I could listen to this lady for days! She's so grounded and generous with her wisdom. If you're feeling down and out or uncertain about your chosen career, sit back and listen.

If you'd like to connect with Sharon, she's on FB and IG

If you see this before Friday the 13th, there's still time to join my masterclass PA burnout group coaching. Reach out via email, hope.cook@gmail.com or go to my site!

If you'd like to be a guest on my podcast or vice versa, reach out via email, hope.cook@gmail.com

If you'd like to get periodic updates about my upcoming book on burnout, or if you'd like to download my free mini book on burnout, sign up on my website!

How can we make the best choice in a situation? What happens if you don't? How to handle regret and how to live life so it's less likely to happen. What if you really screw up, can you repair the damage? In this honest episode (not that the others aren't honest!) I share some of the questions I struggle with. How do I live a life that matters?

Oh! And I wanted to invite you to consider joining my group coaching:

• Starts on 9/13/24 at noon Eastern time
• One hour a week on Zoom
• You'll learn tools to help heal from burnout and chronic stress as well as map out your next chapter, all in a safe, supportive small group setting with other PAs
• Eight weeks total, $149
• Go to my ⁠website⁠ to sign up

My book on healing burnout will be out in 2025 (editing now!!); if you're interested in being on my advanced reader team, or would like a few sneak peeks beforehand, shoot me an email, hope.cook@gmail.com or sign up for any of my free resources on my ⁠website⁠

If you want to have me as a speaker or podcast guest or collaborate with me, use the email above to connect!

In this eye-opening interview with Amy Story, a PA who's transitioned out of clinical medicine into a very satisfying career with various healthcare technology companies, you'll learn how to reframe what you currently do as a PA into skills you can use in almost any job. I had no idea there were PAs doing what Amy's done, and she generously shared so many valuable pearls. I had a page of notes!

Key points:

1. Ask yourself if you can see yourself doing this in ten years?  If you can’t, go on a journey of “what’s out there?”

2. You know yourself better than anyone.  Are you numb?  Itching to grow and change?  Have you lost your sense of self? Does your internal temperament match with what you’re doing day to day?  

3. You can stay stuck or figure out a way out.  Acknowledging that you have agency is empowering and will give you a different mindset 

4. When you’re considering what to do next, look at the things that drive you crazy at work and that you think you’d be well suited to handle.  (processes, patient experience, communications etc)

5. Build your network, which is really just a community of people you talk to.  

6. When you read a job description, spend time translating all the skills listed into what you already do as a clinician.  

7. Once you make a career transition, know that you’ll have to change how you approach this job.  Give yourself grace to ease into a new role and a new mindset.  

8. Know yourself.  Don’t accommodate yourself to fit into a mold.  What’s in your best interest.  

9. When you first start out  you might have to take something that’s not the perfect role, but allows you to utilize your skills you’re good at and enjoy, then you can grow from there

If you'd like to be a podcast guest or want to discuss sponsorships or speaking engagements, reach out via email, hope.cook@gmail.com

If you can't seem to move forward on your path (or if you don't even have a path), start here.  I explain how past experiences can still play out decades later in your current life and how your thoughts about a situation get put on "rewind and repeat" in your head, keeping you stuck.  Plus, I share my own (unhelpful) thoughts after my hubby made a comment last night and explain how I'm trying to let it go.  

Want to talk more specifically about your thoughts and how they might be keeping you bogged down?  Let's have a complimentary session!  Shoot me an email at hope.cook@gmail.com or visit my website to learn more:  www.coachhopecook.com

I love how Michele not only shares her story of burnout, she tells us exactly what she does now to take care of her mind and body to stay healthy.  She gives practical, easy tips we could all benefit from implementing if we're feeling overwhelmed or simply want to prevent burnout.  

Plus, for those of you who are interested in podcasting or being a speaker on podcasts, you'll be fascinated by Michele's new company, QSTR.io  

For show notes and Michele's links, go to www.coachhopecook.com

If you'd like to set up a complimentary 30-60 minute session to talk about whatever is on your mind, email me at hope.cook@gmail.com or find me on IG @coachhopecook

We can't be "on" all the time.  We all have days or weeks where we find ourselves without wind in our sails.  It can feel like this stage will last forever.  It won't.  Here's what to do if you find yourself there.  (show notes www.coachhopecook.com)

Been in the Doldrums for far too long?  Let's talk!  Email me at hope.cook@gmail.com for a complimentary 30-60min discovery call.  

Helen King got a divorce, was diagnosed with breast cancer, and began a lonely journey through cancer treatments during a global pandemic.  She shares how she went from hopeless to discovering a new way to live.  She began to pay attention to what gave her life a sense of meaning and what detracted from her joy.  One day, she had an ah-ha moment at a redlight, realizing it was time to allow herself to thrive.  Helen now has a podcast called C Word Radio (C is for cancer), and has ultimately transformed her life.  

