The Courage to Pause: Healing, Burnout, and Sacred Space with Sabrina

The Courage to Pause: Healing, Burnout, and Sacred Space with Sabrina

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do isn’t push harder—it’s slow down and admit we need help. And sometimes healing looks like letting life have a little more of us than our productivity does. Before we even get into today’s conversation, I want to share something from the heart: after this episode, there’s going to be a little pause on the podcast. My oldest daughter is walking through some health things right now, and we’re taking a few trips to Mayo Clinic to get answers and clarity. This season is asking for more of my time, energy, and presence than usual—and I’m choosing to gently set this down for a moment so I can show up fully where I’m most needed. And honestly… it feels fitting, because today’s guest is someone whose entire story is wrapped around restoration. Sabrina has always understood the power of gathering—not just bringing people into a room, but creating environments where people feel seen, safe, and deeply welcomed.  I got to experience that firsthand at one of her retreats this past fall, and I knew her heart aligned so beautifully with what we do here. Sabrina’s journey hasn’t been linear—there’s deep healing, a transformative encounter with Jesus, years of ministry and creative leadership—and a growing awareness that burnout can still find us even when we love what we’re called to do. That’s where Kaleo Retreats was born: a space rooted in wholeness—mind, body, and spirit—where women can finally exhale. Key Themes + Takeaways “This isn’t goodbye. It’s a pause.” Sometimes faith looks like slowing down and choosing what matters most in real time. The thread has always been there. Sabrina’s gift for gathering didn’t appear out of nowhere—it started in childhood and kept showing up, season after season. People-pleasing and worth get tangled early. We talked about how identity can quietly get wired to approval—and how hard it is to untangle as adults. Surrender isn’t a one-time moment. It’s a rhythm. A re-surrender. Like forgiveness—again and again when life triggers the old grip. Leadership can be lonely—and burnout is real. Even in ministry. Even in “good” callings. Especially when output becomes the measure of worth. Kaleo is a place to breathe. A high-end, deeply intentional experience where women can “drop everything at the door” and remember who they are in God. Our Favorite Quotes “Taking a break from this podcast is not easy for me… This isn’t a goodbye. It’s a pause.” “Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is slow down.” “It’s a constant surrender. It’s a constant re-surrender over and over again.” “It’s like a breath of fresh air… you get to drop everything at the door when you walk into that space.” “God places people in our lives on purpose—especially in seasons where we need encouragement, rest, or clarity.” Chapter Markers 00:00 — A gentle pause & choosing what matters 01:09 — Meet Sabrina: the gift of gathering & sacred space 06:00 — Childhood roots: the “sleepover house” and early identity 18:00 — Letting God lead: stepping back from force and control 36:25 — Testimony timelines: baptism, surrender, and “game on” faith 48:34 — Surrender as a practice (not a one-and-done moment) 59:02 — Kaleo: what women walk away knowing about themselves and God Your Turn This week’s reflection prompt: Where have you been gripping tighter—trying to control, fix, or carry something that was never yours to hold alone? And what would it look like to practice a re-surrender—not perfectly, just honestly? 💛 Let’s Stay Connected I really do mean it when I say: my DMs are always open. ✨ Got a story to share? A moment that hit home? Slide in anytime. Here’s where to find me and go deeper: Instagram →⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/withmywholeheart.podcast]⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/] Podcast blog →⁠ ⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/⁠⁠ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/]  Salon home →⁠⁠ ⁠ [https://www.hustleandheart.salon]⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/] MB01MHIBJVAARBG

