In this episode, I talk about something I see constantly in high performers and leaders: burnout doesn’t always come from failure or chaos, it often shows up when things are going well. More opportunity, more responsibility, more visibility can quietly outpace our internal capacity.

I break down what psychology calls role strain, why doing more discipline or optimization won’t fix it, and how emotional honesty and clarity are what actually expand your ability to handle life.

This conversation is about learning what truly drains you, building internal reinforcement, and creating capacity that grows with your success instead of collapsing under it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• People often crack when success outpaces internal capacity
  
  
• Capacity does not expand through pressure, but through recovery and repetition
  
  
• Emotional labor drains more energy than physical work
  
  
• Suppressing feelings and constant self-monitoring exhausts the nervous system
  
  
• Handling your life is about clarity, not toughness
  
  
• Knowing what actually drains you is more important than what should drain you
  
  
• Emotional literacy prevents burnout more than emotional armor
  
  
• Speaking sooner and deciding cleaner protects your energy
  
  
• Clarity reduces friction and preserves capacity
  
  
• Internal reinforcement must grow alongside external success

Links and Resources:

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

The Happy Stack Newsletter: https://happystack.substack.com/

Success Takes Courage Book: https://a.co/d/dgOqpbj

If this episode helped you rethink why success sometimes feels heavier instead of lighter, share it with someone who’s carrying more than they realize.

Subscribe to The Happy Stack Podcast so you don’t miss future conversations on building a life that actually feels sustainable.

• (00:00:01) - How to Raise Your Confidence

In this episode, I explore a truth many high performers live but rarely name: ambition can coexist with healing—but only if your nervous system isn’t stuck in survival.

I unpack why staying busy often becomes a coping mechanism, how success can mask unresolved stress, and why waiting to “pause life” to heal doesn’t actually work.

This conversation is about learning how to regulate while moving, finish the stress cycle in real time, and build a life where ambition doesn’t come at the cost of your body, relationships, or peace.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• You don’t need to stop performing to heal—you need to regulate while you move
  
  
• Ambition often becomes a strategy to outrun discomfort and unresolved stress
  
  
• A dysregulated nervous system keeps success from ever feeling safe or satisfying
  
  
• Healing doesn’t require retreat; it requires awareness and completion
  
  
• Finishing the stress cycle is essential for long-term resilience
  
  
• Productivity can coexist with regulation when safety is restored
  
  
• Your body doesn’t need less drive—it needs more recovery signals
  
  
• Healing in motion prevents burnout without killing momentum

Links and Resources:

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

The Happy Stack Newsletter: https://happystack.substack.com/

Success Takes Courage Book: https://a.co/d/dgOqpbj

If this episode helped you see your ambition differently, share it with someone who’s succeeding on the outside but struggling on the inside.

Subscribe to The Happy Stack Podcast and choose one way this week to finish your stress cycle instead of pushing through it.

• (00:00:01) - How to Stake Out a Happy Life
• (00:06:41) - How to Shorten Your Stress Cycle

In this episode, I unpack one of the most uncomfortable truths I’ve had to learn in my own leadership and life: boundaries aren’t about keeping people out, they’re about keeping me intact.

I explore why high performers struggle to say no, how people-pleasing becomes a survival strategy, and why guilt shows up the moment we start prioritising ourselves. I also break down the science behind boundaries, the nervous system, and why clarity is one of the kindest things we can offer ourselves and others.

If you’ve been running on empty, giving more than you have, or feeling resentful and drained, this one will hit home.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Boundaries aren’t walls — they’re vulnerability in action.
  
  
• Saying yes when you mean no teaches people your needs don’t matter.
  
  
• Healthy boundaries make relationships stronger, not weaker.
  
  
• Guilt isn’t a sign you’re doing something wrong — it’s a sign you’re healing old patterns.
  
  
• The nervous system stabilizes when you communicate clearly and stop overextending.
  
  
• Boundaries must be proactive, not reactive.
  
  
• People may resist your boundaries at first, especially if they benefited from your lack of them.
  
  
• You need internal boundaries just as much as external ones.
  
  
• Clear communication prevents resentment, burnout, and emotional leakage.
• Protecting your energy is not selfish — it’s leadership.

Links and Resources:

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

The Happy Stack Newsletter: https://happystack.substack.com/

Success Takes Courage Book: https://a.co/d/dgOqpbj

If this episode gave you the nudge or clarity you’ve been needing, share it with someone who’s overdue for a boundary reset.

And if you haven’t yet, subscribe so you never miss a new episode of The Happy Stack Podcast.

• (00:00:01) - The Happy Stack Podcast
• (00:00:33) - Why Boundaries Are So Hard to Get
• (00:07:17) - Setting Boundaries for Yourself
• (00:09:00) - Setting Boundaries for Your Relationships
• (00:10:22) - Happy Stack: Stacking Wins