Imperfect Love

Imperfect Love

The messy road of life is difficult to navigate alone, and it’s often tough to figure out the next best step. Hosted by psychologist and author Dr. Carla Marie Manly, the Imperfect Love podcast sheds light on the complicated, sensitive problems that affect us all. Dr. Carla responds to listeners’ real-life questions with a mindfulness-based approach. She delivers quality, nourishing advice on finding love and happiness by learning to embrace life's imperfections. In supportive conversations with Dr. Carla, you’ll be inspired to cultivate inner joy and create the loving relationships you deserve. With her unique body-mind-spirit focus, she’ll help you create self-love and transform your challenges into growth opportunities. Each episode is an invitation to explore what does and doesn’t work for you. Collectively, the episodes will help you live the life you were meant to live—the life you want to live—right now. Looking to grow and change for the better? Discover and hone the skills that will bring you fulfillment and success. Explore the shifts that will help you create the life of your dreams. Increase your self-esteem as you let go of the fear and perfectionism that feed everything from anxiety and body image issues to people-pleasing. Get unstuck and gain confidence by turning negative messages into fuel for change. Feel the transformation that comes from loving your wonderful, imperfect self. Tired of unsatisfying love relationships? Learn how to attract “perfectly flawed” love that helps you feel seen and respected. Explore love’s highs and lows as you discover how to avoid pitfalls and build emotionally intimate relationships. Discover effective skills for cultivating boundaries, emotional intelligence (EQ), and communication skills to improve your dating life, marriage, or other romantic relationship. Delve into hot topics including narcissism, red flags, toxic patterns, sexuality, apologies, insecure attachment issues, situationships, conflict, trauma, and more. Looking for genuine, supportive friendships? Get the tools you need to create connections with people who understand, accept, and appreciate you. Learn how to let go of unhealthy friends and discover how to build friendships with people who will respect your boundaries and value you for who you are. Struggling with parenting, in-laws, siblings, or other family issues? Explore challenging family dynamics and attachment problems from multiple angles. Master communication strategies and discover how to shift dysfunctional family patterns with mindful love and empathy. Feeling burned out or unsatisfied at work? Investigate the problems that make work feel like a depressing chore. Discover the power of workplace EQ and the importance of work-life balance. Learn to use self-care to avoid burnout and feel passionate about your job. Yearning for respect, equality, and unconditional love? If you identify as a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community or other marginalized group and have been rejected because of who you are or who you love, you’ll find inclusivity and affirmation. Dr. Carla's platform is welcoming of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Above all, Imperfect Love creates a warm and accepting space for you to reconnect with your inherent goodness, wisdom, and spirituality. Discover the benefits of self-care and healthy mindset shifts to create positive patterns and internal abundance. Embrace effective stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, journaling, and breathwork to reduce anxiety, calm your mind, and take control of your emotions. Manifest the inner joy that allows you to be the very best version of yourself. Enjoy Imperfect Love at http://DrCarlaManly.com. Disclaimer: This podcast is purely educational and is not a replace for professional psychological support. In case of emergency, contact your nearest hospital or emergency hotline such as “911” (US), “999” (UK), or “112” (EU).

Episodes

May 2, 2025 48 mins

Do you know what magical action has the power to boost your mood, bolster your immune system, banish stress, lessen pain, and foster connection? If you guessed "laughter," you're on target. Research consistently shows that laughter truly is one of life's best medicines, yet our stress-filled lives tend to leave little space for self-care and the healing power that la...

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We often believe that our given family--the ones we are connected to by birth--should be our greatest friends and allies. And it's normal for us to expect our family members to love us and keep us safe. Yet, in real life, many people discover that negative family dynamics affect them in the most troubling ways. If this resonates, you may have experienced the deep pai...

Money. Hard work. Privilege. Inheritance. Entitlement. Motivation. Success. All of these words can bring up a host of thoughts and feelings. Some of them tend to have positive connotations, yet many of them are super-charged with negativity. Shows such as "Succession" have brought fresh attention to the realm of the uber wealthy and the dramatic flavor of issues such...

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Soul Statements: A Love-Filled Tool for Creating Healthy Communication and Deeper Intimacy

Do you feel like your partner doesn't hear you? Is communication a major stumbling block in your intimate relationships? From Dr. Carla’s experience and loads of research, she has found that communication s...

