EP 148: When your business becomes your identity - what are you really avoiding?
Your business was never meant to define you—it was meant to amplify who you are. But what happens when it becomes your whole identity? Let’s talk about why this happens, what it’s trying to tell you, and how to break free.
Welcome to Alive and Thriving, where we dive into the deep, transformative work that helps soul-led entrepreneurs thrive from the inside out. In today’s episode, we’re tackling a topic that so many high-achieving women secretly struggle with: when your business stops being a passion and starts being your entire identity.
If you’ve ever found yourself working harder to prove your worth or avoiding deeper emotions by staying “busy,” this episode is for you. We’re exploring why this happens, the toll it takes on your emotional well-being, and the steps to realign your business with who you truly are—so you can create sustainable success from a place of ease, not exhaustion.
Key Takeaways:
1️⃣ Why Overworking Is Often a Coping Mechanism:
It’s not just about being passionate—it’s about avoiding the hard stuff.
We dive into how unresolved emotions, like grief, fear, or unworthiness, can manifest as “busyness” and how to start addressing these patterns.
2️⃣ The Warning Signs Your Business Has Taken Over Your Identity:
Chronic burnout, physical symptoms, and a disconnect from life outside of work.
How to recognise when “hustling” has become a mask for avoidance.
3️⃣ Reclaiming Your Identity Outside of Business:
The importance of unbecoming the version of you tied to overworking.
Practical steps to reconnect with who you are beyond the titles, the milestones, and the endless to-do lists.
4️⃣ Healing From the Root Cause for True Freedom:
Why emotional processing, nervous system regulation, and subconscious reprogramming are essential for sustainable success.
How healing the root cause can unlock more creativity, energy, and fulfilment in both life and business.
Reflection Questions:
What emotions or experiences might you be avoiding by staying busy?
Who are you outside of your business?
How would your life and business shift if you gave yourself permission to slow down and heal?
If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. DM me on Instagram at @jessica.read.ilc and share your biggest takeaway from today’s episode.
If you’re ready to go deeper and do the work to heal, release, and rebuild your business in alignment with your true self, explore my private mentoring or the Transcendence Mastermind. This is your invitation to step into your highest expression of success—one that honours your well-being and amplifies your impact.
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