It's Not That Serious (Even When it Is)

Stop Inviting Judith to Your Dinner Table: Emotional Boundaries at Work

25 min · 18. maj 2026
episode Stop Inviting Judith to Your Dinner Table: Emotional Boundaries at Work cover

Description

Stop Inviting Judith to Your Dinner Table: Emotional Boundaries at Work Host and coach Mary McDonald shares lessons from over 10 years in corporate America about handling difficult coworkers, projections, and passive-aggressive dynamics. She recounts being triggered by insecurity and projections early in her career, including a tense performance review, and explains how these experiences strengthened her communication skills and emotional resilience. Using the reticular activating system (RAS), she describes how repeatedly focusing on a frustrating coworker (“Judith”) reinforces negativity and gives that person power over your mental and physical state. McDonald urges listeners to interrupt the cycle by either seeking understanding and having an adult conversation to address issues or choosing to stop replaying the story and talking about it—“uninviting” the person from your dinner table after work. She also recommends visualizing white light to clear and protect your energy before leaving home and before sleep. 00:00 Welcome to the Show 01:02 Corporate Lessons Begin 03:46 Projections and Insecurity 05:54 Performance Review Blowup 08:26 Finding Your Voice 11:02 Reticular Activating System 11:51 Meet Judith the Trigger 15:10 Break the Obsession Loop 18:32 Not at My Table 20:43 Pattern Interrupt for Peace 23:07 White Light Energy Reset 24:47 Wrap Up and Farewell Let's Connect!  To get more info and updates on the podcast find me on Instagram (or the gram as the kids say) @marycatemcdonald [https://www.instagram.com/marycatemcdonald/] Current Workshops: Human Design 101 Workshop [https://marycatemcdonald.myflodesk.com/hd101workshop] For 1:1 Coaching Options: 60 Minute Session [https://marycatemcdonald.myflodesk.com/90minutecoaching] 4 Session Package [https://marycatemcdonald.myflodesk.com/4sesioncoachingpackage] 3 Month Coaching [https://marycatemcdonald.myflodesk.com/3monthpackage] Sign up For My Weekly Newsletter here: https://marycatemcdonald.myflodesk.com/weeklynewsletter [https://marycatemcdonald.myflodesk.com/weeklynewsletter] Show Support:  If you're enjoying this episode, I would love it if you could please rate, review, and subscribe. If you're extra loving it and know someone who would also enjoy your impeccable taste please give it a share on socials.  Thank you again for joining me on this podcast. I am so grateful you are here!

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