The Greater Self Vibes

Dr. Zerri Gross

The podcast for therapist and their clients that want support with time management, ADHD, EMDR, trauma, mind/body connection, yoga, career options, goal setting to go from surviving to thriving. Let's S.E.T. I.T. O.F.F. ✨

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 170: Who’s Plotting Against Your Happiness?

    In Episode 170, Dr. Z asks listeners to consider whether someone is really plotting against their happiness—or if they are accidentally plotting against themselves by holding on to old versions, past opinions, rumors, and fear of judgment. She explores how people can become so worried about who they used to be, or what others may think of them, that they stop showing up fully in the present. This episode is a reminder that other people’s opinions do not have to become the script for your life. Dr. Z encourages listeners to stop giving too much power to people who are not actively shaping their real lives, and instead focus on who they are becoming now, how they want to show up, and how much joy, play, and freedom they are willing to let themselves experience. Show Notes: Asking who is really blocking your happiness Letting go of old versions of yourself Why past rumors and opinions do not have to define you Worrying about how people remember you from high school, reunions, or old seasons The difference between people knowing you and knowing of you Why other people’s opinions are not your business Giving yourself permission to evolve Meeting people as they are today, not only who they used to be Asking if you are the barrier to your own success Choosing fun, play, productivity, and ease Unclenching your pearls instead of overthinking everything Disconnect to Reconnect invitation for October 17 in Azusa 00:00 – 01:42 | Welcome, setup, and introducing the episode 01:42 – 03:17 | Who is really preventing your happiness? 03:17 – 04:24 | Past opinions, old versions, and social settings 04:24 – 06:20 | Did you actually change, or are you still living under old stories? 06:20 – 07:40 | Other people’s opinions are not your business 07:40 – 09:35 | Living beyond rumors and other people’s narratives 09:35 – 11:38 | Are you plotting against yourself? 11:38 – 13:38 | Meeting people as they are today 13:38 – 15:34 | Clearing the air, choosing your response, and moving accordingly 15:34 – 17:35 | Evolving into a version of yourself you actually like 17:35 – 19:17 | Play, productivity, and not taking yourself so seriously 19:17 – 21:24 | Disconnect to Reconnect: sunset flow, yoga, release, and sound healing 21:24 – 22:35 | Final invitation and closing reflections Key Takeaways: The person blocking your happiness may not be someone else—it may be the old story you keep replaying. You do not have to live by who people thought you were years ago. Other people’s opinions only deserve power if you keep handing it to them. People can know of you without truly knowing you. Quotes from the Episode: “Who’s plotting against your happiness?” “Is it somebody else, or is it really you?” “Other people’s opinion of you is not your business.” “They didn’t know who I was then. They knew of me.” “You could be the most amazing person in the world to one person, and another can have an opinion and experience of you that is the complete opposite.” “Are you plotting against yourself?” “The part you have most control over is where your attention lies.” ---------- 🔗Links and Resources: • Events: https://www.greaterself.org/hello • Join our mailing list: https://greater-self.com/mailing-list2025  • Grab your FREE self-care guide here: https://greater-self.com/paymefirst  • Hemp, Mushroom and Health: http://drz.greencompassglobal.com/  • Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bZqi7vOeiX0TUO94zwKgg#_=_ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greaterself_dr.z/ • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greaterself_dr.z  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zerri-gross-1a033978/%20/   • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greaterself.dr.z  • Website: http://greaterself.org/  • Tools/Products I use: https://greater-self.com/affiliate-links  • Let’s book a Therapy Consultation: https://mentalhealthmatch.com/therapist-profile/california/dr-zerri-gross

    Episode 170: Who’s Plotting Against Your Happiness?
  2. Sep 23

    Episode 169: What If Being a Good Person Is Costing You Your Life?

