The Hidden Cost of Being the Strong One

You’re the one everyone calls.
The one who holds it together.
The one who’s always “fine.”

But what does that strength actually cost?

In this episode of Coffee with Coaches, Dawnette and Lauren unpack the emotional weight of always being the strong friend — the supporter, the fixer, the steady one. We talk about how strength can quietly become a role instead of a choice, why strong people often go unchecked, and how carrying everything “well” doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy.

You’ll hear about:

• Why strong people are often misunderstood

• How assumptions replace real conversations

• The emotional toll of being everyone’s safe place

• Setting boundaries without guilt

• Why receiving isn’t weakness — it’s regulation

• How strength without support can turn into resentment

If you’ve ever felt unseen because you handle things gracefully…
If you’ve ever been told, “You’re strong, you can take it”…
If you’re tired of being the one who always pours but rarely gets poured into…

This conversation is for you.

And if you know someone who is “always fine,” consider sharing this episode with them — and maybe check on them, too.

We’re here to have the conversations most people don’t say out loud.

Are you really burnt out… or are you emotionally exhausted?

If rest hasn’t been helping, if time off doesn’t feel refreshing, or if you’re tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix — this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Dawnette Palmore and Lauren Cole unpack the difference between burnout and emotional exhaustion, and why so many high-capacity women, leaders, and helpers are carrying more than they realize.

Emotional exhaustion isn’t about doing too much. It’s about carrying too much — other people’s emotions, expectations, stress, fear, and even the constant noise of the news cycle.

We talk about:
• Why rest doesn’t work when you haven’t released
• The difference between empathy and emotional ownership
• How emotional overload turns into physical exhaustion
• Why you don’t have to fix everything you hear
• Creating emotional boundaries without becoming cold

If you’re the strong friend, the fixer, the nurturer, or the one everyone leans on — this episode will give language to what you’ve been feeling and permission to put some of it down.

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Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything right… and still nothing feels clear?

You’re showing up. You’re planning. You’re praying. You’re executing. And yet, the pieces aren’t falling into place the way you expected.

In this episode of Coffee with Coachez, Dawnette and Lauren unpack the frustrating season where effort doesn’t immediately produce clarity. We talk about why confusion doesn’t mean failure, how growth often happens beneath the surface, and why sometimes the most powerful move you can make is to stand still without quitting.

Through real-life examples and powerful metaphors about seeds, seasons, and transformation, this conversation reminds you that pressure isn’t punishment — it’s preparation.

If you’re in a season where things feel unclear, discouraging, or delayed, this episode is your reminder: you’re not stuck… you’re becoming.

Grab your coffee and join us. ☕

Most people think they need more money, more time, or more opportunity to feel better, less stressed, or finally in control.
But what if more isn’t the answer?

In this episode of Coffee with Coachez, Dawnette Palmore and co-host Lauren Cole unpack the myth that more will fix what feels uncomfortable. They explore how avoidance doesn’t disappear when resources increase—it actually gets louder—and why clarity, discipline, and self-control are the real catalysts for change.

Through real-life examples, honest reflection, and practical insight, this conversation dives into money habits, time management, lifestyle creep, emotional stress, and the hidden cost of not facing hard truths. From six- and seven-figure earners still feeling stuck to everyday patterns of busyness and burnout, this episode challenges listeners to stop waiting for more and start dealing with what’s already there.

If you’ve been telling yourself, “Once things slow down…” or “When I make more…”—this conversation is for you.

Because more won’t fix what you refuse to face.

☕ Listen in, reflect, and join us for another real conversation on Coffee with Coachez.

Most people believe their stress will disappear with more money, more time, or more resources. But what if the real problem isn’t scarcity—it’s avoidance?

In this episode of Coffee with Coachez, hosts Dawnette Palmore and Lauren Cole unpack the hidden cost of avoiding hard conversations around money, time, habits, and responsibility. They challenge the belief that “more” is the solution and explain why clarity, discipline, and honest self-reflection are what actually create lasting change.

If you’ve ever said “When I make more money, things will calm down” or “If I just had more time, I’d get on track”—this conversation is for you.

In This Episode, We Discuss:• Why more money doesn’t fix poor financial habits
• How avoidance increases stress, anxiety, and overwhelm
• Lifestyle creep and why higher income often leads to bigger problems
• The role discipline and stewardship play in financial clarity
• How unmanaged money and time strain relationships
• Why clarity is always cheaper than avoidance
• How faith, silence, and self-awareness interrupt unhealthy cycles

Reflection Questions:

• What am I hoping more money or time will fix for me?
• What habits or behaviors am I avoiding looking at honestly?
• If more showed up tomorrow, would I steward it well?

Recommended Episodes:

• Episode 41 – Why January Is the Worst Time to Make Big Decisions
• Episode 42 – Capacity, Not Ambition, Is the Real Bottleneck
• Episode 43 – Discipline That Actually Creates Change

If you’re a business owner who keeps setting goals but struggles to stay consistent, this episode is your reset. Dawnette Palmore sits down with AJ Silva, owner of Semper Fi Wrestling, to break down how the discipline built on the wrestling mat is the same discipline you need for money habits, mindset, leadership, and business growth.

