Are you stuck in a job, practice, or even a hobby that no longer brings you joy? In this episode, I share my own story of letting go of teaching a fitness class — something that began as joy but slowly turned into striving and burnout.

We’ll talk about Liz Gilbert’s four categories of work (hobby, job, career, vocation), Cal Newport’s Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You, and how easy it is to confuse passion with vocation. You’ll also hear how diet culture, striving for certifications, and perfectionism sneak into both therapy and fitness — and how to recognize when something that once brought joy now drains your energy.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s time to stop doing something that no longer fits, this episode will give you a framework of 5 powerful questions to guide your decision.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why “follow your passion” isn’t always the best career advice (thanks, Cal Newport).
• Liz Gilbert’s framework of hobby, job, career, and vocation — and why not everything in your life should be all four.
• How I realized teaching my Monday night lifting class was more depleting than renewing.
• The role diet culture, perfectionism, and certifications play in therapist burnout.
• 5 Questions to help you decide if it’s time to let something go in your work or hobbies.
• How to reclaim joy, creativity, and pleasure now — even in midlife.

Resources Mentioned

• Elizabeth Gilbert on Hobby, Job, Career & Vocation (YouTube):
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g7ARarFNnw
• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (Barnes & Noble):
• https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/
• So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/writing/
• Email Love from me--yes, you're pen-pal Dr. Jen: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb