Permission to Pause: Dr. Sohee Jun on Dropping the Hustle Mask, The Unfiltered Story and the Woman She’s Becoming (Solo)

Welcome to 2026—and a different kind of drop-in episode. No guest today. Just you and me. In this vulnerable solo kickoff, I’m sharing the truth about the year I lived in 2025: the over-performing, the relentless “yes,” and the moment burnout brought me to my knees.

I’m pulling back the curtain on what high-achieving women rarely say out loud: how “success” can still feel like depletion… and how many of us are quietly drowning in shoulds, people-pleasing, and the fear of disappointing others. If you’ve ever felt like your ambition is at war with your wellbeing, this episode is for you.

I’ll walk you through the reckoning that changed everything—why I chose to press pause, what my real (messy, not-Instagram) sabbatical looked like, and the practices that helped me come back to myself: saying no even when it felt scary, flow journaling, letting grief surface, spending time outdoors, and yes… giving myself permission to be bored. On the other side of that pause, a new vision emerged—one rooted in alignment, wholeness, and community.

This episode is an invitation: let’s make 2026 the year we drop the hustle mask—and redefine success in a way that doesn’t cost us ourselves.

In this episode, we talk about:

The “silent epidemic” of depletion so many high-achieving women live with

Why saying yes can feel safer than honoring your boundaries

People-pleasing, over-functioning, and the fear underneath “keeping it all together”

What it really takes to step off the treadmill without losing yourself (or your momentum)

Why reinvention isn’t grand—it’s messy, honest, and deeply human

Reclaiming joy, creativity, rest, and identity beyond performance

The vision for Asian Like Me this year—and the spaces we’re building together

Quotes you can sit with:

“Achievement was my armor.”

“Burnout takes different shapes and forms throughout our lives.”

“Let’s make 2026 the year we drop the hustle mask.”

Reflection Questions (from this episode)

What is one way you can honor your burnout and commit to caring for yourself this year?

Where might you swap people-pleasing for self-compassion?

What dream have you put on hold that you’d love to revisit—not out of obligation, but for your own joy?

Mentioned in this episode

The Aligned Mindset (my second book)

Mommy Tracked (for anyone balancing career + family and redefining success)

EVRten — a wellness movement and community rooted in nourishment: body, mind, and coming back to yourself

A first-ever Asian Like Me in-person summer event (details coming via newsletter)

#asianlikeme #BurnoutRecovery #HighAchievingWomen #AsianWomen #PeoplePleasing #Boundaries #SelfCompassion #RedefineSuccess #PurposeOverPerfection #WomenInLeadership #Healing #evrten