Deconstruct to Reconstruct

Sip of the Week: Jillian's opening wisdom stopped me in my tracks: "I think first we have to just get real, because I don't think that we're real with ourselves a lot of the time." She called out the lie we tell ourselves - that we don't care what others think - when the truth is we deeply, desperately care. This honesty becomes the foundation for everything else. Jillian shared her framework of deconstruction (facing the uncomfortable truths about beliefs that no longer serve us) followed by reconstruction (building a life aligned with our authentic values). The conversation highlighted how boundaries aren't walls that divide but bridges that create deeper connections when we stop trying to manage everyone else's emotions and reactions- Listen Now!

Let it Brew: This episode dives deep into the uncomfortable but necessary work of releasing others' expectations while maintaining relationships we value. Jillian emphasizes that authentic living requires brutal honesty about how much we actually care what others think, followed by the difficult deconstruction of beliefs that no longer serve us. The conversation explores the grief process of outgrowing old patterns and the reconstruction work of building a life aligned with our true values. Through practical examples and therapeutic insights, we learn that boundaries aren't walls that divide us but bridges that create deeper, more honest connections when we stop trying to manage everyone else's emotions.

Post-Tea Pursuits: PRACTICE THE "PARKING LOT" METHOD this week.

Following Jillian's therapeutic approach, commit to one week of building your tolerance for discomfort using these strategies:

• Before automatically responding to others' expectations, "park" the impulse for 10 minutes and sit with the discomfort
• Start with small boundary moments: not answering calls after 8pm, excusing yourself from political conversations, or saying "I'll call you back in 10 minutes" instead of immediately picking up
• Practice radical acceptance: when someone disagrees with you, try saying "I understand we disagree and I'm okay with that" instead of trying to change their mind
• Identify one person on a similar growth path who can validate your struggles and support your boundary-setting journey

WRITE DOWN your biggest insight from sitting with discomfort this week. Notice what happens when you don't immediately react to others' emotions or expectations. Remember: other people's feelings are their business, not yours to micromanage!