#308 Are You Practicing Self-Care or Just Trying to Escape?

A Leader’s Purpose: Navigating Career and Life-Defining Moments with Clarity, Confidence, and Purpose for High-Level Leaders Ready to Lead with Purpose over Pressure

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22d ago 28:00

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Have you ever booked a vacation, binge-watched a show, or “treated yourself” just to numb out from your life? You’re not alone—but that’s not self-care. That’s escape.

In this powerful Summer Redux episode, we explore the difference between true whole self-care and self-triage—that frantic urge to escape your life instead of build one you love. Tami shares how subtle avoidance habits sneak in, what signs to watch for, and how to create a rhythm of rest and restoration before burnout takes over.

This conversation will challenge how you think about your routines, responsibilities, and rest. It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing what actually fills your cup.

If you’re craving peace, presence, and purpose—this one’s for you.

💬 “You can’t escape your way into peace. You have to create a life you don’t want to run from.”

“Rest is not the opposite of productivity. Escape is.”

“You’re not avoiding because you don’t care—you’re avoiding because you care too much and don’t know how to refill.”

Want to Go Deeper?

Ready to stop circling your calling and finally get clear on what’s next?
Take the Purpose Map Quiz—just 7 powerful questions to uncover what’s keeping you stuck and the next aligned step you’re meant to take.

👉 Discover your Purpose Archetype now: TamiMarieCoaching.com/quiz

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Escape Mode ≠ Self-Care
When you feel the need to escape your life—through TV, travel, social scrolling, or numbing behaviors—you’re not resting, you’re surviving. That’s self-triage, not restoration.
The Warning Signs Are Subtle at First
Avoidance of simple tasks, overwhelm that never lifts, short-lived relief from “treat yourself” activities—these are all signs that your self-care might actually be escapism in disguise.
Whole Self-Care Fills, Not Patches
True self-care is proactive, consistent, and sustaining. It doesn’t “fix” the pain for a moment—it helps prevent the crash altogether. Whole self-care includes things like mindfulness, movement, stillness, community, and values-based decisions.
Balance Isn’t Equal, It’s Intentional
Your energy won’t be split 50/50 in every season. Balance means knowing what you need right now to stay grounded and joyful—and intentionally adjusting your rhythm to support that.
Small Shifts → Big Results
One boundary. One intentional no. One nourishing action instead of a numbing one. That’s how you start building a life you don’t want to run from. Your cup doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to stop leaking.

✨ The One Thing You Don’t Want to Miss:

➡️ Taking care of yourself should be a practice you incorporate every day…not as escape plan (let’s not chuck it all and move to Bali).

💪 Challenge if you choose to accept it:

Check in with yourself this week: Are you numbing or nourishing? Make one small shift from avoidance to intentional care. Bonus: Start a “whole self-care” list to remind yourself what truly refuels you.

📝 Journal Prompt for Reflection:

Where in your life are you using “rest” to escape instead of to restore? What would change if you got honest about what you really need?

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Thank you for being here, Friend. You are capable, you are seen, and you are ready to step into your calling. Choose joy until joy chooses you! 💛

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For more information on the song:
Guitalele's Happy Place by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2017 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. https://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/56194 Ft: Kara Square (mindmapthat)
Copyright Daily Choosing Joy LLC 2025

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