Episode 143: The Soft Work of Healing – Why Feeling Good Is Part of the Process

This episode is your permission slip to stop grinding and start healing—gently.

In this heartfelt episode of Medium Lady Talks, Erin shares a deeply personal talk on reclaiming “soft work” as a vital part of healing. Inspired by a moment with her therapist and delivered originally at the Say It Like You Claimed It event with Jam Gamble, this message is a reminder that you can’t recover from burnout by doing more hard work.

Instead, you need softness.

🪷 Erin breaks down:

• What “soft work” is and why it matters (think: joy, rest, nature, play)

• Why soft work activates the vagus nerve and heals the nervous system

• The limiting beliefs that make rest feel unearned or frivolous

• The science behind why kindness and pleasure help you recover

• How to reprogram your brain to notice joy again

Whether you’re exhausted from doing everything “right” or just need a moment to feel seen, this episode will help you soften into the truth: you are not broken. You’re just overdue for joy.

📚 Mentioned in this episode:

• Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith

• Women Who Work Too Much by Tamu Thomas

• Reclaim Yourself by Dr. Thema Bryant

• What It Takes to Heal by Prentis Hemphill

• Fiction from Kennedy Ryan, Tia Williams, Kiley Reid, and Toni Morrison

💬 Ask yourself: What kind of soft work have I been craving?

💬 Let Erin know what “real rest” means to you over on Instagram @medium.lady—and share this episode with the friend who’s doing everything “right” and still wondering why she’s so tired.

 

This episode is part of our “Summer of Real Rest” series—time to call ourselves in to a true commitment to the soft work of feeling better one step at a time. 

 

🧡 If this episode resonates with you:

• Share it with a friend who needs a little extra encouragement

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more than you know

• DM me on Instagram @medium.lady or tag your favorite quote from the episode

• Subscribe for more real talk about building a life you love—one medium-effort step at a time
  
  

Looking for more support? Access exclusive content and mindful living tools on Patreon. 

Join the conversation! Share one need you're naming today and tag @medium.lady on Instagram.

The series starts here! 

Don’t forget to subscribe! If this episode resonates, share it with a friend or leave a review—it helps others find the show!

Other Related Episodes (for your enjoyment):

Episode 70: My Life-Changing Perspective on Having the Best Summer EVER

Episode 103: Four Questions to Free Yourself from Summer Stress Part One

Episode 104: Four Questions to Free Yourself from Summer Stress Part Two

Episode 106: Six Things Saving My Summer 

 

Medium Lady Reads Episode 43 - Our Best Recommendations for Your Summer Reading Pile

 

Connect with Erin:

• Instagram: @medium.lady
• Patreon: www.patreon.com/mediumlady 
• Email: mediumladytalks@gmail.com 
• Explore more book-related content on "Medium Lady Reads." - link to Spotify
• Instagram: @mediumladyreads

Key Words: #softwork #burnoutrecovery #restasresistance #nervoussystemhealing #mediumladytalks #mentalhealthawareness #joyishealing #radicalrest