Blog Posts

I’ve tried tons of things to help me improve my personal life, my relationships. Why is nothing working?
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

I’ve tried tons of things to help me improve my personal life, my relationships. Why is nothing working?

I had this too.

I spent WELL over $40k in the past decade, and way more than that in the past 15 years looking for answers. I was lucky that I grew up in a personal development household where investing into these things was seen as a healthy thing to do…but honestly, I was almost a little bit addicted. Always looking for that next fix…

…and yet, nothing really DID fix me, not fully.

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Why do I keep attracting the same type of person in my romantic relationships? 
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

Why do I keep attracting the same type of person in my romantic relationships? 

I hear it all the time from clients:

“I keep attracting emotionally unavailable women. They show interest in me initially and pursue me, but as soon as we get close or a real relationship starts to form, they start to lose interest and things fizzle out”.

“I keep attracting women who shut down when the going gets tough, and either they walk away, avoid hard conversations, get defensive, or throw it back in my face”.

“I keep attracting men who give me just breadcrumbs of affection and don’t give me what I really want and need…but I can’t seem to stop being attracted to them”.

“I keep attracting men who pursue me at the beginning and are super romantic, giving me flowers, taking me on dates, and doing everything that I want, but then I find out that they’re actually in a relationship with someone else - or they just disappear”.

These patterns that you keep seeing - the pattern of emotional unavailability, drama, stress, anxiety, feeling like you’re low priority for someone, feeling like you’re stuck in limbo, feeling like you’re on a rollercoaster of receiving hot and cold love from someone…

Where you’re constantly feeling anxious, you find yourself ruminating, thinking a lot, worrying, debating what to do, debating what to say, going back and forth…

Where you find yourself second-guessing yourself, doubting yourself, and wondering what’s the ‘right’ thing to do…

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I’ve tried tons of things to help me improve my personal life, my relationships. Why is nothing working?
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

I’ve tried tons of things to help me improve my personal life, my relationships. Why is nothing working?

I get it. I really, really do. This used to be me.

This is what I call the ‘scatter-gun approach’. Where we get sucked into all these magical silver bullet solutions that are apparently going to help us, and so we throw money at the problem, trusting it’ll fix us, fix the situation, and get us to where we want to get to.

And we DO want to find love. We DO want to find that special person, and to have that meaningful relationship. We do.

We just don't know if it’s going to actually happen for us. Because surely, by now, something should have worked?

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Why most dating and relationship advice you’ll see out there is garbage - and how I can help you unlock your full relationship potential
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

Why most dating and relationship advice you’ll see out there is garbage - and how I can help you unlock your full relationship potential

I discovered this the hard way. Both when I was single throughout my 20s and early 30s, and when I was both in my painful first engagement, trying desperately to figure out what the heck was happening that made me feel so bad. I was a wizard at looking for online support. Trust me.

As someone who had grown up reading most of the self-help books out there (I was 12 years old when I read Susan Jeffers ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway guide to love’), and having worked in behavioral science, I had tons of resources at my fingertips. When instagram became a thing, I was a pro at trawling through endless relationship and dating coaches, screenshotting their tidbits of advice, and passive aggressively sending them to my partner at the time trying to make things better (terrible). I got into podcasts, listening to ones aimed at women, aimed at men, both, and doing my best to arm myself with knowledge and wisdom that would help me find the One. I was hooked on reality TV shows, Sex and the City, and whatever else I could binge on that would help me understand ‘love’.

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The Successful Executive and Entrepreneur’s Achilles Heel: Why You're Single and How Behavioral Science Can Help You
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

The Successful Executive and Entrepreneur’s Achilles Heel: Why You're Single and How Behavioral Science Can Help You

Here's the truth, many successful executives, entrepreneurs, and go-getters find themselves single well into their 40s and 50s. It's a paradox, right? You've mastered the art of building something substantial in your work life, yet creating a fulfilling romantic partnership feels frustratingly elusive.

You work hard, you apply yourself. You’ve gone to therapy, listened to some podcasts, read a few books. You’ve heard about Attachment styles and love languages, you’ve watched some YouTube dating bloggers and you learned a lot from your ex partners. You’ve had some long-term relationships and you feel pretty experienced in the relationship world.

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Successful professionals, let's talk ROI: Why investing into your love life is a power move for your career</span>
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

Successful professionals, let's talk ROI: Why investing into your love life is a power move for your career

You’re a successful professional. You've spent your life working hard, achieving, go-getting, and being a good student of your career. You’ve invested into it, and invested into yourself.

