Roots and Routes with Zee

Most people think happiness is something you find.Something that comes from the right people, the right outcomes, or the right timing.But what if that is the problem?In this episode, I unpack a hard truth I had to learn a few years ago. Happiness is not something you outsource. It is not someone else’s responsibility to carry, manage, or maintain.It is yours.We break down what happiness actually is, why tying it to people and circumstances creates instability, and how quietly handing over that responsibility can leave you feeling stuck, reactive, and dependent.This is not about being cold or pushing people away.It is about taking your power back.If you have ever felt like your mood depends on how others show up, or like you are waiting for things to go right before you feel okay, this episode will challenge that.What you will take from this episodeWhy happiness is an emotion, not a permanent stateHow we unknowingly outsource our happinessThe hidden cost of depending on people and outcomesWhat it actually looks like to take ownership of your emotional stateChallengeFor the next 24 hours, pay attention to every moment your mood shifts.Ask yourself:What have I tied my happiness to right now?Awareness is where the shift begins.Final ThoughtThe moment you stop outsourcing your happinessis the moment you take your power back.Music: “Cylinder Five” by Chris ZabriskieLicensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://chriszabriskie.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Most people don’t quit because it’s too hard…they quit because it feels like nothing is happening.In this episode, Who You’re Becoming (Even When No One Sees It), we dive into the quiet phase, the part of the journey where the effort is real, but the results aren’t visible yet.This is for the ones who are still showing up.The ones putting in the work without recognition.The ones questioning if it’s even worth it.Because the truth is…just because you can’t see the progress… doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.This episode is about:Building discipline in silenceUnderstanding the unseen phase of growthShifting focus from results to identityLeading and supporting others through the processIf you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but getting nothing back… this is for you.Keep going.Because who you’re becoming… matters more than what you’re chasing.Music: “Cylinder Five” by Chris ZabriskieLicensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://chriszabriskie.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The Quiet Deal I Made With LifeThere’s something I’ve carried with me for most of my life…A belief I formed when I was young.A promise I made to myself… that I wouldn’t live past 45.Not out of fear… but out of purpose.Growing up in an RDP house with limited resources shaped how I saw the world early. Time didn’t feel unlimited. Opportunities didn’t feel guaranteed. And somewhere along the way, I decided that if I lived well, built something meaningful, and did right by people… then I wouldn’t need to grow old.45 felt like enough.Enough time to learn.Enough time to build.Enough time to leave something behind.But also early enough to leave before decline… before losing control… before becoming a version of myself I wouldn’t respect.This episode unpacks where that belief came from… how it shaped the way I live… and what happens when the people around you start challenging something you’ve never questioned.Because this isn’t just about a number.It’s about the quiet agreements we all make with ourselves…and whether we’re living intentionally…or just following rules we wrote when we didn’t fully understand life yet.Music: “Cylinder Five” by Chris ZabriskieLicensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://chriszabriskie.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/