How often do you find yourself saying, "I just don't know what to do" or maybe you find yourself thinking in hindsight, "I knew I shouldn't trust him" or "I knew I shouldn't take that job".  This episode teaches how to know which path you should take based on your own internal body compass.  I also address how to know when you're making a choice based on societal norms.  I share my own struggle with my Inner Manager, Helga, who forces me to be polite and not rock the boat.  

Want to dig deeper and chart a new path going forward?  I'm taking new clients, so reach out, and let's talk!  You can find me on IG and FB @coachhopecook or email me at hope.cook@gmail.com  Website with more info is www.coachhopecook.com

Courtney Vickery is a local multi-passionate mom of two.  During COVID she chose to leave her job as a dietician with a hospital wellness center to start her own intuitive eating coaching business, working 1:1 with clients as a food therapist.   She also teaches at a local university and has a side business doing website design and branding!  Courtney explains how she periodically does an energy audit to determine which activities need to stay and which ones need to go.  For those of you who have a lot of balls in the air, you'll relate to Courtney!  I loved her honesty and courage as she talked about growing up with an eating disorder and how this helped chart her path to where she is today!

Whether you're stuck in a bad job, a bad relationship, or just bored to tears with your current life, you'll go through 4 distinct phases--from nose-to-the-ground surviving to dreaming of something different to taking action, and finally to the promised land.  I'll share how a frigid weekend of backpacking reminded me of what to expect during each of these phases.  No matter where you are in your life's journey, this quick episode will encourage you not to give up!

If you want help navigating your journey, reach out and we'll meet up on zoom or in person to chat!  The first chat is free! 

I met Elizabeth Heise 6 months ago and knew immediately I wanted her as a friend.  She's a witty badass lawyer who writes a weekly story I look forward to reading.  She has kids older than mine who are still alive and well, which makes her an expert in my eyes.  Listen to our chat about how she decided to leave law and how she discovered writing and now coaching!

If you're curious about whether or not life coaching is something that could help you discover more joy and aliveness, shoot me a DM @coachhopecook or come to my website to schedule a free mini-session! 

Have you ever noticed how if you're scattered and cluttered in one area of your life (your refrigerator or car for example), this might mirror an area of your life where you have scattered relationships or ideas.  Or maybe your life is cluttered with unfinished projects and dreams which is reflected in your bathroom cabinets.  This simple coaching tool can be done in a few minutes but will open your eyes to areas of your life that could benefit from small changes.  

If you'd like to schedule your own private coaching session, click here for a free discovery call!  For more on my services and to see all the goodies, go to www.coachhopecook.com

This interview felt more like two friends and medical professionals sitting down to coffee than a podcast interview.  We talked about our Wayfinder coaching program we're in, we chatted about our burnout stories (and Jillian turned the mic back on me to ask what my own pivots looked like) and we demonstrated a coaching tool on Jillian's thought that she didn't have enough money to sign up for a coaching program.  

If you're not on the path you want to be on, but lost the map and aren't sure what to do next, schedule a free mini coaching session to see if we're a good fit and to get a taste of coaching!  Visit www.coachhopecook.com for more info on other packages!

Take-home points from the interview:

1. Burnout signs may include apathy, not caring as much about doing a good job or disordered eating, physical complaints like not sleeping or headaches or anxiety.
2. Grinding through/showing grit is a societal expectation.  Burnout is your Essential Self begging you to rest and recover
3. In order to take time off, you'll come up against a lot of beliefs and thoughts about not being able to afford to take the time off.  It's important to dissect these beliefs and see what's true and what's a thought error.  Byron Katie has a method called "The Work" that helps you question your thoughts.
4. Identify your support systems at work and home.  Is your job a "people first" type job, or is it all about churning out productivity?
5. Use therapists or coaches to help you see other options because when you're in the midst of burnout, your brain can't come up with any viable options to get you over the hump.
6. When to consider therapy: If you've had trauma or grief and haven't addressed it.  Consider coaching if you're functioning but want to function better- we'll teach you the tools for forward momentum
7. Learning how to feel things in your body is huge because it allows you to identify which thoughts are helpful and which thoughts are causing pain
8. Often our stories about ourselves aren't embedded in reality.  We feel shame based on false beliefs.  Like, "I'll be fired/perceived as weak" if I admit I'm burned out.