Your 20s and 30s were a flurry of endless board meetings, deals, and sitting in offices with ever-increasingly better panoramic views. You also had a personal life that you thoroughly enjoyed: you travelled a lot, you saw the world, you had your adventures. You also achieved a heck of a lot of success. And honestly, whilst you would love to have achieved more (because, is it ever enough? ;)), you’re proud of yourself. You know you’re tenacious, hardworking, and still have a LOT ahead of you.

But lately, all of this feels a little…empty. You're a powerhouse at work, but your personal life has recently felt more and more like some sort of neglected side hustle. It’s not going too well. And it’s a bit…well, flat.

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Small pivots to create success - for yourself, your life, and your relationships - in just 30 minutes.
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

Small pivots to create success - for yourself, your life, and your relationships - in just 30 minutes.

determine the contents of the next 24 hours.

For me, this looks like starting each day with 3 things:

Subconscious mind reprogramming. I focus on healing my core wounds and embodying my new, fully healed, successfully in love way of being each morning. My clients do the same. We use subconscious mind hacks and ultra rapid techniques to achieve this in as little as 10-15 minutes a day.

Gratitude practices and embodying what I am excited for. Feeling that excitement.

Exercise and moving my body, breathing fresh air, and expelling any tension left over from the day before. I am blessed to live a stone's throw away from the beach, and to be smelling that sweet Mediterranean summer air these mornings. I look forward to this every day.

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What if I can’t change? A story to change your mind
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

What if I can’t change? A story to change your mind

So often I get approached by men and women in their 40s and 50s, wanting help with their relationships, but worried that they are too old to change.

The conversation usually goes something like this:

Them: “I’m stuck in a bit of a situation right now. I really want to find love, create that happy family/life for myself but I can’t seem to find my person. I think it’s because I’m working a lot and don’t have time for a partnership right now/anxious/insecure/caught up in a hot and cold dynamic with someone/living in a small city/not sure what I am doing etc etc.”

Me: “Got it. That sounds like the exact sort of situation I’m well versed in helping folks through. I understand - and I get it. The great news is, you can change this within as short as 3 months if you apply yourself and do the personal growth.”

Them: “I don’t know if it will work on me though…I’ve tried therapy/counselling before and it didn’t really have any impact. I’ve tried coaching before and it didn’t really change anything, though it made me more aware. I’m scared that I can’t change. And then I’m scared that if I do change, I won’t know who I am anymore…”

Does this sound familiar?

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Why Matchmaking alone won’t work for you. Or, why taking short-cuts with your love life is an awful idea.</span>
Relationship to Self, Relationship to Others Katarina Polonska Relationship to Self, Relationship to Others Katarina Polonska

Why Matchmaking alone won’t work for you. Or, why taking short-cuts with your love life is an awful idea.

One of the most depressing things that I hear on a nearly weekly basis is when potential clients tell me that they’d rather invest into a Matchmaker than work with a coach.

Second most depressing thing, is when people ask me when I’ll start doing my own matchmaking service. Heck, it’s the same thing as coaching, right?

Absolutely not.

In fact, it’s in wild opposition to coaching.

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Why most of your attempts to change, do self-development, therapy, and coaching won't work
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

Why most of your attempts to change, do self-development, therapy, and coaching won't work

Last week I wrote a post about how most of your attempts to do self development don’t and won’t work. I got a LOT of great feedback on it and folks asking for more information - so I thought I’d write a bigger post.

And it’s true. I stand by what I said.

Most of your interventions around personal development - whether it’s going to therapy, reading self-help books, working with a life coach, or whatever it might be - won’t work. Not long term.

Yes, you‘ll likely feel a buzz and sense of excitement at the initial changes. You’re doing something new. It’s cool. It’s exciting. You’ve got your mojo fired up and your motivation is high.

You show up with discipline at the early stages. You’re keen. You’re motivated.

And then… a few weeks down the line, you’re noticing yourself be a little bit less disciplined. Your energy is down a bit. You’re enthusiasm is dropping.

Before you know it, you’ve forgotten to do the very things you said you would do.

You’re slowly rolling back to square one - back to where you started.

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Why dating is a waste of time
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

Why dating is a waste of time

Dating is a waste of time.

If you’re a successful, smart, ambitious single executive or entrepreneur - it’s a waste of time.

And I say that, as a relationship coach who helps these folks - men and women - typically between 35 - 55 years old - to find healthy, secure, meaningful love.

Yes, dating is a waste of time.

When I hear people say: ‘Dating is just a numbers game’, and ‘you have to just keep putting yourself out there and eventually you’ll find your person’, all I hear is….

Avoidance. And irresponsibility.

I learned this the hard way.

When I was 32, everything in my life imploded from within.

