Father's Day can stir up complicated emotions, especially for those whose relationships with their fathers are marked by distance, hurt, or unmet needs. Whether navigating grief, confusion, or seeking clarity about father relationships, it's important to explore why these feelings are valid and how to honor your experience.


• It's okay to feel multiple emotions at once – grief, gratitude, resentment, and joy can coexist
• Don't diminish your pain or judge yourself for setting boundaries with fathers who hurt you
• Our biological need for parental love creates deep-rooted fears when that love seems conditional
• Two things can be true: loving your father as a fallible human AND acknowledging your hurt
• Journal prompts can help navigate complex father relationships: what would you say if you knew it would be heard?
• Consider how you might give yourself what you needed but didn't receive from your father
• Try writing letters – one to your father with unspoken truths, one to your younger self with words you needed
• Ask yourself "dear heart, what do you need today?" and try to provide that care for yourself

Resources

Loving What Is, Revised Edition: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life; The Revolutionary Process Called "The Work" by Byron Katie

Related episodes:

Episode 5 - Journaling

Episode 11 - Forgiveness and one way to get the apology you always wanted

Episode 41 - Answering a Listener Question about Navigating Difficult Relationships with Aging Parents

Episode 67 - Integrating the Essential Truth We Are Both Human and Divine

Ep 72: When Your Parent’s Best Wasn’t Enough: The Myth of Always Giving 100%

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