Kevin MD article:  Recovering from Burnout, a permission to pivot 

Books mentioned:  The Way of Integrity and Finding your Own North Star (both by Martha Beck)

Byron Katie "The Work" (these are the questions we refer to in the session)

Dr. Jillian Rigert's website

First episode with Dr. Jillian Rigert

When I started my podcast, the idea was to share stories from women who'd done brave things, some had crazy career pivots, some had clawed their way back from the edge of disaster, others had made scary leaps into the unknown. What I didn't realize was that each woman, while she shared her words of wisdom, was mentoring me in the process. The podcast helped give me the courage to step outside my comfort zone and to gather enough strength and courage to make it through burnout. This podcast then morphed into helping others find their way through the dark and scary forest of burnout.

Join me as we celebrate my 200th episode!

If you liked what you heard and want help with your own burnout journey,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ I'd love to talk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I'm writing a book on how to heal from burnout (due out 1/25), and I have a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠group coachin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠g starting mid-August after my wild kids go back to school.

If you'd like to be a podcast guest or want to discuss sponsorships or speaking engagements, reach out via email, hope.cook@gmail.com

If your body parts and fatigue could talk to you, what would they say?  If you had a permission slip to spend an entire day resting, would you take it?  If you have kids, do you want to teach them to ignore their body's signals and power through??  

Maybe you know your body is exhausted, your mind drained and depleted, but unsure what to do about it?  Let's chat!  Schedule a free mini life coaching session with me!  https://www.coachhopecook.com/workwithhope

I loved my interview with local mom, Jessie Stokes.  How does a French major end up with a zero-waste store?  Jessie explains how the stars aligned when she developed an interest in gardening, eating healthy, and zero waste products.  This story will give hope to those of you who have no idea what your next step should be.  Jessie makes following your curiosity and starting a business sound easy and fun ("you can google how to do anything!") instead of stress-inducing.  

Feeling unhappy in one or more areas of your life?  Let's get together and figure out your next step!  Until the end of Feb, I'm offering free mini sessions to work on one problem.  Go to https://www.coachhopecook.com/workwithhope to schedule your discovery call.  

In this episode, I review how issues with food (are you a hoarder, a stingy eater, an overeater) and money (over or under-spender, a buyer of cheap stuff that doesn't last or high-quality stuff) and time (do you nitpick minutes the same way you do calories?) can all culminate into a big roadblock.  As always, I'll share my own roadblocks with each of these areas!

Baylee truly didn't know what she'd end up doing for a career, so after switching college majors several times, she decided to pick religion.  Ironically, God had a different plan for her and it involved sugar cookies, thousands and thousands of them!

Wondering how you can discover what lights you up?  Missing a sense of purpose in your life?  You might benefit from a life coach like me!  Let's set up a time to talk and I'll give you a sense of what life coaching is like.  Click here for a free discovery call.  

Follow me on Instagram or FB @coachhopecook

Have you ever had the thought that this day in history is never happening again?  This happened to me while writing today's date in my journal.  I was inspired to go back and look for my journal from 1/1/11 and to think about how I wanted my entry to look on 3/3/33 (I'll be 55, whoa Nelly!)

If you need a perspective shift and a wide-lens view of life, this episode is for you!  Skip this episode if you prefer to keep your head down and not live your life on purpose.  

Reach out!  Let's chat and see if you're a good fit for my life coaching.  Or, apply today for next month's group coaching (12 weeks with 4-7 other women)--here's the link to sign up for your free discovery call, go to  https://www.coachhopecook.com/workwithhope

Dr. Jillian Rigert had it all, or so it seemed.  She'd completed dental school, started medical school for oral surgery, and she was a captain in the airforce.  But underneath the surface, she struggled with anorexia, depression, and suicidal thoughts.  Dr. Rigert's courageous journey will have you asking yourself how societal pressures have played a role in your own life and whether or not you're in alignment with your essential self.  She tells us how she let go of her identity as an oral surgery resident and airforce captain and started finally making choices that felt right deep inside.

1. Societal pressure can trap us into being terrified to pivot.  .  Pay attention to those feelings of something not being a good fit
2. Be careful of Arrival Fallacy--keeping your head down and thinking one day you'll be happy when x, y, or z happens.  
3. Notice if your mind is telling you there are only two options, A or B, especially if neither one is healthy or good for you.  This is your mind making stuff up and tricking you into thinking the situation is hopeless
4. When you're so afraid of being a disappointment to people that you'd take your own life, or suffer in some other way, this is a red flag to get help.
5. We put an insane value on professions and degrees, even when they trump our health and mental well-being.  These jobs and titles are part of our identity and we won't let go of these even if our health and lives are at stake
6. Sit with decisions all on your own.  If no one ever knew what you decided, if you weren't doing it for validation, what does your heart tell you to do?

