Episode 2 — You Are Not Your Job

We've quietly agreed, as a society, that what you do for money is the same thing as who you are — and this week Abby pushes back on that. Starting from the most ordinary question in the world ("So, what do you do?"), this episode makes the case that you are so much more than your job, and that it's completely okay for a job to be just a job — a means to fund a life you love. Abby walks through two signs worth listening to when a role no longer fits: the Sunday dread and the slow drain of motivation. She digs into the science of why those signals matter — including Self-Determination Theory and why intrinsically motivated people actually perform better and burn out less — and explains why the popular advice to "monetize your passion" or "just do what you're talented at" can quietly backfire. She closes with two honest questions to sit with this week: What would you do if no one was watching? What scares the hell out of you?

Key takeaways:

• A job doesn't have to be your dream to be worthwhile — the problem starts only when it prevents the life you actually want.
• Sunday dread and lost motivation are information, not character flaws.
• Turning something you love into a paycheck can quietly kill the love (the overjustification effect) — some things are meant to be loves, not livelihoods.
• You're allowed to change your mind about your career. Every role teaches you something — sometimes what you don't want.

Research referenced: Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan); Sunday Scaries surveys by Adobe, Zety & LinkedIn" —