When Your Business Grows Faster Than You Do

What happens when your business grows faster than you do? When everything on the outside looks successful, expanding, and moving forward—but internally, you feel like you’re trying to catch your breath and catch up? This episode came from a place I don’t hear talked about very often, especially in leadership and entrepreneurial spaces. We talk a lot about strategy, scaling, and success—but not nearly enough about the emotional and spiritual weight that growth carries. Because growth doesn’t just stretch your business. It stretches you. I’ve felt this gap many times over the last eight years of owning Hustle & Heart, but the first time I really felt it in my body was in 2020. I had just become the sole owner of the salon when the world shut down overnight. Everything felt uncertain. I wasn’t dreaming or planning—I was just trying to survive. And underneath it all, there was this quiet, heavy feeling of Who do I think I am? How am I supposed to lead when I don’t even know what’s coming next? Looking back, there were earlier moments too—like hiring before I was ready, leading without enough structure, growing faster than my confidence and leadership had caught up. From the outside, things looked exciting. Behind the scenes, it felt terrifying. Key Themes + Takeaways Growth can outpace your identity—and that gap can feel deeply unsettling Leadership carries emotional weight that no one really prepares you for Imposter syndrome often shows up because you’re growing, not because you’re failing Grace without structure hurts everyone—especially leaders Growth exposes the parts of us that still need healing Your business will only grow as healthy as you do Our Favorite Quotes “Growth doesn’t just expand your business—it exposes the parts of you that haven’t been healed yet.” “Grace without structure hurts everyone.” “You’re not behind. You’re becoming.” “Not knowing isn’t a weakness. It’s part of becoming.” “Your business will only grow as healthy as you do.” Chapter Markers 00:00 — When growth gets ahead of you 01:38 — Becoming the owner during uncertainty 03:14 — The pressure no one talks about 04:49 — Identity lag and imposter syndrome 06:30 — People-pleasing, leadership, and boundaries 07:58 — Growth exposes what’s unhealed 09:24 — Trusting the process instead of forcing it Your Turn This week’s reflection: Where in your life or business do you feel like things are ahead of you—and what might it look like to meet that place with patience instead of pressure? You don’t need to rush. You don’t need to prove yourself. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just keep showing up—with grace for yourself. 💛 Let’s Stay Connected I really do mean it when I say: my DMs are always open. ✨ Got a story to share? A moment that hit home? Slide in anytime. Here’s where to find me and go deeper: Instagram →⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/withmywholeheart.podcast]⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/] Podcast blog →⁠ ⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/⁠⁠ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/]  Salon home →⁠⁠ ⁠ [https://www.hustleandheart.salon]⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/] MB01YKDVBMFBGHH

The Quiet That Heals vs. the Quiet That Hurts

I used to think quiet automatically meant healing. That if I pulled back far enough, stayed silent long enough, I’d eventually feel better. But what I learned—slowly, painfully—is that not all quiet is the same. For a long time, I told myself I was choosing solitude. I was overwhelmed, anxious, grieving, and exhausted, and retreating felt like survival. Canceling plans. Staying home. Not explaining myself. Protecting my energy. At the time, that story made sense. My nervous system was fried, and quiet felt like control. But somewhere along the way, what I thought was solitude became isolation. At first, it did feel safe. It felt like relief. And then… it didn’t. The anxiety didn’t shrink—it grew. The loneliness crept in quietly. No one really knew what was happening in my heart, and I didn’t know how to let anyone in without my anxiety spiking. What finally cracked things open for me wasn’t one conversation or one big breakthrough—it was time. And grief layered on grief. Losing my niece changed everything. I couldn’t hide anymore. I couldn’t minimize. And in that breaking open, therapy entered. God felt close again. And healing actually began. Key Themes + Takeaways Solitude and isolation can look the same on the surface, but they lead to very different outcomes Isolation often feels protective at first, but it quietly feeds anxiety and loneliness Talking, not hiding, is often where healing actually begins Isolation doesn’t just block people—it can block intimacy with God Solitude invites God in; isolation keeps everyone at arm’s length Constant noise and distraction can be another form of avoidance Healing requires presence, not numbing Our Favorite Quotes “There is no way around pain. The only way out is through it.” “Isolation didn’t protect me—it made me lonelier.” “Solitude is sacred. Isolation builds walls.” “I wasn’t resting. I wasn’t healing. I was numbing.” “You don’t have to disappear to heal.” Chapter Markers 00:00 — When quiet feels the same, but isn’t 01:26 — Retreating as survival 02:53 — When isolation stops helping 03:20 — Loneliness and the cost of hiding 04:22 — Isolation and distance from God 05:16 — Grief that cracked everything open 05:46 — Solitude vs. isolation, clearly defined 06:39 — Distraction as disguised avoidance 08:12 — Choosing connection instead of disappearing Your Turn This week, take a gentle pause and ask yourself: Am I using noise to avoid what I’m feeling—or am I creating space to process it with God? You don’t have to rush the answer. Just notice. And remember—you were never meant to carry this alone. 💛 Let’s Stay Connected I really do mean it when I say: my DMs are always open. ✨ Got a story to share? A moment that hit home? Slide in anytime. Here’s where to find me and go deeper: Instagram →⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/withmywholeheart.podcast]⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/] Podcast blog →⁠ ⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/⁠⁠ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/]  Salon home →⁠⁠ ⁠ [https://www.hustleandheart.salon]⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/] MB01PID7O8DOXAV

