass”

• Undermines true connection by shadowing our behavior with someone else’s flaws

Instead of building a case to justify your reactions, this episode invites you to consider:
🧠 What if you just described what you did — no extra context, no backstory, no justification?
😬 What would it feel like to sit with the discomfort of your own choices... and learn from them?
🙌 What happens when we own our behavior, no matter what the other person did first?

This is an empowering listen for anyone working through recovery, healing from codependency, or unlearning toxic communication habits. Whether you're in a tough relationship, navigating emotional landmines, or just trying to stop spiraling every time you're misunderstood — this one's for you.

🎧 Listen now to learn why the healthiest relationships are built on clarity, not cases.