"The opposite of dead is not happy, it's alive. Love is about maximizing aliveness, not happiness." What if love wasn't meant to make you happy, but to make you whole? In this episode of Soul Talk, I sit down with Annie Lalla, world-renowned love coach and self-proclaimed Cartographer of Love, to explore what it truly means to love courageously, consciously, and completely. Annie's insights are revolutionary. With compassion and razor-sharp wisdom, she reveals how every relationship is a mirror, a gymnasium for the soul, a sacred space where our deepest wounds meet our highest potential. Together, we unpack the myths of "happily ever after," the patterns that keep us chasing familiar pain, and how to turn conflict into collaboration. She reminds us that real love isn't about avoiding discomfort, it's about expanding your capacity to feel, to grow, to stay alive ever after. From healing heartbreak to mastering the art of fighting fair, Annie guides us into the heart of emotional intimacy, where vulnerability becomes strength, and every rupture becomes a portal to deeper connection. This conversation is an invitation to reimagine love not as a fairytale, but as a spiritual practice. A journey of becoming more awake, more open, and more alive. Listen to this episode and discover how to break the cycle of emotional unavailability and attract real connection and also heal heartbreak and reopen your heart after betrayal. Timestamps:  (00:02:19) - From childhood mediator to world-class love coach. (00:04:00) - Does everyone have a soulmate? (00:05:12) - Healing heartbreak and rekindling belief in love. (00:09:22) - "Alive ever after" vs "happily ever after". (00:11:17) - Why we're attracted to the same emotional patterns. (00:14:18) - How your partner mirrors your parents. (00:18:11) - Breaking the cycle of emotional unavailability. (00:20:33) - The sacred dance of 'me' and 'we' in relationships. (00:23:16) - Why healthy fighting builds intimacy. (00:25:23) - How to fight well: turning conflict into collaboration. (00:29:46) - Managing emotional triggers and timeouts. (00:34:35) - When your partner won't take responsibility. (00:39:05) - How to know when it's time to "graduate" from a relationship. (00:41:49) - The power of radical vulnerability. (00:45:34) - The myths we believe about love and change. (00:48:47) - Secrets, truth, and harmony in relationships. (00:52:59) - Love and Money: the hidden link. Some Questions I Ask: What inspired you to become the "Cartographer of Love"? Does everyone truly have a soulmate, or is love only for a few? How can we open our h