Jillian's website: https://www.jillianrigertcoaching.com/ has excellent blog posts talking more about her journey, the arrival fallacy, listening to your essential self, and many others.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-rigert/

Have you always wondered what manifesting really means or been curious about what exactly a mantra is?  Maybe you've heard of vision boards but wasn't sure if it was too woo-woo for you to try. I'll break all these things down for you and give you examples from my life for each one.  *I do use a few potty words in this episode including "balls"--as it relates to courage :)

If you're feeling stuck or unsure which direction you want to go in life, reach out and we'll meet up on zoom for a free chat!  Here's the link!

Or, find me on IG @coachhopecook  or facebook @coachhopecook

You can also do it old school by emailing me hope.cook@gmail.com

This isn't just a story of entrepreneurial success.  Jennie Lasater, founder of Lice Ladies, and her co-owner, Molly Brandenberger, chat with me about their life-long friendship which started in a girl pop band (they even performed with New Kids on the Block!!) and culminated in Jennie escaping a near-death experience with her abusive husband.  Jenny chose not to let her past define her and used her anger to fuel her determination to build a successful business.  A self-described science nerd, she used her degree in science and her fascination with headlice to create a safe and effective method of treatment.  The Lice Ladies even have a product line on Amazon!  

Amazon products from Liceladies

website www.liceladies.com

Email info@liceladiesatlanta.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lice-Ladies-Atlanta

IG: https://www.instagram.com/liceladies/

TikTok:@liceladiesatlanta

If you're not happy in your own life, ask yourself why you continue to stay stuck.  If you need help packing your bags and moving out of "Stuckville", consider hiring a life coach (me!).  To schedule your free 30 minute chat, click here.  We'll see where you are now in life and where you'd like to be and decide if we're a good fit.  This is your life speaking to you, it's time to make some changes!

A different spin on new year planning: What would your plan for 2022 look like if you a) let it be easy b) accepted imperfection and just tried something for the heck of it c) knew that you could pivot at any point d) asked your future (7 years-older) self what she'd like for you to focus on this year?

Ready to take your life to the next level with life coaching?  Let's see if we're a good fit!  Schedule your free 30-minute discovery call by clicking here, or send me an email hope.cook@gmail.com or DM me @coachhopecook

Tracy helps other working moms with financial wellness, helping them reconnect to their intuition on what matters most in each life category (money, energy, and time).  

1. Be careful with the false thinking of "it's easier if I just do it myself".  Your body will eventually break down or get sick if you keep saying yes to more and more.
2. Ask yourself if you're sacrificing your health, your relationships, and your joy at the altar of your career
3. If contemplating a job change, don't focus on the money you're losing out on, focus instead on what your life might look like with regards to health, sanity, and family life if your job stress were eliminated from the equation
4. Ask who are you and what matters most.  Be intentional in how you allocate your time, money, and energy.
5. Think of money as energy instead of paper currency.  By taking control of how you spend your money, you're putting yourself back in the driver's seat.  Where do you want to put your energy? What matters most?  Is it travel?  A clean house?  It's not about having more money, it's about having more choices.
6. Listen to your body and tune into your intuition.  You get to choose your future, you're not a victim of your circumstances.  You may have to have hard conversations and make difficult choices, but you're still the master of your own life.  You are the only expert on you, so stop doubting your intuition.

Tracy works with women on financial wellness coaching.  To find out more:

Fulfilled, the Podcast

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mrstracybingaman/

If you'd like more Hope, come on over to www.coachhopecook.com to read articles, get tips, and find out about coaching options! 

#199: I’ll explain how to use my favorite tool to help you make confident decisions. You already have answers inside, but your fear-based brain gets in the way, arguing why you “should” choose x,or z. The heart, however, knows what’s truly best. How do you discern the difference in the midst of overwhelm or burnout? I’ll demo this tool. This, my listeners, is a game changer in your journey. It changed my life, no joke.

If you liked what you heard and want help with your own burnout journey,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ I'd love to talk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I'm writing a book on how to heal from burnout (due out 1/25), and I have a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠group coachin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠g starting mid-August after my wild kids go back to school.

If you'd like to be a podcast guest or want to discuss sponsorships or speaking engagements, reach out via email, hope.cook@gmail.com

If you're a mom who puts herself last or if you're a human giver, this episode will resonate.  I offer a list of ways you can determine if you have self-worth issues and some quick tips to implement today to help you move past this.  

The "Spoil Me" challenge starts next week!  DM me if you'd like to participate! @coachhopecook

Click here to get your free Guide to Hacking the Life Machine on my website!

