Headspace_logo_svg
Try for freeTry for free
PodcastGetting Off The Escalator

Getting Off The Escalator

Sometimes fear can keep us from seizing new opportunities. Dora talks about how evaluating our current path can help us decide whether it’s time to take a new leap.

Try 14 days free
Share:

Better mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.

Better mental health starts with Headspace

(inspiring music) Headspace Studios. Hello world. It's Dora here, and you're listening to the "Sunday Scaries." Welcome back. In the last episode, we talked about how sitting with the feeling of regret instead of avoiding it can help you make better choices about your weekends. Believe it or not, there's a lot to learn from examining the feelings that arise with the Sunday Scaries. Sometimes a feeling that can be really present on Sundays when the work we gloom's large is being unsure about your career or schooling choices. So this episode is for you if you found yourself working in a job or going to school for the sake of doing it and getting it done, but not fully enjoying it. I've mentioned this before, but I haven't always worked at Headspace. In fact, my journey to becoming a meditation teacher was not a linear one. My original dream was to be a psychiatric nurse. I had always felt really passionate about mental healthcare and being of service to people. So I got on the track to make happen. I got a degree in psychology. Then I went through a four year nursing program. After that, I took some exams and voila, meet professional psychiatric nurse, Dora Kamau. Initially, I was so happy when I finally accomplished this goal. And honestly, I hadn't thought of much else the whole time I was in the program. I was just so determined to finish and get started with the rest of my life. But wow, those feelings of excitement and fulfillment disappeared quickly. After only a few months in, I realized, whoa, this was not what I expected, but I kept pushing through. I had worked to get here and I couldn't just abandon everything. I couldn't just quit. I was on an escalator going up and up and up. And if I got off it, then where would that leave me? Sometimes fear of the unknown can keep us with what's familiar. So can money and time. Investing your hard earned cash into something like school or investing years of your life into a job can really make you push pause on change, even when you're unhappy. In my case, fear kept me on this imaginary escalator for a while. Education holds high value in my family, so there was a fear of letting them down. So doing anything outside of the bachelor's, master's, PhD pipeline would bring great shame to those that I love. And I would rather force myself to do the psych nurse thing than risk losing it all for something even worse. So every day I woke up, clocked in, went home sad, and then did it all over again. But fear isn't really a good enough reason for sticking with most things, you know? A job, a romantic partner, a friendship. Staying in a place because you're scared of the alternative may just be the definition of self sabotage. Sometimes we have to get off...

Details

TypePodcast
Duration8 min

About your teachers

  • A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.

    More about Andy
  • Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.

    More about Eve
  • As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.

    More about Dora
  • Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.

    More about Kessonga
  • Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.

    More about Rosie
Look After Your Mind

Look after your mind

Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges

Science Backed

Science-backed

Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being

Explore Content

Explore 1000+ 
expert-led exercises

Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.

Member reviews

Hear from some of our members

Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.

Rachel

UK

Member-Icon-01

Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.

Davide

London

Member-Icon-04

The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.

Alicia

Canada

Member-Icon-03

Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

Keri

UK

Member-Icon-02

Related to 'Getting Off The'

More to explore

Beginning Meditation

Explore-More-Icon-02

Reframe Stress and Relax

Explore-More-Icon-01

New and Popular

Explore-More-Icon-03

Becoming a Mindful Parent

Explore-More-Icon-04
    • Terms & conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Consumer Health Data
    • Your privacy choices
      Privacy Choices Icon
    • CA Privacy Notice
  • © 2024 Headspace Inc.
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Consumer Health Data
  • Your privacy choices
    Privacy Choices Icon
  • CA Privacy Notice