Episode 10 - More Possibilities, Less Judgment with Kathy Hadizadeh

By Jessica Garrison

Our guest this week, Kathy Hadizadeh, is a colorful woman who is known for her smile and enthusiasm for life. Even though I haven’t met Kathy personally, after listening to her episode and working on this blog, I adore who she is and what she stands for.

The conversation of boundaries stuck out to me greatly during this episode because Kathy covers a variety of facets that we don’t always think of but are important to remember nonetheless. She brought up the difference in stressors that I think everyone should know about. Not all stressors are bad, even though the word has a negative connotation. The kind of stress we don’t want is called distress, and that can negatively impact our bodies and health; it’s what we immediately think of when we hear the word stress. However, there is another stressor called eustress that is actually beneficial to us, keeping us motivated and focused. A few examples of what can cause eustress are starting a new job, traveling, or meeting new people. Kathy talks about the significance of knowledge in our lives, and by continuing to educate ourselves, we can discover our best selves along the way.

There’s many layers when it comes to our boundaries, and we’re constantly learning about ourselves as we maneuver our way through life. As Kathy pointed out, if we’re not feeling good in our bodies or in our minds, then we’re not likely to make good decisions. Sustaining boundaries is similar to self care—if we don’t stand by them, then it continues to weigh on us until we don’t have a choice anymore. We reach a point of exhaustion or burnout (another difference that Kathy reminds us is important to learn), but we don’t want to see people hit a wall before they start taking care of themselves. By starting now, you have a better chance of understanding your boundaries and why sticking to them matters.

Melissa always introduces our guests by their character traits rather than what they do for a living because we are more than just our jobs. We are more than just a banker, engineer, doctor, teacher, or whatever profession the guest may have. However, with how much we expect people to work in our society and the importance we put on our careers, it becomes a part of our identities as Kathy points out, and it can become difficult to let go. Working is a balance, and that’s where our boundaries are typically tested the most.

I could go on forever with the topic of boundaries, let alone everything else in this episode, but Kathy has her own website where you can check out her story, her mission, and how she helps others. She has such a powerful story, and there is a great deal to take away from it—I can’t wait to hear what everyone else’s favorite parts were.

Ways to Engage: Next time you’re feeling stressed, decipher how this may impact you. Is it eustress that can be beneficial for your body? Or is it distress, and you need to take a few moments to breathe. Sometimes we confuse excited stress for nervousness, and it can change our whole mindset by getting a new perspective. Not all stress is bad, and by learning more and creating conversations, we can begin to move past this common misconception.