Even if you don't have a religious bone in your body, you won't want to miss this episode.  We're all here with various gifts and talents to be used while we're alive.  How the heck do you figure out what you're supposed to be doing?  What if that "something" no longer feels right?  How do you know it's time to pivot?  Laura shares her own journey from music history to ministry with honesty about all the ups and downs of feeling pulled towards one thing and having it lead to a dead-end or change into a new calling.  

Show notes and more info on how to work with me (Hope!) at www.coachhopecook.com

Instagram handle: coachhopecook

It's time!  Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and learn more about Hope and how this whole podcasting thing works.  Hear how her family is making it work financially (or not), hear what her kids think about it and how it's affected her relationships.  Why am I writing in third person?  Because it makes it sound like I have a team.  Spoiler alert:  There's no team, just moi:)  Reach out if you'd like to explore individual or group coaching, we'll schedule a free discovery call!  

Website:  www.coachhopecook.com or DM me on Instagram @coachhopecook or email hope.cook@gmail.com

Meg Leddy is a mom, wife, Physician Assistant in melanoma plastic surgery, and podcaster (host of the podcast:  Burnout, What I Have Learned So Far with Meg Leddy  For those of you struggling with burnout in your jobs, this is the episode for you!  You'll walk away feeling like you've got this!

Take home points:

1. Burnout usually isn’t a one-time thing, it happens over and over again.  Be on the lookout for the signs: losing sleep, waking at 2 am,reflux or other physical problems, being unusually forgetful or distracted.  Remember, someone can appear to have it all figured out but still be burned out.
2. Tips: Meg uses Brene Brown's suggestion before falling asleep at night by reminding herself "I am enough, what I did today is enough."
3. Remind yourself constantly, "The Universe has my back".  This helps you not feel like you have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders and reminds you You don’t get to choose the outcome in life, it’s not all under your control.
4. Make the choice to match your schedule to your intentions.  Choose your intentions based on your core values (click here to see the Brene Brown exercise Meg used).  Core values are like your compass, they determine where you go in life.
5. Your job doesn’t define you.  If every piece of you is defined by your job, you’ll burn out.  Bring all those other pieces back into who you are.  Look at who you are outside of work.  We’re not one-dimensional beings.  You can have a slash career.  This can give us more balance and we’ll be better at our jobs.
6. If you’re self-identifying as burned out, there’s help, there’s something better out there.  Take time. Stop, take time to heal.  Burnout eventually affects your health if you don’t get help.

Gratitude can seem overrated.  I mean, who's really grateful for cellulite and chunky thighs?  Are you really going to be grateful for a career setback?  What about times when you're bickering with your spouse?  This episode doesn't sugar-coat disappointments, but I'll share how I've managed to (sometimes) see these things with a grateful heart.  

I'd love to hear from y'all!  hope.cook@gmail.com or www.coachhopecook.com

Shelley Kovar was in the same job in a small town in Michigan for 25 years when she began getting asked to help with social media marketing by local small business owners.  Shelley didn't know a lot about Facebook, but she decided to say "yes!" and figure it out as she went.  Her inspiring story proves you can branch out and try new things and you can be successful in any size community.  

Take-Home Points!

• Pay attention when multiple people start asking you for your advice or for you to do something for them, this means  there’s a need in the market and it means they believe you’re good at it
• Even in a small town you can be an entrepreneur and grow a business.  The key is to build the know, like, and trust factor.  Nurture it.  Look for a need and fill it.
• When you need to uplevel but you don't have teachers around you to help you grow, invest in yourself.  Sign up for a course or class.  You can’t get to where you want to go if you don’t have people around you to teach and push you to grow.
• Use discomfort to make you grow or light a fire under your bum.
• You ARE the company and you need to invest back in the company.   Being around high-energy people will fill your cup up.  Look at it as continuing education.  Invest in yourself.  Seek out positive podcasts, books, and mentors
• Work smarter, not harder (batch your posts, batch your cooking)
• You don’t have to be everyone’s perfect person, when you make a  mistake, you’re your biggest critic.  Instead, use the discomfort of imperfection to light a fire =under your bum to make you grow.  Don't be afraid of C+ work

In this episode, I share how my thoughts have been dictating my beliefs and actions.  It took coaching others to help me see the plank in my own eye (any other childhood Sunday school scholars remember this reference?).  If you have a sucky area of your life and you've been worrying about it, moaning about it, or cursing about it, this episode is for you!

www.coachhopecook.com 

DM me on Instagram (coachhopecook) or send me an email at hope.cook@gmail.com to let me know if you enjoyed this episode!

My friend Heather McElroy shares her story of being a teenager without a supportive home life who craved a future different from her parents.  Unlike many of my guests, Heather made the decision at a young age to rewrite her script and chart a different path.  

Have you ever felt an inexplicable pull towards something different from the path you were on?  

send me a DM @coachhopecook or email me at hope.cook@gmail.com

New website coming soon!  

