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Ever find yourself replaying conversations from 1997 at 2 AM? Welcome to the overthinking club—we meet in our heads, constantly, at all hours.

In this Soul Joy Friday Fun Day episode, we're diving into the spiritual and scientific reasons behind your mental hamster wheel. Perfect for healthcare professionals who've spent decades problem-solving for everyone else and now can't turn off their own racing thoughts.

What You'll Learn:

• Which three chakras are behind your overthinking (hint: your third eye is overachieving again)
• Why healthcare professionals overthink more than most—and why it's actually intensified after 50
• The neuroscience behind why you can't "think" your way to peace
• Three research-backed, spiritually-grounded practices to quiet your mind in under 5 minutes
• Why your overthinking isn't your enemy—it's just exhausted

Key Research Mentioned:

• Harvard University study on mind-wandering (47% of our waking hours)
• UC Berkeley research on overthinking in women over 50
• Yale's Dr. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema on rumination and control
• HeartMath Institute on breathing and nervous system regulation
• Dr. Kristin Neff's UT Austin research on self-compassion vs. rumination

Practices Shared:

1. The Third Eye Pressure Release (60 seconds) - Instant relief for analysis paralysis
2. The Throat Chakra Truth Bomb (5-minute journaling) - Reduce intrusive thoughts by 40%
3. The Crown Chakra Surrender Practice (evening ritual) - Permission to be enough

Quotable Moments:

• "You can't think your way out of a problem that requires you to FEEL."
• "Your chakras aren't broken. They're just overworked, like you."
• "Is this thought serving me, or am I serving this thought?"
• "You're not trying to be perfect. You're trying to be present. Big difference."

Resources:

• Book a clarity call: [your link]

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Why do the smartest women ignore their own bodies until it’s too late? In this powerful episode, Dr. Julie Merriman—counselor educator, burnout researcher, and breast cancer survivor—unpacks The Self-Neglect Paradox. Learn why high-achieving women delay care, how stress rewires the brain to miss warning signs, and what it really takes to stop over-functioning and start healing. Blending personal story, research, and actionable tools, this episode offers both science and soul for women ready to make their wellbeing non-negotiable.

Smart women don’t get sick, right? Until we do.

In this honest, science-backed conversation, Dr. Julie Merriman shares her own breast-cancer wake-up call and the hard truth behind why accomplished, educated women often become the worst patients. You’ll learn:

✨ Why intelligence becomes armor—and how “knowing better” actually feeds self-neglect.
🧠 What stress does to your brain and nervous system, blocking your body’s early warning signs.
💪 How to reframe self-care as ethical leadership, not indulgence.
💛 Four research-supported tools to make your health a professional priority.

If you’ve spent your life helping everyone else, it’s time to help yourself—with compassion, clarity, and courage.

Resources Mentioned:

• JAMA (2021) study on preventive care among healthcare professionals
• APA (2022) report on mental-health providers and therapy underuse
• The Soul Joy Method™ (www.JulieMerrimanphd.com)
• Join the 7-Day Soul Joy Challenge → JulieMerrimanphd.com/SoulJoyChallenge

Hashtags: #SoulJoyPodcast #WomenInHealthcare #BurnoutRecovery #SelfNeglectParadox #DrJulieMerriman #SoulJoyMethod

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Here’s the truth no one tells women over 50 about burnout: it’s not just exhaustion—it’s disconnection. Disconnection from laughter, friendship, and the real human moments that make life rich and funny and alive.

In this short, joy-packed episode, Dr. Julie shares the Connection Cure—a simple, free, and wildly effective way to start feeling human again. You’ll laugh, nod, and maybe even text a friend before the episode is over.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
💬 Why burnout is often a symptom of disconnection, not weakness.
😂 How humor becomes rebellion against exhaustion and “fine.”
📱 A 3-text challenge that can reconnect you with real joy in under 5 minutes.
💛 The surprising truth: joy was never gone—it was just waiting for you to remember it.

Homework:
→ Text three women in your life and say something real. Not “Hope you’re well!” — something human and a little messy. See what comes back. That’s the Connection Cure.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who can I reach out to this week for real connection?
2. What made me laugh recently—even when life felt heavy?
3. How can I stop performing “fine” and start allowing joy?

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
#SoulJoyPodcast #WomenOver50 #BurnoutRecovery #JoyIsMedicine