You finally cleared your calendar. You finally sat still.

But instead of peace… there’s panic.

In this episode of The Cost of the Climb, we get honest about the guilt that creeps in when you stop performing. When your worth has been tied to output for so long, rest can feel wrong — even dangerous.

Lauren shares a powerful reflection on what happens when your nervous system doesn’t trust safety, how overachievement becomes a coping mechanism, and why stillness isn’t just a luxury — it’s a skill.

You’ll walk away with a reminder:

You don’t need to earn rest.

You need to unlearn the noise that told you otherwise.

Welcome to The Cost of the Climb. I’m Lauren Ellis.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever tried to journal their way through burnout — only to realize the system, not their self-care, was the real problem.

You can meditate. Unplug. Light the lavender candle. But if the job still demands your silence, your overwork, and your worth in exchange for “culture fit” — no wellness trend will save you.

Because this isn’t exhaustion.

It’s betrayal.

In this episode, we unpack three sharp, strategic ways to protect your energy in environments that were built to drain it — from stepping off the performance hamster wheel to naming the invisible cost out loud.

You’ll walk away with language, clarity, and tools to move differently — and the reminder you may need most:

You are not the problem.

And you don’t have to sacrifice yourself to systems that refuse to change.

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If this hit home, share it with someone who needs it.

Tag @thecostoftheclimb and tell us:

💬 What truth are you finally ready to name?

🎧 The Rules Were Made for Them

Hosted by Lauren Ellis | The Cost of the Climb

You followed the rules. You outperformed. You kept your head down, hoping the work would speak for itself.

But the game was never neutral. And the longer you try to win on their terms, the more it costs you.

In this powerful opening episode, Lauren Ellis unpacks the hidden curriculum of corporate culture — the unspoken rules, the performance theater, the politics of perception — and offers a bold new strategy for reclaiming your power without abandoning yourself.

You’ll learn how to:

• Spot the patterns that were never designed to include you

• Shift from survival mode to strategic positioning

• Build a new table instead of begging for a seat at theirs

This isn’t just a podcast. It’s your mirror, your wake-up call, and your strategy session — all in one.

Because the climb is real. But so are you.

🎙️ Listen, reflect, and reclaim.