In this episode, I discuss Martha Beck's definition of phase 1 of the change cycle, something we all go through many times in our lives.  Being stuck is one way to describe being in this state of immobility and formation.  I'll reveal why being stuck is so important and necessary in the transition to the new you.  

How are you feeling stuck right now?  When was the last time you went through a transition to a new chapter or a new version of you? 

DM me @coachhopecook or email me at hope.cook@gmail.com

 Andree Terry didn't let inexperience stop her in her tracts.  She recognized a gap in the market for a line of skincare products safe for the fragile skin of cancer patients, so she set off on a journey of learning how to create products from industry giants like Loreal and Clairol.  She traveled to Egypt and Europe, learning about ancient techniques and skincare ingredients used for centuries.  

Andree's products were so successful, they were chosen as one of the elite gifts in swag bags for the Grammy's and are now shipped all over the country.    

What is lack of experience keeping YOU from doing/trying?  Send me a DM and let me know!  @coachhopecook

www.hopethepa.com

Tajuana is one of the easiest people to talk to, she made it seem like we’d known each other forever. If you’re feeling stuck, her zen vibe and can-do attitude will pull you out of your rut on this episode. Tijuana’s ⁠FB link ⁠ and her ⁠email⁠

Key points:

1. Give when you’re able, inspire when you can.  Serving others can give  you a sense of purpose.  
2. Burnout can look like being Irritable, not wanting to meet the day, not being fully present in your life, and physical symptoms like being achy and inflamed.  
3. Try mixing iti up with doing lots of different things both for your career and otherwise. . Burnout is lower in clinicians who work more than one job.  
4. Add in creativity, it engages you in a new way.   
5. Listen to those inner pulls for each season of life.  Allow yourself to be gung ho and then phase out, 
6. Even if your new endeavors don’t resonate with those around you, allow yourself to be a unicorn and do things that light you up. 
7. Have fun, figure out what feels rewarding.  Then try it out and learn about yourself in the process.  
8. You can’t control circumstances in life but you can add in intentional practices like setting a timer twice a day to take a deep breath, stretching, yoga, or walks outside. 
9. Have grace for yourself, sometimes you’ll make decisions that feel like mistakes.  No one has all the answers, forgive yourself for the missteps and move forward, don’t be afraid to seek out help or take steps in a new direction.  
10. You don’t have to just have one lane in life, you can have lots of identities, in fact, it will probably be more fulfilling.

If you liked what you heard and want help with your own burnout journey,⁠⁠⁠⁠ I'd love to talk⁠⁠⁠⁠. I'm writing a book on how to heal from burnout (due out 1/25), and I have a ⁠⁠⁠⁠group coachin⁠⁠⁠⁠g starting mid-August after my wild kids go back to school.

If you'd like to be a podcast guest or want to discuss sponsorships or speaking engagements, reach out via email, hope.cook@gmail.com

Have you ever wondered how some people seem to be zooming towards their goals while you're stuck on the side of the road watching them and wondering how they do it?  One of the things they probably have is a group of people they rely on to help them with tough decisions or situations.  These aren't just friends; they're the people perfectly suited to advise you and help you level up.  Are you ready to find out how to form your team?  

go to www.hopethepa.com to see complete show notes, or find me on Instagram @coachhopecook

Amy's energy and enthusiasm are contagious!  She'll have you laughing out loud at her stories of becoming a bartender, then teaching 8-year-olds, and finally deciding to become an entrepreneur and sell juice.  She shares her personal journey with rheumatoid arthritis and IBS and how this led to learning what her body needed to be healthy and thriving.  

1. Have the spirit of 8 yr old.  They show up, they're an enthusiastic Big Fat Yes, they don't sweat yesterday or today.
2. Ask yourself if you are living the life you want to live or the life you think you're supposed to live?  Are you making decisions based on what you truly want or on what you think others expect you to do?  Realize it's okay to disappoint others.
3. You can fail but not be a failure.  The success comes from getting up over and over.  If you're so obsessed with not failing and being perfect, you'll miss the journey
4. Squeeze the day.  Focus on how you can make the best out of each day.   Be a "Yes" and make everyone feel better when they come in contact with you.  Show up in that day and be the best person you can be.
5. Know what fills your bucket.  For Amy, it's serving people, being busy, being passionate about food.
6. Instead of asking "what if it doesn't work", ask "what if it does?"   Likewise, ask yourself what's going well instead of noticing all the things not going well.
7. People are willing to teach you if you're willing to learn  Figure out how to do things yourself by asking questions like Amy did with her electrician, her plumber, etc.
8. Think long term in terms of health, it's what you do every single day, not just a 3 day cleanse here and there.  Aim for long-term health.  You didn't get to this place overnight, make small choices every day and they'll add up.  Each human body is unique and you have to figure out what's best for you.  You've gotta be willing to love yourself enough and think that you're worth it to put forth the effort.

go to www.hopethepa.com to see a pic of Amy and for more links mentioned in the show

Take a big-picture look at your life.  It's time to do a fall clean-up.  What activities are you doing that used to be a good fit, but may not be anymore?  Who are you spending time with who's no longer a good fit for the type of person you want to be?  

