The Hidden Costs of High Achievement: A Guide to High Functioning Codependency with Terri Cole

The Hidden Costs of High Achievement: A Guide to High Functioning Codependency with Terri Cole

Author: Julie Solomon November 20, 2024 Duration: 49:53
In today's episode, I interview psychotherapist Terri Cole about high functioning codependency (HFC), a term Terri coined to describe high-achieving individuals who take on excessive responsibility for others, often at their own expense. Terri explains the impact of HFC, such as stress and strained relationships, and highlights the importance of setting boundaries and allowing others to handle their own issues. Terri offers practical advice for breaking the cycle, including mindfulness techniques and self-regulation strategies. We discuss the benefits of overcoming HFC, like improved energy and relationships. Terri also shares relatable examples and encourages small, manageable steps to start change. Be sure to check out the amazing resources, including Terri’s book and a starter kit for those looking to break free from HFC. More about Terri: Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist and global relationship and empowerment expert and the author of Boundary Boss and Too Much! For over two decades, Terri has worked with a diverse group of clients that includes everyone from stay-at-home moms to celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs. She has a gift for making complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable so that clients and students achieve sustainable change. She inspires over a million people weekly through her blog, social media platform, signature courses, and her popular podcast, The Terri Cole Show.  Liked this episode? Make sure to subscribe to our podcast and leave a review with your takeaways, this helps us create the exact content you want!  KEY POINTS:  00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:42 Meet Terry Cole: Expert on Codependency 01:51 Understanding High Functioning Codependency 05:45 Terry's Personal Journey and Insights 11:55 Traits of High Functioning Codependency 17:03 Challenges and Recovery 23:30 Setting Boundaries with Loved Ones 24:22 The Journey to Recovery 25:13 The Cost of Overfunctioning 26:18 The Real Flex: Resisting the Urge to Fix 26:58 Surrender and Acceptance 28:04 Recognizing High Functioning Codependency 28:40 Tools for Change 30:08 The Importance of Vulnerability 31:17 Living Life Fully Present 31:44 Practical Steps to Recovery 40:18 Family Dynamics and Delegation 42:45 Conclusion and Resources QUOTABLES: And really, you start to see how, if they just give themselves the gift of surrender—and truly seeing and loving people for who they are, nothing more, nothing less—they can allow themselves to experience life, relationships, and intimacy in a whole new way  - Julie Solomon I'm talking about things we do voluntarily—things we've automatically taken on as our job, even when they don’t really need to be. The first question is, do I have the bandwidth to do this without becoming resentful? And the second is, do I even want to do it? - Terri Cole GUEST RESOURCES: Check out Terri's Book, TOO MUCH: A Guide to Breaking the Cycle of High Functioning Codependency. ➡️ Follow Terri on Instagram RESOURCES: [HIGH LEVEL SUPPORT] Ready to Scale Your Business and Build a Legacy? Join the Luminary Waitlist Now! [GET MORE VISIBLE] Turn your messaging into a client-attracting machine. Grow your authority and drive sales in just 1 hour per week. Click here to get access to my new training!  [ORDER] my book or Audible, Get What You Want: How to Go From Unseen to Unstoppable so you can leverage the power of your own influence. ➡️Follow Julie on Instagram! MUST HAVES THIS MONTH: [MEMBERFUL] Start growing your audience into a thriving community and membership business at memberful.com/julie. 

For established entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators, there often comes a point where the work you deliver has evolved beyond the story you tell about it. Woman of Influence exists for that precise, pivotal moment. Hosted by brand strategist and best-selling author Julie Solomon, this weekly podcast is a deep, practical resource for aligning your public message with the private mastery you've cultivated. The conversation here moves beyond basic marketing tactics into the core of strategic personal branding-how you communicate your value, scale your influence with integrity, and build a business that truly reflects your current expertise. Since 2017, Julie has guided listeners through these nuanced challenges across more than 500 episodes, drawing from her own experience and that of other successful leaders. Each episode of this podcast feels like a focused coaching session, whether Julie is unpacking a specific framework or interviewing a guest about their real-world journey. You'll hear candid discussions on navigating visibility, pricing with confidence, refining a compelling offer, and leading from a place of authentic authority. It’s for those who are ready to close the gap between being excellent at their craft and being known for it, making Woman of Influence a trusted tool for meaningful business growth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Woman of Influence
Podcast Episodes
Why I’m Rebranding After 7 Years—and What’s Next [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:06
This episode marks a huge milestone—the official rebrand of this show from The Influencer Podcast to Woman of Influence. After seven and a half years, thousands of conversations, and an evolution in both my work and myse…
Unspoken Burnout: Realigning Your Business with Who You Are Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:30
If your business feels heavy—even though everything “looks” successful—you’re not broken, you’re just out of sync with your own evolution. In this solo episode, I dive into what I call unspoken burnout—the quiet misalign…
The Three Buyer Identities That Can Make or Break Your Sales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:24
In this solo episode, I’m bringing you behind the scenes for a private debrief of my live training, The Messaging Reset—because I know not everyone could join us live, and the energy was too good not to share! I walk you…
Decluttering, Alignment, and the Power of a Clear Message [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:57
In this episode, I sit down with my client and dear friend, Stacy Landholm, to talk about the powerful connection between decluttering your home and reclaiming peace in your life. Stacy shares how losing her mom sparked…
From Balance to Rhythms: How I Protect My Energy and Stay Aligned [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:27
I’m so excited to share this intimate Q&A episode with you! These are the kinds of questions I get asked most often inside my coaching containers, from close friends, and honestly—the ones I ask myself too. In this conve…
The Truth About Wealth-Building for Entrepreneurs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:16
In this episode, I’m joined by Nate Coughran, founder of Cookie Finance, for a powerful conversation about money, entrepreneurship, and financial freedom. Nate shares how his own journey led him to create Cookie Finance,…
When You Raise Your Standards, Everything Changes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:49
In this episode, I’m getting real about a truth that’s been rising to the surface for me as I step into my 41st year: your tolerance will always be met by the standard you set. Over the past year and a half, I’ve been ta…
Be Her Now: Leading from the Woman You’re Becoming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:40
In this special Summer Series Flip episode, I’m so excited to share a conversation I had on the Brilliant Balance podcast with the amazing Cherylanne Skolnicki. We talk all about the journey of becoming—how I moved from…
How I Stopped Over-Delivering and Started Converting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:21
In this special Summer Series Flip episode, I’m bringing you a powerful conversation from when I was a guest on Podcasting Made Simple with my friend Alex Sanfilippo. We dive into one of the biggest reasons content creat…