Velvet Handcuffs

You’ve heard of golden handcuffs — the money, the perks, the financial incentives that keep you tied to a job you no longer want.But what happens when the thing keeping you stuck isn’t money?In this episode, we explore the concept of velvet handcuffs, which are the roles, identities, and responsibilities that look successful on paper but quietly create internal misalignment.Velvet handcuffs are subtle.There’s no dramatic crisis.No obvious failure.You’re competent. Respected. Accomplished.And yet something feels off.In this episode, we break down:• What velvet handcuffs actually are • Why high-achieving women are especially vulnerable to them • The role identity plays in keeping you stuck • Why logic alone won’t free you • How misalignment erodes energy over time • The first step toward loosening the grip without blowing up your lifeIf you’ve ever thought, “I should be happy,” while quietly feeling restless, this conversation will give you language for what’s happening beneath the surface.Alignment isn’t about escape.It’s about agency.Work With MeIf this episode gave you language for something you’ve been noticing in your work or your life and you’re still sorting through what to do with it, you don’t have to figure that out on your own.I offer Alignment Calls for women who are beginning to see things more clearly but aren’t interested in rushing into decisions or making dramatic changes.These conversations are a space to think through what’s actually going on, what you’re continuing to choose, and what a more aligned next step could look like for you.If that’s something you want support with, you can book a call through the link in the show notes.https://calendly.com/shainajonescoaching/alignment-call Website: https://www.shainajonescoaching.com