See full show notes at www.hopethepa.com

When Katie Avery found herself a single mom with three kids, no job, and a broken heart, she kept faith that God had a plan for her life.  Little did she know the plan included her dream job in her dream town and going on dates again with her high school sweetheart.

Take-Home Points:

1. When your heart is opposed to a decision, you may have physical symptoms like Katie when she wasn't able to catch her breath while running and she was crying all the time.  She knew deep in her heart it wasn't where God needed her to be despite it feeling like what she felt like she should do.  Trust your instincts.
2. When you feel unloved, unattractive, unappreciated, these are all indications you're out of alignment.
3. You never know what someone else is going through, even if they look like they have it all together on the outside.
4. When faced with a difficult decision, ask yourself what you'd tell your child if this situation were happening to her.
5. Pray through every decision; never lose faith that God has a plan for your life.  Use the hard times as reminders that even though you feel broken, these difficulties can be used as part of your purpose.  And finally, you've gotta be the one to decide to rewrite your story.  You can choose to focus on the pain or you can choose to get healthy, make good choices, and move forward.

Books mentioned:  It's Not Supposed to Be this Way, Girl Wash Your Face, Love Lives Here

www.hopethepa.com

Nope, I'm not doing show notes for this one.  You'll have to listen to the episode to find out what the big deal is!

www.hopethepa.com

In today's interview, you'll meet April Farlow, an amazing woman and mom who spent the first 15 years of her career as a Dale Carnegie trained motivational speaker and corporate trainer.  She describes how she began to feel a pull to take some risks: hire an editor and write a book, start a non-profit to help with foster kids' college housing expenses, and write her own material for faith-based speaking.  Despite the timing not making sense, she had faith she was on the right journey.

Show notes:  

1. Great risks often don't make sense.  Whatever it is you're called to do may not make any sense to you in the moment.  The timing may feel all wrong.  Pay attention when you feel the need to wait.  It may be intentional and sent to you for a reason. Trust the initial pull and but also trust the wait even if it doesn't make sense.

2. Notice what keeps you up at night and gets you so excited you can't stop thinking about it and working on it.

3. Ask yourself, "If I'm still doing the same thing 10 years from now, how would that feel?"  Does the thought of continuing along the same path create joy, or do you need to start growing in a new direction?

4. Pain can be used for a purpose like when April had writer's block for a year before her father died.  Then her pain acted as fuel for her writing

5. You're going to get there.  You don't have to take all the steps today.  Take small, intentional steps instead of running full speed ahead.  This will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the journey

6. Pay attention to whether or not your playing small.  Do you use words like "just" and "little" to describe what you do?  What kinds of words does your inner voice use to describe you?  We have to work on how we see ourselves in order to believe in ourselves enough to go after whatever it is.

For more info on April Farlow and to check out my website, go to www.hopethepa.com

1. It's easier to keep doing what we're doing and stay stuck.  Making changes is hard, much harder. We all want the easy road, so we choose to stay stuck.
2. If nothing changes, nothing changes. Ask yourself how happy you are with your current circumstances. Spoiler alert, you wouldn't be listening to this podcast if you were completely content with the way things are going.
   
3. We're afraid of the unknown which is really a fear of failure (me trying out for Annie)Accept that there will be fear with change. Expect it, invite it in. Dance with the fear, whisper in his ear that you know he'll always be there, but you're choosing a new partner called courage. If you're a writer, write a letter to fear, and without giving it too much thought, let fear respond.  See this exercise from Elizabeth Gilbert. 
   To minimize fear, take tiny steps, bite-sized steps. When I thought about starting a podcast, I got overwhelmed with the big picture, it was too big and too scary.  Instead of focusing on cover art, music, photo, social media, recording a trailer, buying a microphone, etc, I recorded a trailer.  Take it one step at a time.  Expect fear to be there for each step.  Give him a nod and keep movin'.
   
4. We'd have only ourselves to blame if things didn't go right. As long as we play it safe and don't act, we can keep blaming others for us being stuck.  We can blame our circumstances, our kids, our spouse, etc. My mom dreamt of dancing in high heel tap shoes.  She didn't blame not being able to do this at her age, having three kids, or a full-time job as a teacher, she signed up for class, bought her shoes, and tapped away.
   
