From Overachieving to Authentic Self-Care with Gerri Sapinoso Hudson

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In this episode of The Story I'm Telling Myself, host Rita sits down with Gerri Sapinoso Hudson, a self-care coach and the founder of Vision Bridge Leadership, to discuss the high cost of the "hyperachiever" lifestyle and the journey to reclaiming personal agency. Gerri shares a vulnerable look at her life as a first-generation Asian American woman navigating the "third culture"—a space pulled between roots and the American dream of academic achievement and corporate success.

The Performance of Perfection

For decades, Gerri lived by a script of obligation, believing that following the rules and achieving milestones would ultimately lead to happiness. She describes "growing up in corporate America," where she thrived in hierarchical systems by being compliant, respectful of authority, and careful not to take up too much space while making others look amazing. This perfectionism and "automatic pilot" mode created an idyllic-looking life from the outside that masked a lack of true self-knowledge.

The 48-Hour Collapse

The turning point of Gerri’s story is a harrowing 48-hour window that shattered her sense of safety. On a Tuesday morning, just before leading a corporate team off-site, her husband revealed a long-standing secret addiction. The very next day—her birthday—she learned she was being laid off. This total collapse stripped away the identity she had built around her career and family, forcing her to confront a life without the markers of value she had relied upon for 30 years.

Reclaiming the Power to Choose

Gerri details her arduous path through recovery, moving from the "victim story" and anger to a realization that she had been choosing to hold on for the wrong reasons. She highlights the transformative power of the proverb "let go or be dragged," emphasizing that true healing began when she reclaimed her power to choose her own path rather than following a predetermined social blueprint.

A New Toolkit for Self-Care

Moving beyond superficial self-care like "mani-pedis" or spa days, Gerri shares the modalities that provided true nourishment:

Intense Exercise: Using CrossFit to process anger and change her physical state.

Mindfulness & Meditation: Finding stillness to separate herself from "spinning thoughts".

Journaling & Writing: Discovering her voice as an author and published article writer.

Community: Reaching out to recovery groups and friends to learn she was not alone in her suffering.

Know yourself deeply: Take the time to understand what actually works for you, regardless of societal expectations or social media trends.

Healing is a journey, not a destination: It is never too late to start again or try something new.

Forgiveness is for you: Choosing to forgive is a path to personal healing and happiness.

Key Takeaways for Listeners:

Listen now to discover how to find "safety in your own skin" and transition from a life of autopilot to one of radical authenticity.

If this story resonates with you, please leave a five-star review and share the episode with a friend who may be struggling with their own "one story" trap.

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Beyond the "One Story" Trap: Overcoming Burnout and Reclaiming Your Identity with Dr. Tasha Golden

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In this transformative episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita Ernst sits down with Dr. Tasha Golden—a former chart-topping singer-songwriter turned PhD researcher—to explore the invisible "walls" of the stories we tell ourselves.

If you are a professional woman feeling the weight of burnout, questioning your career path, or struggling to find meaning beyond your job title, this conversation is your roadmap to a "through line" of true fulfillment.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• The Identity Trap: How clinging to a "one story" narrative—the belief that there is only one path to success—can lead to catastrophic burnout and major depression.
• The Art of Refusal: Why all creativity is rooted in the power to say "no" to the status quo and refuse to accept the world (or your life) exactly as it is.
• Grief in Transition: Understanding that even positive career changes involve a natural process of grieving the old roles we played and the "source of pride" we are leaving behind.
• Redefining Wellbeing: Moving beyond the "absence of disease" to a state of complete physical, mental, and social health that prioritizes connection, agency, and beauty.

Featured Guest: Dr. Tasha Golden

Dr. Tasha Golden is a renowned thought leader at the intersection of arts, science, and public health. From touring the world as a musician to conducting behavioral science research for organizations like Google and the Mayo Clinic, Tasha helps high-performers "re-see" their lives and work. She is a frequent contributor to Psychology Today and a powerful advocate for mental health systems change.

Why Listen Now?

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to "annihilate" your current story before you’re allowed to imagine a different one. Whether you're feeling "numb" in your current role or standing on the edge of a major life transition, Tasha’s story provides the permission you need to start your own "beautiful excavation" of what truly matters.

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Breaking the Habit of Unworthiness

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Are you constantly "racing through time," feeling like you’re stuck in a whirlpool of overwhelm? You might tell yourself you just have bad time management, but the truth is often much deeper.

In this episode of The Story I’m Telling Myself, host Rita Ernst welcomes Coach Nadine Zeinoun to explore how your daily stress often serves as a mask for a narrative of unworthiness.

Nadine gets vulnerable, sharing her journey from living in "victim mode"—where she blamed her schedule, her family, and external environments for her lack of progress—to the life-changing realization that she was actually self-sabotaging. She reveals how she used "being busy" as a security blanket to avoid taking the risky steps necessary for true success.

In this episode, you will discover:

• The Overwhelm Mask: Why a lack of time management is often a symptom of the internal story that you are "not good enough" or destined to fail.
• Excuses vs. Reality: How to use Emotional Intelligence (EQ) to differentiate between naming your true reality and falling into the "trap" of limiting excuses.
• Physical Signals of Sabotage: How to recognize the weight in your chest and shoulders as a signal that your mindset is out of alignment.
• Breaking the Pattern: Practical strategies using self-talk, curiosity, and forgiveness to interrupt the habit of unworthiness and move back into a state of "flow."
• Character Strengths: How to leverage your unique strengths—such as kindness or perspective—to silence the "inner judge" and extend grace to yourself.

Stop hiding behind your to-do list and start uncovering the "jewels" that lie beneath your fears.

Listen now to stop the habit of unworthiness and reclaim your power. Don't forget to subscribe for more insights on rewriting the stories you tell yourself!

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