Do you feel like you're the victim of ageism? Or--whether you're 30, 40, 50, or beyond–that you are too old to make your dreams come true? In Dr. Carla's work with thousands of people (as well as her own life journey), she has found that fears about aging can creep into our minds and cause anxiety and immobilizing self-doubt. And, as the benefits of youth are overemp...

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How to Craft the Love Relationship of Your Dreams

Are you feeling stuck in a dead-end relationship? Do you want more in your romantic life but are afraid to let go of what you have? From a lack of sex or emotional intimacy to ongoing conflict, issues often arise in relationships that leave one or...

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Do you tend to procrastinate or have other habits that work against you? Do you want to have stronger willpower? As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Carla has found that most of us have at least a few hardwired habits that keep us from being our best selves and living our best lives. So, whether you're feeling defeated by broken resolutions or stressed by a habit that ke...

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Do you believe in miracles? Does the idea of manifestation seem real and within your reach, or does it sound more like an impossibility? Can a positive mindset make a powerful difference in helping your dreams come true? From my experience, I believe you can learn to manifest–to foster your potential and abundance–by tuning into your perso...

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Do you feel as if life is passing you by as you rush through one day after another, missing the glimmers that make it worthwhile? I've found that many people feel as if they are barely living – they wake up, work, eat, and sleep – a hum-drum cycle that is repeated joylessly day after day. And, if you add pressure, stress, anxiety–and more ...

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Are you hungering to discover your soulmate, twin flame, or a dream-come-true partner to be your lover and best friend? Do you struggle with finding a romantic partner who feels attractive, compatible, and real? If so, you're in the company of millions of souls around the world who yearn to find lasting–if naturally imperfect–love. What ar...

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Improve Your Body Image with Self-Compassion and Self-Love

When you look in the mirror, do you love the reflection you see, or do you pick parts of yourself to pieces–or even your entire physical being? Do you dislike–or even loathe–the body that is your home? In today's hypercritical, perfection-oriented ...

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Bring Lasting Love, Intimacy, and Joy into Your Romantic Relationship!


Romantic relationships! We love them, sometimes we hate them, and in many cases, we just put up with them. We are told that romance should be easy, but heart-connected relationships require loads of devotion and mindful ef...

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It's time to break free from fear and step into the power of your authentic self. Do you constantly read others to see if you're loved, safe, or seen? Do you feel anxious and emotionally compromised to the point where you feel unimportant, stuck, or chronically dissatisfied? We often settle for situations–and relationships–that work agains...

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Do you feel stressed and anxious more often than not? Could mindfulness be the key to feeling better? Do you wish you could find a few simple strategies to help you get off the hamster wheel of anxiety and find greater ease, balance, and joy? Dr. Carla Manly has found that many people feel chronically overwhelmed by the internal and external pressures–and expectation...

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Are you exhausted by chronic mental gymnastics, those anxiety-inducing, topsy-turvy cognitive gyrations that get in the way of what you want to be thinking and doing? Dr. Carla Manly has found that people are increasingly plagued by obsessive or negat...

Do you wrestle with feelings of being too dependent or--at the other end of the spectrum--overly independent? If you, or someone you love, struggles with finding the ideal balance between these two poles, you're not alone. Given society's tendency to foster the ideal of independence (or hyper-independence), many individuals, couples, and families struggle with discov...

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Do you look for hidden messages in dreams, oracle cards, or even tea leaves? If so, you’re not crazy and you’re surely not alone. It’s natural–and often very comforting–to gain “mystical” insights and assurances that help us navigate this wild journey of life. In fact, the art of studying dreams and other forms of psychological and spiritual analysis has been practiced by humans for thou...

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Have you ever felt truly and deeply alone? That you are completely isolated behind thick walls or an invisible shell–even when surrounded by a crowd of people or friends? Humans–like most other animals–thrive when they feel connected to others. So it makes sense that loneliness–which is very different from making a choice to spend time alone–negatively impacts physic...

No matter your age, gender, socioeconomic status, or other factors, parenting is no easy task. Yet we often expect ourselves to be the ideal, stress-free parents who know how to do it all easily and perfectly. Contrary to the images we see on social media and in the fairytale landscapes in our minds, parenting can be one of life’s most challenging journeys. And, all too often, just when ...

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Has your inner voice been quashed or silenced? Do you feel small or unseen due to the forces of your upbringing, relationships, or society? Do you wish you could take up space, speak your truth, and show up as your authentic self without fear or making apologies? Dr. Carla has found that many people have lost the courage–or never developed the ability–to use their au...

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