In this episode, Katie Stafford reflects on her recent return to academia and the unexpected need to slow down. She discusses how this shift has prompted her to reevaluate her goals, recognizing that some of them have become outdated and no longer align with her current life circumstances. Katie emphasizes the importance of letting go of goals that no longer serve us, highlighting that they should support our values and well-being rather than create feelings of exhaustion or resentment. She encourages listeners to ask themselves whether their goals still fit their current capacity and to prioritize alignment over urgency in their pursuits.

Katie also shares insights on the spiritual aspect of goal-setting, suggesting that peace should not be a reward for completion but a guiding force throughout the journey. She invites listeners to reflect on their own goals, urging them to pause and reassess rather than blindly pushing forward. By choosing peace over pressure, Katie believes we can achieve growth with integrity, allowing for a more fulfilling and balanced life.

January comes with pressure to rush, to reinvent yourself, to prove you’re changing.

In this episode, we slow that energy all the way down. We talk about why “new year, new me” often comes from fear instead of clarity, how urgency disguises itself as growth, and why alignment matters more than speed.

This is a gentle invitation to release the pressure, get curious about what’s underneath the rush, and approach growth without punishment. Consider this your permission to start the year honestly, not frantically.

Before we get into the tea, let’s talk about why we sip. This first episode sets the tone for Taboo Tea — a space for slowing down, telling the truth, and bringing what’s been sitting in the dark into the light. We unpack the pressure to rush into “new year, new me” energy and explore what it looks like to approach growth with awareness instead of urgency. Consider this your first intentional sip.