    In Episode 169, Dr. Z asks a powerful question: what if being a “good person” is costing you your life? She challenges the idea that goodness means being endlessly available, agreeable, forgiving, useful, or self-sacrificing. Instead, she invites listeners to redefine goodness through alignment, self-respect, values, responsibility, and boundaries. This episode speaks directly to strong friends, over-givers, people-pleasers, and anyone who has tolerated disrespect, overextended themselves, rescued others from consequences, or abandoned their own needs just to be seen as good. Dr. Z reminds listeners that being a good person should not require losing peace, time, money, health, creativity, relationships, or trust in yourself. Show Notes: Redefining what it means to be a good person Why being “good” can become tied to being useful, agreeable, and available The difference between being good and being perceived as good How guilt can be used to manipulate people into saying yes Why love does not require you to abandon your boundaries Tolerating disrespect because someone is “going through something” Overextending yourself to keep others comfortable Rescuing people from consequences they may need to experience Making yourself smaller so others do not feel threatened Confusing compassion with access Asking what your goodness has cost you Becoming a good person to yourself first Disconnect to Reconnect invitation for October 17 Timestamps 00:00 – 01:16 | Welcome and introducing the topic 01:16 – 02:34 | Who taught you that being good means giving people access? 02:34 – 04:09 | Redefining goodness through values, responsibility, and alignment 04:09 – 05:26 | Being good vs. being perceived as good 05:26 – 06:39 | Guilt, boundaries, and the pressure to say yes 06:39 – 08:45 | What have you tolerated to prove you are good? 08:45 – 10:38 | The cost of goodness, gossip, and fitting in 10:38 – 12:42 | Self-respect, growth, and allowing others to be disappointed 12:42 – 14:54 | Boundaries do not make you hard or unkind 14:54 – 16:43 | Hidden sacrifices and being good to yourself first 16:43 – 18:36 | Questions for redefining goodness 18:36 – 20:27 | Self-respect, professional support, and October event invitation 20:27 – 21:29 | Final reminder and closing invitation Key Takeaways: Being a good person does not mean giving everyone unlimited access to you. You can love someone and still say no. Guilt can become a leash when you let other people’s needs override your own. If your goodness requires self-abandonment, it is costing too much. Boundaries can be gentle, loving, and necessary at the same time. Someone else’s disappointment does not automatically mean you did something wrong. Quotes from the Episode: “Who taught you that being a good person means allowing people to have access to you that they haven’t earned yet?” “Do you want to be good, or do you want to just be perceived as being good?” “You can love someone and still choose not to do what they ask you to do.” ---------- 🔗Links and Resources: • Events: https://www.greaterself.org/hello • Join our mailing list: https://greater-self.com/mailing-list2025  • Grab your FREE self-care guide here: https://greater-self.com/paymefirst  • Hemp, Mushroom and Health: http://drz.greencompassglobal.com/  • Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bZqi7vOeiX0TUO94zwKgg#_=_ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greaterself_dr.z/ • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greaterself_dr.z  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zerri-gross-1a033978/%20/   • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greaterself.dr.z  • Website: http://greaterself.org/  • Tools/Products I use: https://greater-self.com/affiliate-links  • Let’s book a Therapy Consultation: https://mentalhealthmatch.com/therapist-profile/california/dr-zerri-gross  -----------

