You ever love your work so much it starts bleeding into everything else?
I’ve been there—where passion morphs into obsession, and fulfillment quietly turns to burnout. Today, we’re naming it with “The Passion Trap: Why Loving Your Work Can Destroy Your Boundaries”—because when passion becomes pathology, even your dream can drain you.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
* Why passion, when unguarded, can erode your physical, emotional, and relational health
* The subtle shift from mission-driven to self-sacrificing (and how to spot it early)
* How to reframe passion as a fuel source—not a prison sentence
This Episode Will Help You:
* Reclaim the boundaries you’ve blurred in the name of “loving the work”
* Reconnect to your identity beyond your output
* Protect what actually matters—your energy, your values, and your real relationships
If you loved today’s episode, here are some ways to take the next step:
* Share this episode with someone grinding out of love and help them build with boundaries.
* Subscribe to Daily Power Boost for grounded identity-based growth
* Join the R.E.A.L. Mastery™ Hub – Where we heal by integrating, not escaping. HERE
* Coming Soon: Watch identity coaching in real time inside our Beyond the Boost feature—live, unscripted transformation that shows how the work gets done in real life
* Engage with me online:
* Instagram: @coachshawnmichael
* TikTok: @coachshawnmichael
* YouTube: @coachshawnmichael
* LinkedIn: @coachinguatemala
Bonus Resources
Book a no-cost Success Blockers Call to identify where your passion has crossed into overextension—and how to reclaim your energy without killing your fire.
You don’t have to choose between your mission and your mental health.
On the Next Episode:
“The Feedback Fantasy: Why ‘Constructive Criticism’ Rarely Works” — because most feedback protects egos, not growth. Let’s fix that.
Reflection Prompts:
* Where has passion started costing you more than it’s giving you?
* When did you last say “no” to something that drained you—even if it looked “on mission”?
* What boundaries do you need to rebuild to protect your energy and your excellence?
Exercises:
* Audit Your Energy — List your top 5 weekly work tasks. Mark which ones energize you and which ones drain you. Notice patterns.
* Rebuild a Boundary — Choose one boundary that’s slipped (time, availability, emotional labor). Reinstate it clearly this week.
* Anchor Identity Beyond Output — Journal: “Who am I when I’m not producing?” Let that version of you guide your calendar this week.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trunorth.substack.com