Feeling stuck is one of the most common experiences in mental health—and one of the hardest to explain. In this episode, we explore what it really means to feel stuck, numb, or frozen, and why those feelings often show up when our nervous system is overwhelmed. Through the lens of the motivational triad—our brain’s drive to seek pleasure, avoid pain, and conserve energy—we unpack how staying stuck can actually be a form of protection, even when it’s costing us peace, connection, and growth.

We also talk about power—where we give it away, how victim thinking can quietly keep us trapped, and why the idea that we can only change ourselves is actually very good news. This episode offers compassionate insight, practical reframes, and gentle encouragement to take your power back, set boundaries, and make small, meaningful shifts that help you move forward. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by relationships, the state of the world, or your own inner landscape, this conversation is an invitation to step out of stuck and into agency—one choice at a time.

Lately, it feels like everything is too much—too much information, too much suffering, too much emotional weight to carry. In this episode, I talk honestly about what happens when empathy turns into emotional overload, burnout, or numbness. As someone whose top strength is empathy, I explore how constantly absorbing the pain of others—especially in a world fueled by social media and 24-hour news—can quietly erode our mental health. We’ll talk about toxic empathy, why our nervous systems weren’t designed to hold the weight of the world, and how “conceal, don’t feel” can become a survival strategy that ultimately disconnects us from ourselves.

This episode is about finding a healthier, more sustainable way to care. I introduce compassion as the antidote to hyper-empathy—empathy with boundaries, empathy with action, empathy with boots on. We’ll explore the difference between empathy and compassion, why numbness and over-feeling are two sides of the same coin, and how small practices like loving-kindness meditation can help us stay open without burning out. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or unsure how to care deeply without losing yourself, this conversation is for you.

contact me:

email: wendy@wendyparrish.com

Instagram @wendyparrishcoachin

In this episode, I’m talking openly about how I’ve been feeling lately—overwhelmed, stuck, and quietly sad about the state of the world. I share how those feelings slowly turned into an excuse in my mind, not just for stepping back from the podcast, but from a lot of things that matter to me. Instead of a polished outline or plan, I did the thing I’ve been avoiding: I plugged in the mic and pressed record. This episode is raw, unscripted, and real, because waiting until I felt “ready” was just another way I was talking myself out of showing up.

I also dive into the concept of the motivational triad—the subconscious drive to seek pleasure, avoid pain, and conserve energy—and how overwhelm, hopelessness, and feeling stuck can quietly serve that triad. Making decisions takes energy, taking risks feels uncomfortable, and doing hard things requires us to move through pain instead of around it. In this conversation, I explore how our minds use very believable reasons to keep us safe and small, and why recognizing those patterns can be the first step toward choosing action anyway, even when it feels messy, imperfect, or heavy.

contact me:

email: wendy@wendyparrish.com

instagra: @wendyparrishcoachin