How Chronic Illness Changes Our Definition of Ambition and Drive

This week on Calling in Sick, I’m getting real about something I never thought I’d question: Am I still ambitious?

There was a time when I crushed my to-do list before lunch, never let an email sit unanswered, and found purpose in being productive. But now? I procrastinate. I forget things. I carry a running to-do list that I never finish. And between the brain fog, pain, meds, and fatigue… I started to wonder if I’d lost my drive entirely. But then it hit me… maybe ambition just looks different now.

In this solo episode, I’m opening up about:

💭 What it’s like to lose your “high-functioning” self

💊 The quiet shame of feeling dulled by meds

🔥 How chronic illness reroutes your ambition from speed to survival

🌱 Why softness, slowness, and intention might be the new success

📺 Plus: My current comfort-watch in the One Brain Cell segment (spoiler: it’s called warm hug in TV form)

This one is for anyone navigating big identity shifts—especially if you’ve had to ask yourself: “Who am I without the hustle?” My answer? Darling... you’re not behind. You’re becoming.

xx,

Alex 💛

💬 Comment: Do you feel like your ambition or drive has changed since getting sick? How have you redefined success?

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling In Sick

00:00:35 Life Update: Becoming a Procrastinator!!

00:02:58 Alex’s Picks of the Week: Hilma Supplements + DoBites

00:06:11 The Old Version of Me: Urgency, Output, Identity

00:08:25 Grief & the Unbecoming of the Old Alex

00:11:00 Discovering the New Me -- Freedom After Grief

00:17:30 Chronic Illness Management vs. Urgency

00:20:20 One Brain Cell Segment: Love on the Spectrum

00:23:59 THANK YOU!!!!

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Alex’s Picks of the Week:

✨ Hilma Supplements – gentle, clean symptom support

https://rebrand.ly/6tq0q7k

Use code ALEXANDRA20 for 20% off!!

✨ DoBites – functional, top-8 allergen-free snack bites for energy & focus

https://amzn.to/3G6bQGt

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