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
