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November 19, 2025 12 mins

3. when did you stop having fun?

High-achievers are out there optimizing joy… out of their lives. We've made everything transactional - even fun has to count for something or it feels like a waste of time. In this episode, I tune into the energy of fun, joy, and play and share three messages about reconnecting with what makes you happy. If you've forgotten what you actually enjoy (or feel guilty when you're not being productive), this one's for you.

 

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High-achievers are really good at optimizing joy out of their lives.


Everything becomes transactional. Exercise isn't for enjoyment - it's for health goals. Hobbies aren't for fun - they're for networking or skill-building or starting a side gig. Even relaxation becomes a self-care task to check off the list.

 

Fun has to count for something, or it feels like a waste of time.

 

Maybe you've been asked "what do you do for fun?" and drawn a blank. Not because you don't have an answer - but because you genuinely can't remember what actually makesyou happy.

 

That's kind of heartbreaking, isn't it?

 

In this episode, I'm exploring the energy of fun, joy, and play - what it actually means to prioritize these not as a reward, but as a way of being. I sat in meditation and asked: What dohigh-achievers need to know about reconnecting with joy?

 

Here's what came through.

 

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR:

  • 00:00 Introduction to The Unraveling Achiever
  • 00:44 How Achievers Optimize Joy Out of Their Lives
  • 01:55 The Guilt of Not Being Productive
  • 03:12 When Achievement Becomes a Coping Mechanism
  • 04:02 What If Joy Isn't Something You Have to Earn?
  • 04:36 Message One: It's Still in You (Follow Your Curiosity)
  • 06:30 Message Two: Don't Expect Too Much of Fun (Just Be Present)
  • 08:02 Message Three: Your Imaginary Friend (Visualize and Act)
  • 10:23 Recap: Sparking Fun as an Adult
  • 11:59 Soul Reading

 

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF:

  • You've optimized joy out of your life and everything feels transactional
  • You feel guilty when you're not being productive
  • You can't remember the last time you did something just for fun
  • Rest feels lazy and play feels childish
  • You make sure everyone else is happy but your joy comes last
  • You're afraid of what happiness might require you to change

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

No resources mentioned in this episode


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READY TO GO DEEPER?

If what you heard today resonated, I'd love to support you in going deeper.

Soul Reading is a 75-minute one-on-one session where I open your Akashic Records and help you reconnect with what your soul already knows about your path, your purpose, and what's next.

Learn more: ⁠⁠www.angelamckayllc.com/soul-reading⁠⁠

 

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LET'S STAY CONNECTED:

 

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ABOUT THE PODCAST:

The Unraveling Achiever is for the person who's done everything "right" and is questioning what that even means. Host Angela McKay - former SVP of HR turned intuitive career coach and soul reading practitioner - helps accomplished folks stop defaulting to what looks good and start building what feels true. You don't have to turn your life upside down. Just point your achiever energy toward a soul-led career andlife you'll love.

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