In this reintroduction episode, Dr. Z returns to the mic after a season of intentional quiet. She shares what’s been happening behind the scenes, why the pause was necessary, and what’s slowly and deliberately coming back online. From yoga and Freedom Tea Talks to workshops, email offerings, and deeper integration of feminine and masculine energy, this episode is an invitation to witness evolution in real time. Dr. Z reflects on letting go of overextending for others, honoring hibernation seasons, asking better questions, and choosing harmony over hustle, while welcoming listeners back into the next chapter of Greater Self.

Timestamps & Topics:

00:00 – 01:00 | Returning to Freedom Tea Talks & setting the tone

01:00 – 02:00 | Reintroduction: who Dr. Z is and what she holds space for

02:00 – 03:00 | Calendar new year vs. environmental new year & hibernation seasons

03:00 – 04:15 | What was paused, what’s returning, and why

04:15 – 05:30 | Choosing self-focus after years of meeting others’ expectations

05:30 – 06:30 | Email list, inner circles, and why proximity matters

06:30 – 08:00 | Quiet seasons, grief, release of “strong friend” identity

08:00 – 09:30 | Why yoga keeps calling her back (beyond poses)

09:30 – 11:00 | Harmony over balance: integrating feminine & masculine energy

11:00 – 12:30 | Asking better questions and waiting for aligned answers

12:30 – 14:15 | The mug story: assumptions, communication, and missed joy

14:15 – 15:30 | What’s coming back: yoga classes, workshops, live spaces

15:30 – 17:00 | Invitations to connect, collaborate, and create in community

17:00 – End | Growth isn’t comfortable — but alignment wins every time

Key Takeaways:

Silence can be a strategy, not a setback.

Hibernation seasons are for planting, not forcing new beginnings.

When you prioritize others’ goals, your own vision will stall.

Harmony matters more than balance when designing your life.

Asking questions prevents unnecessary disappointment and delay.

Yoga is more than movement — breath alone is already practice.

Growth doesn’t have to make sense to others to be right for you.

Showing up imperfectly is still showing up.

Quotes from the Episode:

"Just because I don’t always post things, doesn’t mean there aren’t things happening."

"If you’re pouring more time into someone else’s goals, don’t be surprised when yours don’t grow."

"I’m no longer an employee of anyone’s company but my own."

"Respectfully, I have always said—if I could, I would do yoga all day."

"Take a deep inhale. Exhale. Guess what? You’ve already done yoga."

"The strong friend? Superwoman? I laid those down. Everybody else was benefiting, but I kept burning out."

"Silence isn’t absence. Sometimes it’s healing, grieving, or becoming again."

"You don’t need what’s right for you to be right for everyone else. Just make sure it works for you."

"Instead of making assumptions, ask the question. The answer might change everything."

"What I’m building next doesn’t need to look like the past. It needs to work for who I am now."

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🔗Links and Resources:

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• Website: http://greaterself.org/

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• Let’s book a Therapy Consultation: https://mentalhealthmatch.com/therapist-profile/california/dr-zerri-gross

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