    Episode 169: What If Being a Good Person Is Costing You Your Life?
  3. Sep 16

    Episode 168: Gossip is Power

    In Episode 168, Dr. Z reframes gossip as a form of power. She explains that when you speak about someone who is not in the room, you are holding the floor and shaping how others may see them. The question is whether you are using that power to build someone up or tear them down. This episode challenges listeners to look at their motives when talking about others, notice whether gossip is being used to connect, vent, project, or harm, and choose conversations that reflect integrity. Dr. Z reminds listeners that speaking well of people behind their backs can become a form of leadership, kindness, and community-building Show Notes: Why gossip is more powerful than people realize The difference between gossip that uplifts and gossip that harms How talking about others can reveal your own insecurities Why people often use gossip to bond or avoid talking about themselves The responsibility of speaking about someone who is not in the room How negative gossip can shape someone’s reputation unfairly Why hyping people up behind their backs builds trust and integrity Choosing conversations that make people feel better, not smaller The connection between gossip, bullying, and harm Asking yourself why you are sharing someone else’s business Speaking about people the way you would want to be spoken about Timestamps 00:00 – 01:38 | Welcome and introducing the topic 01:38 – 03:57 | Why gossip is usually seen negatively 03:57 – 05:45 | Gossip as connection, venting, and self-revelation 05:45 – 07:19 | The power of speaking when someone is not in the room 07:19 – 09:35 | Tearing people down vs. giving people their flowers 09:35 – 12:44 | Motives, projection, and why you are talking about someone 12:44 – 15:49 | Choosing conversations that build people up 15:49 – 17:42 | Gossip, bullying, and removing yourself from negative spaces 17:42 – 19:21 | Saying it to someone’s face vs. speaking behind their back 19:21 – 21:30 | Using your words with integrity and closing reflections Key Takeaways: Gossip is not neutral; it carries power. When you speak about someone who is absent, you shape the room’s perception of them. Negative gossip often reveals more about the speaker than the person being discussed. Talking badly about others can make you look smaller, not stronger. Positive gossip can build trust, credibility, and community. Before speaking on someone, ask why you are sharing the information. Not every private detail needs to be repeated. You can process your experience without smearing someone’s name. Choose conversations that create goodness instead of harm. Speak about others in the way you would want others to speak about you. Quotes from the Episode: “Some relationships don’t come with an exit door.” “Mature, not muted.” “You can be mature without muting yourself.” ---------- 🔗Links and Resources: • Events: https://www.greaterself.org/hello • Join our mailing list: https://greater-self.com/mailing-list2025  • Grab your FREE self-care guide here: https://greater-self.com/paymefirst  • Hemp, Mushroom and Health: http://drz.greencompassglobal.com/  • Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bZqi7vOeiX0TUO94zwKgg#_=_ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greaterself_dr.z/ • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greaterself_dr.z  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zerri-gross-1a033978/%20/   • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greaterself.dr.z  • Website: http://greaterself.org/  • Tools/Products I use: https://greater-self.com/affiliate-links  • Let’s book a Therapy Consultation: https://mentalhealthmatch.com/therapist-profile/california/dr-zerri-gross  -----------

    Episode 168: Gossip is Power
  4. Sep 9

    Episode 167: Mature, Not Muted

    In Episode 167, Dr. Z explores what it means to be mature, not muted when navigating relationships you cannot easily walk away from, such as co-parenting relationships, family dynamics, business partnerships, close friendships, or shared communities. She talks about the challenge of staying grounded when someone has hurt you, disrespected you, or harmed something you care about. This episode is a reminder that maturity does not mean silence, people-pleasing, or accepting disrespect. It means choosing your response with intention, speaking from facts instead of only feelings, protecting what matters, and deciding whether to stay, create distance, or walk away with integrity. Show Notes: Navigating relationships that do not have a clean exit door Co-parenting, business, family, community, and shared responsibilities What happens when hurt people choose to hurt others The temptation to retaliate or “cuss someone out” Why being the bigger person does not mean being silent Protecting children, clients, businesses, or communities from adult conflict Choosing facts over feelings when addressing conflict Taking the issue to therapy instead of causing more harm Knowing when to stay, create distance, block, or walk away Mature communication without muting yourself Preserving your integrity when someone else is disrespectful Upcoming events, email list, Wellness Wednesday, and Freedom Friday Timestamps: 00:00 – 01:02 | Welcome and introducing the topic 01:02 – 03:46 | Relationships you cannot easily walk away from 03:46 – 06:10 | When history, betrayal, hurt, and shared interests collide 06:10 – 09:36 | Co-parenting, children, and innocent people caught in adult pain 09:36 – 12:20 | Choosing maturity instead of retaliation 12:20 – 15:12 | Business partners, clients, and preserving what can be preserved 15:12 – 18:01 | Addressing the issue without losing your character 18:01 – 20:30 | Facts over feelings, boundaries, and knowing when to walk away 20:30 – 22:52 | Being mature without muting yourself 22:52 – 25:11 | Strong friends, energy, and choosing the evolved response 25:11 – 27:18 | Upcoming events, email list, and final reminders Key Takeaways: Some relationships require maturity because walking away is not simple. Being mature does not mean allowing disrespect. You can speak up without becoming destructive. The goal is to protect the shared interest, not win the argument. Children, clients, family, and community should not become collateral damage. Sometimes the healthiest response is creating distance or removing access. Facts help keep the conversation focused when feelings are intense. Quotes from the Episode: “Some relationships don’t come with an exit door.” “Mature, not muted.” “You can be mature without muting yourself.” “Being the bigger person does not mean you go mute.” “You don’t have to address them the same way they chose to address you.” “How do I show up and address what needs to be addressed?” ---------- 🔗Links and Resources: • Events: https://www.greaterself.org/hello • Join our mailing list: https://greater-self.com/mailing-list2025  • Grab your FREE self-care guide here: https://greater-self.com/paymefirst  • Hemp, Mushroom and Health: http://drz.greencompassglobal.com/  • Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bZqi7vOeiX0TUO94zwKgg#_=_ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greaterself_dr.z/ • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greaterself_dr.z  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zerri-gross-1a033978/%20/   • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greaterself.dr.z  • Website: http://greaterself.org/  • Tools/Products I use: https://greater-self.com/affiliate-links  • Let’s book a Therapy Consultation: https://mentalhealthmatch.com/therapist-profile/california/dr-zerri-gross  ----------- Timestamps & Topics:

    Episode 167: Mature, Not Muted
  5. Sep 2

    Episode 166: The Permission Slip

    In Episode 166, Dr. Z reflects on the recent Disconnect to Reconnect experience and the deeper meaning of giving yourself a “permission slip” to show up, receive, play, and stop performing for everyone else. She shares gratitude for the people who supported the event and the women who attended, emphasizing how powerful it is when strong friends allow themselves to be held for once. This episode is about listening to the pull on your heart, trusting the thing you know you are called to do, and creating spaces where people can feel safe, seen, playful, and supported. Dr. Z reminds listeners that when you give yourself permission to show up for yourself, you also create opportunities for community, connection, joy, and expansion. Show Notes: Reflecting on the recent Disconnect to Reconnect event Giving yourself permission to show up and receive Thanking Crystal, Dr. Z’s daughter, and the women who attended Why strong friends need spaces where they do not have to perform The importance of community after isolation Creating safe spaces for play, vulnerability, and connection Learning to facilitate by reading the room Letting go of ego and allowing people to receive what they need Why showing up creates access to new opportunities Listening to intuitive nudges and heart-led callings Using fun and rest to become more productive afterward Inviting others to create spaces for healing, play, and reconnection Timestamps: 00:00 – 01:00 | Welcome and introducing “The Permission Slip” 01:00 – 02:39 | Reflecting on Disconnect to Reconnect and thanking the support team 02:39 – 04:23 | Permission to receive, stop performing, and show up as enough 04:23 – 06:13 | Community, intuitive nudges, and making the offer 06:13 – 08:27 | Reading the room, adjusting the plan, and creating the right experience 08:27 – 10:10 | Safety, introductions, play, and letting people loosen up 10:10 – 11:34 | Following the heart and creating joyful spaces for others 11:34 – 13:34 | Showing up, trying something different, and building community 13:34 – 15:35 | Signing your own permission slip and doing what calls you 15:35 – 17:30 | Expanding the experience, online access, and carrying the energy forward 17:30 – 18:16 | Final invitation and closing reflections Key Takeaways: You do not need to perform, provide, or prove yourself to be enough. Strong friends also deserve to be held and supported. Community is still needed, even after seasons of isolation. Safe spaces allow people to play, open up, and reconnect with themselves. Quotes from the Episode: “In this moment, you are enough.” “You do not have to perform.” “Just show up and receive for once.” “Everyone felt comfortable to not only be them, but to not try to perform.” “There’s play and then there’s play play.” “Showing up puts you in a position to see what’s available or possible.” “Why not sign your own permission slip?” “Let it be easy.” “Go have fun so you can see how you can take that energy into being more productive afterward.” “How can we be great together?” “If you need an invitation to have your permission slip signed, this is it.” ---------- 🔗Links and Resources: • Events: https://www.greaterself.org/hello • Join our mailing list: https://greater-self.com/mailing-list2025  • Grab your FREE self-care guide here: https://greater-self.com/paymefirst  • Hemp, Mushroom and Health: http://drz.greencompassglobal.com/  • Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bZqi7vOeiX0TUO94zwKgg#_=_ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greaterself_dr.z/ • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greaterself_dr.z  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zerri-gross-1a033978/%20/   • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greaterself.dr.z  • Website: http://greaterself.org/  • Tools/Products I use: https://greater-self.com/affiliate-links  • Let’s book a Therapy Consultation: https://mentalhealthmatch.com/therapist-profile/california/dr-zerri-gross  -----------

