We left hustle culture and walked into another trap
The opposite of hustle is not always ease
We have been conditioned to think the opposite of hustle culture is ease, softness, letting things unfold.
But somewhere along the way, we escaped one trap and walked right into another.
We escaped the constant grind, yes. But then we made momentum, intensity, and drive into the enemy.
We stopped trusting that not all momentum needs to lead to burnout.
We forgot that aliveness has a full spectrum.
I have lived both extremes.
I burned out from overdoing. Then, I disconnected from my power by under doing.
In the name of ease, I let myself shrink until I had no capacity for life force to move through me. It disconnected me from the creative force within.
Both were reactions, not choices.
I have learned that I often need to experience the extremes to finally land somewhere in the middle. I know the human mind loves rules, clear conclusions, and over identifying with a single experience.
My burnout happened after a car accident. I pushed through a concussion and kept working when my nervous system desperately needed rest. I created a whole story from that experience: that I could not trust myself. I was angry for not seeing the signs.
But the truth is, if I went back, I would likely make the same choices. I had risked everything to start my business. I did not have the luxury of stopping. Who would pay for my rent and groceries?
When the pandemic happened and gyms and clinics closed, it felt like an exhale for my nervous system. I softened. It felt like the warmest hug I desperately needed. During that time, I moved to the UK to be with my then boyfriend, now husband. He happily took charge of our finances, and I had time to focus on healing without the pressure of making ends meet.
When I felt significantly better, I felt a nudge to get back to a routine, to show up again, to feel the joy of being created through. But a voice in my head kept telling me, “You cannot do that, you will burn out again.”
I was also surrounded by people who glamorized softness. This pushed me into the deep end of an ideology where I believed that to maintain a healthy nervous system, I needed to be all soft. But today I know a healthy nervous system knows how to activate and how to relax. This ability to pendulum is the very sign of health.
Not only that, I felt so much guilt and shame around my desire for more. I found myself constantly needing to explain myself to myself and to others, rather than letting my desire be enough.
The hardest thing I had to do was to uncondition myself from all or nothing, left or right, black and white narratives (and it continues).
I had to see there is always a third perspective. And it is closer to freedom of choice.
To live a sovereign life, we need to exercise our choices:
It means choosing the temperature of your life instead of being overwhelmed by it.
It means knowing when to bring the heat and when to cool down.
It is knowing when something serves you and when it costs you.
It is okay to let go of beliefs that no longer serve you.
Today is day 77 of my 100-day commitment to crafting the mind, body, and business I actually want to lead. I shared more about my process here ↓
When you create containers like this from a place of devotion to life rather than punishing yourself, beautiful things can happen. Here are some changes I’ve been experiencing:
I feel much clearer on what I want and need. This clarity has been uncomfortable at times, as it forces me to face my negative loyalties and false sense of belonging. It asks me to sit with the part of me that learned smallness was the only way to belong.
My seasonal anxiety, which often flares up in the colder months, has rarely appeared. I credit this to getting outside for a walk first thing in the morning, whether it rains or shines. I only skip it if the weather is stormy.
I see new muscles defining my body, and more importantly, I feel a lot stronger and it makes me feel more stable.
I have spent more time on posture and mobility practices, and I am loving the increased sense of freedom it has brought to my body.
I feel more in control of my attention and have greater level of motivation (this is probably had the biggest impact on my overall quality of life)
In this video, I explore the hidden trap that comes after stepping away from hustle, why constant ease can leave us feeling stuck, and how to find a middle path through a somatic practice that honors both flow and intentional intensity.
👁️ What your body has been trying to tell you?
The way we hold ourselves matters. Not just because of how it looks. But because it shapes how we live, how we relate, and what we’re capable of imagining. Let your body speak. Let it interrupt the collective war and offer you a new way of being entirely.
Client’s Unconditioning ↓
If you feel called to re-pattern your body, regulate your nervous system, and reclaim your power, I invite you to book Body Check-in call with me: https://tidycal.com/hedishah/the-alignment-diagnostic
During this session, we’ll assess your body’s current state, uncover hidden imbalances, and create a personalized movement plan to help you shift from tension into alignment.
Offerings↓ ↓
꩜ Embodied Monthly Reset
Nov 26 . Wednesday . 3 pm GMT
These sessions are designed to release the stress you have been carrying, reconnect with your body’s wisdom, and step into the new month with clarity and intention. In the final week of each month, we will come together for:
Nonlinear movement to shake off tension and emotional residue
Guided reflection to integrate what the month brought
Intentional planning to meet the next cycle grounded and resourced
This is about returning to your center, unconditioning yourself from systems built to keep you small, and living a sovereign life. Come as you are.
Leave lighter, clearer, and more connected.
Prepration:
- Wear comfy clothes
- Have plenty of space to move around
- Bring a pen and paper
Duration: 45-60 mins
Where: Insight Timer
Cost: Free or donation-based
Thank you for joining me on the path of unconditioning,
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Hedi Shah
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👁️ Bodyworker & Mindfulness Teacher
🐉 Nervous system regulation, breathwork, and posture-focused strength training to target the cause of what keeps you stuck and in pain, not just symptoms.
📲 Website | Youtube | LinkedIn | Insight Timer