#sarahshares: Afraid you won’t ever feel joy or want to work again? Let Yourself.

Sarah Vosen is back for another #sarahshares with a question many of us have quietly wondered: could you be happy if you never wanted to work again? This episode unpacks the deeper story behind that fear: the fight between the part of you that craves freedom and the voice that demands you stay responsible and practical.

Sharing her own experience, Sarah describes what happened when she finally stopped forcing herself to heal the “right way” and started listening to the rebel inside her. She opens up about letting go of the endless lists of shoulds and trusting herself to choose what actually felt good. How would your life change if you stopped living by rules that were never yours to begin with?

Sarah also talks about the idea that real recovery often means letting yourself receive help, even when every instinct tells you to stay independent. Are you willing to loosen your grip on doing it all alone? Could accepting support be the thing that changes everything?

This episode will leave you thinking differently about burnout, healing, and the way you treat the voice inside you that simply wants more joy.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Fear of Never Wanting to Work Again

01:25 Freedom Versus Responsibility

02:07 Breaking Free from Burnout and Self-Imposed Rules

05:08 Letting the Inner Rebel Lead

06:02 Building Trust and Safety with Yourself

08:00 Accepting Help and Embracing Vulnerability

09:57 Prioritizing Freedom and Happiness

11:03 Finding and Honoring Your True Desires

13:07 Choosing Joy and Contentment

Links

Burnout isn’t a personal failure or a lack of resilience. It’s a signal that something in the system, expectations, roles, pace, or support, is out of alignment. Conversations like this one help surface the human experience of burnout, while the broader work continues to explore how organizations can respond more intelligently and sustainably.

To explore burnout, leadership, and sustainable performance through a workplace and organizational lens, connect with Cait Donovan: https://bit.ly/bookcait

Learn more about Cait’s speaking work: 

https://www.caitdonovan.com/speaking

Short on time? Watch this 3-minute reel: 

https://bit.ly/caitdreel2025

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm