[#116] Fire to Water: The Journey High-Performance Women Don't Want to Take (But Need To)

What happens when slowing down isn't a choice...it's forced on you at 12 feet?

In this raw and reflective conversation, Kaileigh welcomes back wellness entrepreneur and former attorney Neda Shakoori to share her ongoing journey through injury, identity, and the uncomfortable art of receiving care.

After leaving a demanding 20-year legal career to prioritize her health, Neda thought she'd mastered the art of slowing down. But a climbing accident that broke three bones and required surgery revealed layers of guilt, disappointment, and hyper-independence she didn't know were still running the show.

A note from the host: This conversation reminded me why I do this work. So many of us are running on fumes, filling every moment with productivity, and mistaking burnout for ambition. Neda's story is a mirror - and maybe a warning - that our bodies will find a way to make us listen. The question is: will we wait for the fall, or can we choose the softness now?

If this episode resonated, screenshot it and tag us on Instagram. Your stories fuel this community, and honestly? They make my whole week.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro: When Your Body Forces You to Stop

09:06 "Wait, I'm High-Achieving?": The Mirror We Don't Want to Hold Up

11:09 The Guilt of Not Doing: When Rest Feels Like Failure

15:18 Hyper-Independence: The "I Got This" Tax

16:24 Shadow Work: What Happens When You Finally Have Space

24:34 The Fall: Three Broken Bones and What Came After

25:53 Disappointment, Not Fear: The Emotion That Revealed Everything

33:46 Learning to Receive: The Hardest Lesson for Givers

37:12 Kintsugi: Filling Your Cracks with Gold

38:23 Social Media vs. Spiritual Journey: The Tension We All Feel

40:51 Fire to Water: Knowing Your Season

47:01 Nature as Medicine: The Science of Trees and Cortisol

48:03 "I Really Don't Have Time": The Narrative We All Tell

50:04 "Give Me the Craziest Thing to Do": The Pattern of High-Achieving Clients

53:28 "Self-Love Says 'I Love You,' Self-Care Says 'Prove It'"

56:06 The Greatest Gift: Increasing Capacity to Receive

This episode is for you if:

• You pride yourself on being independent but struggle to ask for (or accept) help
• Slowing down feels lazy, unproductive, or like you're falling behind
• You've ever felt disappointed in yourself after an injury or health setback
• You're navigating your own "soft girl season" but the guilt is real
• You're a high-achiever learning that rest is not a reward—it's a requirement

Neda's Resources

• https://shakooriwellness.com/
• Neda's Spring Equinox Workshop in Los Altos, CA March 15
• @shakooriwellness on Instagram

Connect with Me

• @KaileighLauren on Instagram
• @Rebel Wellness Podcast on Instagram
• Join My Monthly Wellness Newsletter