    Episode 166: The Permission Slip
  6. Aug 26

    Episode 165: Individual, Couples, or Yoga? Choosing the Right Healing Tool

    In Episode 165, Dr. Z breaks down the difference between individual therapy, couples therapy, and yoga, explaining when each one is helpful and why yoga may be one of the most underrated tools in healing and self-awareness. She explains that individual therapy helps you understand yourself, couples therapy supports two people who are both willing to grow together, and yoga helps you access the body’s wisdom in ways talk therapy alone may not reach. Dr. Z also reminds listeners that therapy is not about proving who is right, and yoga is not just a workout—it can reveal where life, trauma, tension, and truth are being stored in the body.  Show Notes: The difference between individual therapy, couples therapy, and yoga Why individual therapy does not automatically make you better in relationships What individual therapy is actually meant to support Why couples therapy only works when both people are willing to grow The danger of using couples therapy to prove your partner wrong Why a neutral couples therapist matters How your partner can mirror areas that still need healing Why yoga is more than movement or a workout How the body stores trauma, tension, emotions, and life experiences Using yoga as a roadmap for individual or couples therapy How physical sensations can reveal emotional and relational patterns Why Disconnect to Reconnect blends yoga, reflection, play, and healing Timestamps: 00:00 – 01:28 | Welcome, housekeeping, and introducing the topic 01:28 – 03:11 | Why therapy alone may not solve relationship struggles 03:11 – 05:04 | What individual therapy is for and when to start 05:04 – 06:31 | Couples therapy misconceptions and why it does not “fix” everything 06:31 – 07:27 | Yoga is not just a workout 07:27 – 10:13 | When individual therapy is helpful and where it can fall short 10:13 – 13:43 | When couples therapy is useful and why both people must do the work 13:43 – 18:54 | Neutral therapists, taking sides, and asking the right questions 18:54 – 22:54 | How yoga gives body-based insight for deeper healing 22:54 – 25:02 | Using body signals to choose the next healing step 25:02 – 28:28 | Disconnect to Reconnect as a holistic experience 28:28 – 31:59 | Final recap, event invitation, and closing reflections Key Takeaways: Individual therapy helps you understand yourself, your patterns, and your history. Going to individual therapy does not automatically make you a great partner. Couples therapy works best when both people are committed to growing together. Couples therapy is not meant to make one person right and the other person wrong. A neutral therapist can help both partners feel safer and more supported. Quotes from the Episode: “You can be in individual therapy for a million years doing all the work and still be struggling in your relationships.” “Individual therapy is meant to help you understand how you function. “Couples therapy is not a space to make somebody else be someone who they are not.” “Yoga is just a workout. It’s not.” “Moving your body intentionally gives you the physical intel that can’t come from traditional therapy.” “Your body is telling you all the answers to the test that you refuse to keep listening to.” ---------- 🔗Links and Resources: • Events: https://www.greaterself.org/hello • Join our mailing list: https://greater-self.com/mailing-list2025  • Grab your FREE self-care guide here: https://greater-self.com/paymefirst  • Hemp, Mushroom and Health: http://drz.greencompassglobal.com/  • Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bZqi7vOeiX0TUO94zwKgg#_=_ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greaterself_dr.z/ • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greaterself_dr.z  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zerri-gross-1a033978/%20/   • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greaterself.dr.z  • Website: http://greaterself.org/  • Tools/Products I use: https://greater-self.com/affiliate-links