A  Hair Stylist’s Journey Through Illness, Intuition, and Clean Living

What if the thing that almost broke you is the same thing that ends up clarifying your purpose? In today’s episode, Bree’s story reminded me that healing rarely arrives like a light switch—it comes like a slow return to yourself, one brave choice at a time. Today I’m sitting down with Bree, and this conversation felt close to the heart. Bree’s a hairstylist turned founder, but her story goes so far beyond business or skincare. We talk about the environment she grew up in—addiction, control, survival mode—and how those early years shaped her sense of worth, safety, and identity. As we move through her story, you’ll hear how loss and grief cracked something open in her—especially the death of her younger brother, Parker—and how that became a turning point. Bree shares what it looked like to repeat familiar relationship patterns, choose single motherhood, and begin rebuilding her body and nervous system after years of pushing through. And eventually, all of that lived experience becomes the foundation for her mission today: helping women feel clear in their bodies, connected to themselves, and supported by truly clean products—like her skincare line rooted in ancestral ingredients, including beef tallow. Key Themes + Takeaways You can forgive your past and still tell the truth about it.  Grief is layered. Patterns repeat until they’re healed.  Your body keeps score. Healing is a long reclaiming.  The beauty industry sells solutions… but your body needs basics.  Quiet is a spiritual practice.  Our Favorite Quotes “Healing wasn’t a quick fix. It was a long reclaiming.” “When someone dies, you’re not just grieving them—you’re grieving your childhood and what could’ve been.” “My body was like, ‘Wake up… we’re in poison.’” “You can call it God, you can call it meditation… but it’s available to you.” “It’s all marketing—and what your skin really needs is moisture and a protected barrier.” Chapter Markers 00:00 — A story that goes beyond skincare 02:09 — Growing up around addiction, control, and survival 06:57 — What it taught her about worth, safety, and being the “scapegoat” 14:22 — Drugs at 10 years old + survival mode childhood 15:54 — Hairstyling as friendship, purpose, and a way out 22:11 — Parker: “pure potential,” addiction, and the grief that changed everything 30:21 — The moment she realized she repeated familiar relationship patterns 40:02 — Neurological Lyme: the first terrifying signs 48:11 — A decade-long healing journey (nervous system, detox, deep inner work) 58:35 — Why nothing worked for her skin… until beef tallow 01:05:16 — The calling behind the brand: helping people wake up 01:19:18 — Sabbath, technology detox, and learning to be still again 01:21:17 — Healing isn’t linear—and purpose grows from the hard places Your Turn This week, I want to invite you to sit with this gently: Where have you been “pushing through” when your body has been asking you to pay attention? And if you’re in it right now—what would it look like to choose one small step toward clarity, instead of trying to overhaul everything at once? 💛 Let’s Stay Connected I really do mean it when I say: my DMs are always open. ✨ Got a story to share? A moment that hit home? Slide in anytime. Here’s where to find me and go deeper: Instagram →⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/withmywholeheart.podcast]⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/] Podcast blog →⁠ ⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/⁠⁠ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/]  Salon home →⁠⁠ ⁠ [https://www.hustleandheart.salon]⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/] MB01YOJAFPFHFGV

Learning to Be, Not Just Do

I didn’t realize how tightly my worth had wrapped itself around my productivity until slowing down felt unbearable. Somewhere along the way, doing became who I was—and resting started to feel like failure. This episode grew out of a quiet tension I’ve been feeling for years: the pressure to always be useful, always productive, always needed. Not because ambition is bad or work doesn’t matter—but because productivity can quietly turn into identity if we’re not paying attention. I keep coming back to the story of Mary and Martha because it doesn’t shame effort or dismiss service. Instead, it gently exposes the cost of always being the one who holds everything together. When I read Martha’s story, I don’t see someone doing something wrong—I see someone doing what she believes is right. And if I’m honest, I see myself. Key Themes + Takeaways Productivity isn’t the problem—identity rooted in productivity is Being needed can feel like purpose, but it can also become a burden Slowing down often surfaces the feelings we’ve been avoiding Jesus invites us into presence, not performance Our worth exists apart from what we accomplish Our Favorite Quotes “Productivity can quietly become identity—and over time, that costs us more than we realize.” “I didn’t need to stop serving. I needed to stop believing that serving was the source of my worth.” “When I’m constantly doing, I remember what I can do. When I sit at His feet, I remember who I am.” “Rest isn’t laziness. It’s remembrance.” “You don’t have to prove your value. You already have it.” Chapter Markers 0:00 The quiet pressure to always be doing 1:23 Why Martha’s story feels so personal 3:30 When productivity becomes identity 5:20 The cost of always being the capable one 7:03 Health, burnout, and the wake-up call 8:00 Learning to rest without guilt 9:03 Worth apart from performance Your Turn This week’s gentle reflection: Who are you when nothing is checked off your list? Where might you be invited—not corrected—to rest, to be present, and to remember who you are apart from what you do? 💛 Let’s Stay Connected I really do mean it when I say: my DMs are always open. ✨ Got a story to share? A moment that hit home? Slide in anytime. Here’s where to find me and go deeper: Instagram →⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/withmywholeheart.podcast]⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jessica_hustleandheartsalon/] Podcast blog →⁠ ⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/⁠⁠ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/blog/]  Salon home →⁠⁠ ⁠ [https://www.hustleandheart.salon]⁠https://hustleandheartsalon.com/ [https://hustleandheartsalon.com/] MB01IMID3BORMQE