018: When to Stay and When to Go

In this honest and validating episode, Jillian and Meg explore what it means to work inside systems that are not always well, conscious, or emotionally healthy. Not every workplace is built with emotional intelligence, self-awareness, or supportive leadership, yet many people still find themselves needing to show up, perform, and stay grounded.This conversation is a guide for navigating those environments without losing yourself. Jill and Meg unpack how to maintain integrity, energy, and boundaries, while also discerning when a job can be navigated with rooted professionalism and when it might truly be time to go.What We Explore:The Myth of the Perfect WorkplaceWhy the fantasy of a fully aligned, fully conscious workplace often sets us up for disappointmentHow to differentiate between normal workplace challenges and truly unhealthy environmentsThe grounding truth from Gallup: only 23 percent of employees worldwide feel meaningfully engagedDisengagement vs Energetic ProtectionHow to tell when you’re checked out versus wisely protecting your nervous systemWhy your energy naturally adapts in environments that lack emotional intelligenceWhy disengagement is often a sign of deeper wisdom, not apathyEmotional Contagion at WorkResearch showing that mood spreads quickly through teamsHow one person’s unmanaged stress or hostility affects an entire environmentWhy boundaries and emotional awareness are essential for protecting your own experienceBurnout as a Systemic IssueThe World Health Organization defines burnout as a workplace problem, not a personal flawWhy you can be doing your absolute best in a broken system and still feel depletedJill shares how operational load affects human behavior and why Trellis exists to relieve that burdenRooted ProfessionalismPracticing “detached concern”: caring deeply without self-abandonmentResearch from healthcare and caregiving showing lower burnout when professionals have healthy emotional boundariesMeg’s insights on holding empathy without over-identifying or being consumedIdentity and ResilienceStudies on role detachment: why separating your identity from your job increases resilienceUnderstanding the difference between what you do and who you areHow identity detachment protects your joy and prevents burnout in unwell systemsKey Themes and TakeawaysMost workplaces are not emotionally awareAnd that has nothing to do with your worth or your performance.Your job does not define youA healthy separation makes you stronger, clearer, and more resilient.Boundaries are professionalismCaring deeply does not require sacrificing yourself.Burnout is not your faultOften it reflects systemic issues outside your control.Staying or leaving is a conscious choiceBoth are valid when done from clarity, not fear.Questions to Reflect OnWhat needs to be true for you to stay?What is a hard limit or boundary that protects your wellbeing?If that boundary is crossed, what plan would you put in motion to leave?Resources MentionedAmy Porterfield — “Two Weeks Notice”A guide for planning a transition with intention and empowerment.We Would Love to Connect With YouYour reflections, questions, and lived experiences mean so much to us.If this episode resonates, please share it, leave a review, or reach out.Connect with Jillian:Website: https://trellissuite.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-pezet-trellis/Email: [email protected] with Meg:Website: profoundwellness.netEmail: [email protected]: facebook.com/megan.fikseInstagram: instagram.com/m.laidlaw