    Episode 165: Individual, Couples, or Yoga? Choosing the Right Healing Tool
  7. Aug 19

    Episode 164: Here for the Games (Play, Productivity & Pleasure on Purpose)

    In Episode 164, Dr. Z continues the conversation around play, productivity, and feminine flow by exploring how to gamify life so growth does not feel like constant pressure. She reflects on how growing up watching hard work modeled around her shaped her strong friend energy, her desire to mature quickly, and her habit of trading time for productivity. This episode invites listeners to use games, points, challenges, rewards, and personal scoreboards to make life feel lighter and more sustainable. Dr. Z explains how play, productivity, and pleasure can work together, especially for strong friends, high achievers, and people navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, or trauma. The goal is not to stop being productive—it is to make life feel more enjoyable, intentional, and aligned. Show Notes: Sound check and getting back into the conversation How childhood ideas about work shaped adulthood Watching hard work modeled early in life The strong friend pattern of doing all the jobs Why trading hours for dollars can lead to burnout Using play to reinvent productivity How gamifying life can support motivation Turning anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma into tools for growth Creating rewards, points, challenges, and personal scoreboards Making boring tasks feel lighter and more playful The connection between masculine productivity and feminine nourishment Moving from PP to Triple P: play, productivity, and pleasure Saying no without guilt or FOMO Disconnect to Reconnect invitation for in-person and virtual access imestamps: 09:31 – 10:14 | Sound check, reset, and returning to the conversation 10:14 – 12:33 | Childhood lessons around work, responsibility, and growing up fast 12:33 – 13:56 | Strong friend burnout and the need to bring play back 13:56 – 15:12 | Gamifying life, productivity, and personal motivation 15:12 – 16:33 | Using ADHD, rewards, and small challenges to complete tasks 16:33 – 17:46 | Saying no, choosing rest, and protecting time 17:46 – 18:38 | Triple P: productivity, play, and pleasure 18:38 – 20:13 | Disconnect to Reconnect and learning to play in real time 20:13 – 21:53 | Consulting the inner child and building tools for daily life 21:53 – 23:31 | Retiring strong friend energy and redefining winning 23:31 – 24:16 | Final invitation to play, be productive, and experience more pleasure Key Takeaways: Hard work matters, but it should not be the only way you experience life. Strong friends often burn out from trying to do everything for everyone. Play can make productivity feel more sustainable. Gamifying tasks can help people stay motivated, especially with ADHD or overwhelm. You can use points, rewards, challenges, and friendly competition to move your life forward. Productivity works better when it is balanced with pleasure and nourishment. Saying no can become a game that protects your energy. Your inner child can remind you how to play, not run your adult life. Triple P means play, be productive, and experience pleasure. Life can feel lighter when you stop taking every task so seriously. Quotes from the Episode: “I’m here for the games.” “Strong friends do hit a brick wall, and hard.” “Why not make life funner for yourself?” ---------- 🔗Links and Resources: • Events: https://www.greaterself.org/hello • Join our mailing list: https://greater-self.com/mailing-list2025  • Grab your FREE self-care guide here: https://greater-self.com/paymefirst  • Hemp, Mushroom and Health: http://drz.greencompassglobal.com/  • Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bZqi7vOeiX0TUO94zwKgg#_=_ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greaterself_dr.z/ • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greaterself_dr.z  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zerri-gross-1a033978/%20/   • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greaterself.dr.z  • Website: http://greaterself.org/ • Tools/Products I use: https://greater-self.com/affiliate-links  • Let’s book a Therapy Consultation: https://mentalhealthmatch.com/therapist-profile/california/dr-zerri-gross

