When Love Stops Saving the Relationship: Presence, Self-Abandonment, and Starting Over
From The Angry Therapist Podcast by The Angry Therapist
June 1, 2026 · 23 min
About this episode
John Kim explores the themes of self-abandonment and emotional presence in relationships, discussing the difference between intensity and real love.
What if the thing you keep chasing isn’t actually better... just more familiar? In this solo Q&A episode, John Kim reflects on fantasy, gratitude, emotional presence, and the difference between intensity and real love. From surfing in Costa Rica to answering listener questions about confidence, breakups, infidelity, and self-abandonment in relationships, this episode explores what happens when you stop escaping yourself and start paying attention to what’s actually here. Key points covered: • Why we romanticize the past and overlook the present • The difference between intensity and consistency in love • How healthy relationships create clarity instead of confusion • What confidence actually comes from • Signs you may be abandoning yourself in a relationship • Whether couples can rebuild after infidelity If this episode helped you, send it to someone who may need to hear it. Follow, rate, and share the podcast to support the show. 🎙️ More about John: 📘 Pre order my new book, Love Hard On Purpose. Toss the blueprints. Build something honest. https://a.co/d/031PzkW4 John’s book publishing company: Soulprint https://www.soulprintmedia.co 📘 Read John’s book in progress Sh*t…
People in this episode
Host: John Kim
Topics covered
- relationships
- self-abandonment
- emotional presence
- infidelity
- confidence
- love
Keywords
- relationships
- self-abandonment
- infidelity
- confidence
- emotional presence
- love
- breakups
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Soulprint
Products: Love Hard On Purpose, Sh*t Your Therapist Would Never Tell You, Break Up. On Purpose
Places: Costa Rica
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