In this episode of Her Truth Revealed: Unraveling Our Midlife Era, I sit down with Lori Prutsman, burnout coach and former corporate executive, for a deeply honest conversation about ambition, exhaustion, and the quiet reckoning that often arrives in midlife.
This conversation is for the woman who has built a life that looks successful on the outside but feels depleted on the inside.
For the woman who is capable, driven, and reliable, yet quietly wondering how much longer she can keep going at this pace.
For the woman who senses that her exhaustion is not a failure, but a signal.
Lori shares her personal journey from senior leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies to a life-altering car accident that forced her to confront what years of overwork, self-abandonment, and relentless proving had done to her body and spirit.
What followed was not a dramatic collapse, but a slow and painful awakening.
Through medical leave, identity loss, grief, and deep inner work, Lori came face-to-face with a truth many midlife women avoid.
Burnout is not just about work.
It is about boundaries.
It is about worth.
It is about learning to stop proving and start listening.
Together, we explore:
• Why burnout is not a personal failure, but a systemic and emotional pattern
• How ambition can quietly become self-punishment
• The difference between courage and self-compassion, and why you need both
• Why asking “what is enough for today?” can be a radical healing practice
• How identity becomes tangled with productivity in midlife
• The hidden grief that comes with slowing down
• Why rest can feel terrifying for high-achieving women
• How burnout often traces back to earlier life experiences and trauma
• The importance of prevention, not just recovery
• What it truly means to put yourself first without guilt or shame
Lori also speaks candidly about perfectionism, workaholism, and the discomfort of sitting with yourself when the doing finally stops.
This episode is not about quitting your job.
It is about quitting the belief that your worth is measured by how much you endure.
If you are navigating exhaustion, questioning your pace, or feeling the tension between ambition and capacity, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
Because burnout is not the end of your story.
It is an invitation to live differently.
Today’s Guest: Lori Prutsman
Burnout Coach | Executive Coach | Speaker
Lori supports high-achieving professionals and organizations in recognizing, preventing, and recovering from burnout through reflection, boundary work, and compassionate self-leadership.
Connect with Lori and Explore Her Work
Website: https://www.loriprutsman.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeattleBurnoutCoach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seattleburnoutcoach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theburnoutcoach
Want to explore more powerful insights? Don’t miss the wisdom shared by all the authors in She Leads From Within: Intuitive Thought Leaders.
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