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Why do Executives need Relationship Coaching?
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

Why do Executives need Relationship Coaching?

It’s the week of my Live Masterclass (this Thursday, 5.30pm GMT) and we still have a handful of places left - so sign up here

I’ll be walking you through the fundamentals of my science-based 3 phase process (that I use to teach CEOs, Executives, Hollywood Film Directors, Philanthropists, and HNWIs) on how to become a Master at your personal relationships in a proven, systematic, and structured way.

I’m a nerd at heart and passionate about getting clients results - so trust me on this when I say, you will regret missing it. I’m also bored of the watered down, superficial, nonsensical advice we get in society about relationships, so you can expect something MUCH more robust in this one hour training.

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“It’ll just work out, right?” Wrong: Why you’re going to fail if you’re just waiting for things to ‘work out’ for you.&nbsp;
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

“It’ll just work out, right?” Wrong: Why you’re going to fail if you’re just waiting for things to ‘work out’ for you. 

Ask anyone out there what the most important things in their life are, and they’re likely going to tell you it’s their wife/husband and kids. If they’re single, ask them what they want most in life, and they’re likely going to tell you that it’s finding their life partner.

Most people, honestly most people on this planet, including virtually everyone I speak to, admit that they spend their lives yearning for that soulmate connection. That type of deep seated, genuine, nourishing love where you feel safe with your partner, you feel free to be yourself, and free to relax knowing that you’ve found them.

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“Am I being unreasonable? Am I asking for too much?” Why you can have it all.
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

“Am I being unreasonable? Am I asking for too much?” Why you can have it all.

Do you ever find yourself wondering:

“Am I being unreasonable?”

“Am I asking for too much?”

“Are my expectations too high?

“Am I too demanding?”

“Do I need to calm down?”

“Do I need to settle?”

And within that, is there a heavy, looming sense of self-doubt? Of self-doubt, perhaps some self-criticism coming out as a frustration with yourself, an irritation, a sense of, ‘why can’t I just figure this out? What’s wrong with me? Why am I always the one with problems in this part of my life?’

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10 Ways to Create Healthy Lov</a>e
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

10 Ways to Create Healthy Love

It’s the 15th January 2024, and that means it’s my birthday.

And as I write this, I already know that this year feels very different to my last.

Something feels quite, quite different.

Aside from the fact that many things in my life have changed in the past 12 months, there’s a more profound change I feel.

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Can you keep your new year resolutions?
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

Can you keep your new year resolutions?

We’re in week 2 of 2024.

I’m so curious: how is it going for you?

Are you still full of joy and excitement, eager to tackle your goals, wake up at the crack of dawn to get going, and zoom through everything you want to get done?

Or have you slowly reverted back to your old life? Your normal life? Your December 2023 self, as if nothing had really changed? (Because in many ways, it hasn’t?)

Have your resolutions gradually fallen by the wayside? The shiny feeling of 2024 worn off already?

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2024 is here. What are you calling in?
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

2024 is here. What are you calling in?

So here we have it. 2024 is here.

As I write, on the 2nd of January, 2024, I feel a delicious sense of possibility. Openness. Expansion. A sense of wonder at what will come. With the whole year ahead of us, each month a new page that remains yet unwritten, we welcome in a clean slate, a fresh start.

Whilst I’m not a huge believer in New Year Resolutions, recognizing how frequently we fail to keep them and how unproductive that subsequent shame spiral is, I am a big believer in fresh starts. And what is a new year, if not a beautiful, long opportunity for a fresh start?

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What to do if you’re feeling alone this Christmas? 5 ways to feel better
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

What to do if you’re feeling alone this Christmas? 5 ways to feel better

Christmas is meant to be a time filled with festivities, love, and lots of people around you. Whether it’s family, friends, colleagues at work parties or cosying up with your partner. But for many of you, this just isn’t the case.

Some of you are physically isolated, either unable to be with loved ones, or don’t have loved ones to spend it with. Some of you are with loved ones, but feel alone - despite all the Hallmark merriment outside. And I don’t know what is worse, really. I’ve spent Christmassess feeling both.

It can be a time of intense pressure and isolation, intermingled into a strange blur of feelings.

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“It’s lonely at the top” (Part 2)
Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska Relationship to Others, Relationship to Self Katarina Polonska

“It’s lonely at the top” (Part 2)

Your standards are higher than the average

You recognise that you bring a lot to the table and you expect the same from a partner. You look after yourself, you maintain your appearance, you keep abreast of socio-political issues, and have good manners. You’re also well-travelled, well-educated, have a strong network, and of course, an excellent career. You know you can always do more and there’s much more of the ladder to climb, but you recognise that you are a catch.

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