    Episode 164: Here for the Games (Play, Productivity & Pleasure on Purpose)
  8. Aug 12

    Episode 163: Play, Productivity & Feminine Flow

    In Episode 163, Dr. Z explores the relationship between play, productivity, and feminine flow, inviting listeners to stop treating adulthood like it has to be serious all the time. She reflects on how growing up too fast, taking on responsibilities early, and living in constant productivity mode can disconnect people from joy, lightness, creativity, and play. Dr. Z shares personal stories about rushing into adulthood, learning to reclaim play, and using humor, movement, yoga, and curiosity as ways to bring balance back into life. This episode reminds listeners that play is not a distraction from productivity—it can actually support creativity, emotional regulation, deeper connection, and a more sustainable life. Show Notes: Why adults need play as much as productivity Growing up too fast and losing access to fun How childhood responsibilities can push people into masculine energy early Reclaiming play after years of overworking and overperforming The connection between play, feminine flow, and creativity Why productivity without play can lead to burnout How rest, snacks, naps, movement, and laughter support adult life Dr. Z’s personal reflections on being “too serious” as a child Why play can help people soften without losing responsibility Bringing humor into therapy, yoga, business, and relationships Creating a life that includes both discipline and joy Using play as a way to reconnect with yourself The invitation to Disconnect to Reconnect Timestamps: 00:00 – 02:35 | Welcome, live setup, and introducing the topic 02:35 – 05:43 | Adulting, growing up too fast, and losing play 05:43 – 08:46 | Revisiting the inner child and what was put away too soon 08:46 – 11:26 | Responsibility, productivity, and masculine energy 11:26 – 14:26 | Reclaiming play through fun, movement, laughter, and ease 14:26 – 17:22 | Bringing play into therapy, yoga, work, and leadership 17:22 – 20:45 | Creating a harmonious flow between productivity and feminine energy 20:45 – 23:42 | Why play belongs on your calendar and goal sheet 23:42 – 26:39 | Parenthood, stress, and returning to joy 26:39 – 29:16 | How play supports productivity and self-connection 29:16 – 31:41 | Disconnect to Reconnect invitation and final reflections Key Takeaways: Play is not childish; it is part of a healthy, balanced adult life. Productivity and play can support each other. Growing up too fast can disconnect you from joy, curiosity, and ease. Feminine flow invites softness, creativity, humor, and flexibility. You can be responsible without being serious all the time. Play can help regulate your nervous system and restore emotional capacity. Quotes from the Episode: “Play and productivity go together.” “When people say work hard, play hard, it would be nice if we actually did that more on purpose.” “Why are you taking yourself so serious that you can’t play?” “For as hard as I work, how am I going to give that play back to myself?” “You could enjoy a little more fun for fun’s sake.” “Part of your business should include how you play.” “Life is a flow.” “Play should be one of those things you place on your calendar.” ---------- 🔗Links and Resources: • Events: https://www.greaterself.org/hello • Join our mailing list: https://greater-self.com/mailing-list2025  • Grab your FREE self-care guide here: https://greater-self.com/paymefirst  • Hemp, Mushroom and Health: http://drz.greencompassglobal.com/  • Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bZqi7vOeiX0TUO94zwKgg#_=_ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greaterself_dr.z/ • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greaterself_dr.z  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-zerri-gross-1a033978/%20/   • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greaterself.dr.z  • Website: http://greaterself.org/  • Tools/Products I use: https://greater-self.com/affiliate-links  • Let’s book a Therapy Consultation: https://mentalhealthmatch.com/therapist-profile/california/dr-zerri-gross  -----------

    Episode 163: Play, Productivity & Feminine Flow

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The podcast for therapist and their clients that want support with time management, ADHD, EMDR, trauma, mind/body connection, yoga, career options, goal setting to go from surviving to thriving. Let's S.E.T. I.T. O.F.F. ✨