5. Friends and family expect us to be a certain way and to do things a certain way. If we change, we might disappoint them. An example is the Biggest Loser contestant who felt like he was leaving his mother behind after he lost a lot of weight.  He felt her disapproval, so he gained the weight back.
   We're the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with, so decide who you want in your front row.   Decide who you're going to let influence your decisions.  Decide who you want to surround yourself with and ultimately, decide if this is your life you're living or theirs.
   The #1 regret of the dying is that they didn't live life on their own terms.  They lived it on others' terms.
   
6. We hold off doing things NOW because we think we can always do them LATER. We assume we can wait on our dreams.  We put them off.  How often do you hear about people who retire and within 6 months they have a stroke or develop cancer and never get a chance to live out their dream retirement?
   Write a letter to your future self at www.futureme.org
   Watch Jerry Seinfeld describe the two conflicting selves (he uses "Morning Guy" and "Night Guy" but you can substitute Future Me and Present Me.

Shoot me an email at hope.cook@gmail.com or go to www.hopethepa.com

In this interview, I talk to Kafi London.  She explains how she ignored the warning signs of burnout, but a career pause ignited her passion for helping high-performing women avoid burnout and rediscover their inner fire.

1) Look for signs of burnout:  Having a narcissistic relationship to work, checking work email and calls around the clock, neglecting health and relationships, feeling fear and anxiety about work, and not wanting to go to work.

2) When we're high achievers, we often get accolades for working harder and achieving more, but this is a recipe for burnout.  

3) If you suspect burnout, you've gotta slow down or you'll crash and burn.  Financial stability with your job might be keeping you stuck.  If your lifestyle doesn't change, you'll never be able to let go of the job and the money.  You've gotta sit down, figure out what it'll take to survive, and come up with an escape plan.

4) Remember, the goal is to relight that fire in your belly.  Burnout means your fire has dimmed and your excitement is gone.  You need to figure out what it is you really want, what lights you up.  Ask yourself what do you do really well, what are your skills (ie what are you good at), and what do people need that you can give?

5) Ideally, try to come up with a transition plan instead of jumping ship like Kafi.  She says while you still have an income, invest in someone who can help you with a financial game plan and help with mindset and clarity about what you really 

www.kafilondon.com or www.smartwomenonfire.com

Kafi's book, Fired Up is coming out soon!

For more info on this podcast, go to www.hopethepa.com

For 25 years Melanie was content living in the Bay Area and working in the non-profit arena until she looked around and realized she was discontent.  She was in senior management working in trauma-based mental health when her stress culminated in her first-ever panic attack, prompting the realization that change was essential.  One serendipitous event after another landed Melanie and her family in Canada with a new plan for their lives and careers.  In addition to being in graduate school, Melanie helps other people realize their dreams of moving overseas.

For links to Melanie's site and show notes, go to www.hopethepa.com

I share how frazzled I'd been feeling before I made some hard but necessary changes.  

Walk away with steps you can implement today to help you live a more meaningful life.  

www.hopethepa.com

Have you heard of the 8 C’s (hint: Dr. Richard Schwartz came up with this)? The 8 C’s describe how to see your situation with new eyes, how to work on your situation without changing anything external. This type of therapy changed my life. I recommend all his books, but you can also find plenty of free videos and free podcasts with him doing demonstrations of this type of work.

Other book mentioned: Untethered Soul by Michael Singer

If you liked what you heard and want help with your own burnout journey,⁠⁠ I'd love to talk⁠⁠. I'm writing a book on how to heal from burnout (due out 1/25), and I have a ⁠⁠group coachin⁠⁠g starting June 11th.

If you'd like to be a podcast guest or want to discuss sponsorships or speaking engagements, reach out via email, hope.cook@gmail.com

Betsy shares how she kept taking new steps towards things she loved or was curious about, including flying, pharmaceutical sales, working for a candy bar giant,  counselor, writer, exec for Girls on the Run, ultramarathoner, and intuitive eating coach.  Wow!  And get this, y'all!  She became a first-time mom at 47!

I can't wait for you to hear her story!  For show notes and links to Betsy's sites, go to www.hopethepa.com

Y'all will love Pam!  She's the kind of girl you meet once and feel like you've known forever.  She talks about how women can be called to many things in their lives (including being a chaplain, working in ENT, plastic surgery, having a youtube channel, and starting a boutique botox business)

Come on over to www.hopethepa.com to get all the links for Pam and to see her gorgeous photo.  

A series of emails prompted this episode on burnout and slowing down.  I share details of my own burnout as well as my advice to someone who reached out asking for help with burnout.  

www.hopethepa.com