AJ shares why confidence isn’t something you “feel”—it’s something you build through repetition, practice, and showing up when no one is watching. You’ll hear powerful real-life examples about work ethic, delayed gratification, and how to stop chasing instant results so you can create consistent income and sustainable success in the new year.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why discipline beats motivation when it comes to goals, money, and business

• The “iceberg” truth of entrepreneurship: people see results, not the grind underneath

• How to build confidence that actually sticks (AJ’s “confidence comes from doing” framework)

• Why ego and perfectionism keep people stuck—and how to grow through “practice reps”

• A powerful mindset shift: you either win or you learn

• How sleep, recovery, and daily habits impact performance in sports and business

• Why consistent habits create financial stability, stronger leadership, and consistent outcomes

Takeaways for Entrepreneurs + High Performers:

Discipline isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters consistently. Whether you’re building a business, improving your finances, or trying to level up your mindset, this conversation will help you create a system for follow-through that lasts beyond January.

AJ Silva is the owner of Semper Fi Wrestling and has spent over 12 years in the wrestling community as both an athlete and coach. He trains kids and adults at all levels and is passionate about helping people build work ethic, resilience, and confidence through wrestling and martial arts.

Connect With AJ Silva:

• Instagram: @aj__silva (AJ underscore underscore Silva)

In this episode of Coffee with Coachez, hosts Dawnette Palmore and Lauren Cole dive into one of the biggest mindset shifts for entrepreneurs and high achievers: understanding capacity vs ambition.

Many people believe they struggle with discipline, motivation, or consistency — but the real issue is often burnout from chasing big goals without building the capacity to hold them. In this honest conversation about sustainable growth, Dawnette and Lauren explain why preparation matters more than hustle and how expanding your emotional, physical, and mental capacity prevents self-sabotage and burnout.

If you’ve ever felt busy but not productive, overwhelmed by your to-do list, or frustrated that your goals keep stalling, this episode reframes productivity vs busy and shows how to grow without pushing yourself into exhaustion.

Key Takeaways

• Why big goals fail without preparation and capacity
• How burnout is often a capacity issue, not a motivation issue
• The difference between discipline vs capacity in goal setting
• Why being busy doesn’t equal productivity
• How rest, boundaries, and downtime support sustainable growth
• How to prepare for big goals without overwhelming yourself
• What real consistency looks like for entrepreneurs

• Capacity is not weakness — it’s reality
• Sustainable growth requires structure, not pressure
• Avoiding burnout starts with preparation, not hustle
• Expanding capacity allows ambition to succeed

Your goals aren’t unrealistic. Before setting another one, ask:
What does my life have the capacity to hold right now — and what support needs to be added?

Growth isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about building a structure that can actually support the success you’re asking for.

Connect With Us📩 DM us on Instagram: @coffeewithcoachez

If this episode resonated, follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s navigating burnout and big goals.

January creates urgency — but urgency doesn’t equal clarity. In this episode of Coffee with Coachez, Dawnette Palmore and Lauren Cole unpack why so many New Year decisions are driven by emotion, pressure, and impulse rather than strategy. If you’ve ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or tempted to overhaul your life just because the calendar changed, this conversation will help you slow down and reset with intention.

Instead of rushing into resolutions, this episode reframes January as a season for observation, stabilization, and clarity — especially when it comes to finances, routines, and long-term goals.

• Why January feels urgent — and why that urgency is often misleading

• How emotional decision-making leads to burnout by mid-January

• The difference between being realistic vs impulsive with your goals

• Why stabilizing finances and routines should come before growth

• How to collect data on your habits before committing to change

• Why clarity creates better outcomes than pressure

• New Year anxiety and goal-setting pressure

• Financial stability after the holidays

• Burnout, exhaustion, and unrealistic expectations

• Sustainable habits vs motivation-based decisions

• Giving yourself permission to slow down

• Making decisions from clarity, not comparison

• Entrepreneurs and professionals feeling overwhelmed in January

• Anyone tired of setting the same goals every year without progress

• Listeners navigating financial stress after the holidays

• People who want sustainable change without burnout

You don’t owe the world a decision just because it’s January. The best choices come from clarity, not pressure.

Most people enter the new year carrying stress, habits, commitments, and emotional weight they were never meant to keep. In this episode, we explore how to pause, reflect, and release the patterns, roles, and attachments that are keeping you stuck. You’ll learn how to create a meaningful year-end reset that aligns with who you’re becoming — not who you’ve been. Walk away with clarity, courage, and a grounded path for stepping into 2026 lighter and more intentional.

Episode Highlights – What You’ll Learn
• Why we cling to habits, roles, and relationships that no longer serve us
• How to identify what you’re still carrying — emotionally, mentally, spiritually — that’s draining your capacity
• Practical steps for self-inventory, reflection, and resetting your life
• How faith, trust, and emotional honesty support true release
• A mindset shift: letting go is not loss — it’s preparation for what’s next

Connect With Your Hosts –
Instagram: @coffeewithcoachez

Resources Mentioned
Reflect + Reset journaling prompts
Year-end self-inventory exercise

The holidays can feel less like joy and more like pressure when everyone wants something from you at the same time. In this episode, we talk about the emotional, financial, and energetic weight that builds during the season—and why so many women feel responsible for making the holidays “perfect.” You’ll learn practical ways to set boundaries, release guilt, and simplify your commitments so you can experience the season without overwhelm. Walk away with permission to protect your time, your energy, and your peace.

Episode Highlights – What You’ll Learn
• The real reasons holiday overwhelm happens and why so many feel pressured to “do it all”
• How unrealistic expectations—your own and others’—create exhaustion, guilt, and burnout
• Strategies to reduce holiday stress: opting out, simplifying traditions, asking for help, and setting limits
• How to protect your money during a season filled with emotional spending and obligation
• Why saying “no” or “yes with limits” is an act of self-care, not selfishness
• Mindset takeaway: You are not responsible for creating a perfect season for everyone else—your peace matters too.

Connect With Your Hosts
Instagram: @coffeewithcoachez