The Higher Alignment Podcast

Minh-Thu Lam
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The Higher Alignment Podcast with Minh-Thu Lam invites you to explore all things related to executive self mastery. Whether that means excelling as a leader, growing your business, healing burnout or improving relationships...all roads lead to more freedom, more love and finding greater levels of mastery in life! Minh-Thu invites you to redefine success on your terms and explore your greatest potential by finding Higher Alignment.

  1. 7H AGO

    Your "Discipline" Might Be Dysregulation with Dr. Derek Hrabovsky | EP 72

    If your success is costing your health, your peace, or your relationships, something is off. In this episode of the Higher Alignment Podcast, I sat down with physician and executive coach Derek Hrabovsky to break down a game changing distinction that explains why so many high performers look successful on paper but feel like they are falling apart behind the scenes. We unpack the difference between capability and capacity. Capability is what you can do, your skills, competence, and output. Capacity is what it costs you to do it, your nervous system bandwidth, your ability to hold pressure, recover, stay clear, and remain relationally present. Derek explains how leaders can rely on capability for years while their capacity quietly depletes, showing up as reactivity, narrowed judgment, inability to switch off, and compulsive coping like alcohol, sugar, work, or intensity chasing. We also explore how unmet core needs drive these patterns, why shame and self judgment make it worse, and why most workplaces are built to extract from people instead of replenish them. This conversation is a wake up call and a roadmap. Because the goal is not to perform at all costs. The goal is to lead, live, and succeed without losing yourself in the process.   ________________________________   Key Takeaways Capability gets results; capacity protects your health, relationships, and judgment. You can be highly capable and still be running on fumes. Compulsive coping is data, not a moral failure. It's a warning light that your nervous system needs support and your core needs aren't being met. Too many options = dysregulation. When you're hungry for everything and trying to fix everything, regulate first—then simplify and choose what matters. ________________________________   Episode Highlights: capability vs capacity, nervous system regulation, high performer burnout, executive burnout, leadership capacity, emotional regulation, cognitive load, stress recovery, relational presence, compulsive coping, addiction and burnout, shame and self-judgment, emotional intelligence for leaders, psychological safety, capacity-based leadership, healthcare burnout, health tech leadership, resilience vs regulation, recovery after stress, high performance without burnout, longevity for leaders, healthspan, extractive workplace culture, regenerative leadership, autonomy at work, micromanagement and burnout ________________________________ ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a 5-star review so more people can find the tools they need to live and work in alignment.   ________________________________ Links & Resources   LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-derek-hrabovsky/?originalSubdomain=uk  ________________________________   More from Minh-Thu Learn about the Higher Alignment Program → higheralignmentconsulting.com/program Watch: The Real Reason You're Burnt Out → higheralignmentconsulting.com/the-real-reason-youre-burnt-out/ Take the Burnout Quiz → higheralignmentconsulting.scoreapp.com Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram

    1h 20m

  2. FEB 12

    The Real Reason Your Relationships Feel So Hard | EP 71

    In this episode, I get really raw about relationships and why they are one of the biggest sources of stress, burnout, and growth in our lives. While I am not a relationship coach, I have learned through my own experiences that the quality of our relationships is directly tied to our ability to navigate conflict and sit in discomfort. I share personal reflections on how high performers often avoid emotional pain by problem-solving, staying busy, or positively bypassing difficult moments. I talk openly about my own abandonment wound, the pressure to constantly heal or fix myself, and how that mindset actually reinforced the belief that something was always wrong with me. This episode is an invitation to stop avoiding the messy emotions and start seeing them as feedback rather than failure. I explore how emotional suppression affects our nervous system, our health, and our relationships, and why learning to sit with pain, fear, and vulnerability is what ultimately builds deeper connection, security, and love, both with others and with ourselves. ________________________________   Key Takeaways The strength of your relationships depends on your ability to sit in discomfort, not your ability to find quick solutions High performance is often driven by unresolved wounds like fear of abandonment or not feeling good enough Avoiding or positively bypassing emotional pain delays healing and weakens connection ________________________________   Episode Highlights: relationships and burnout, navigating conflict in relationships, emotional avoidance, sitting with discomfort, relationship stress, emotional healing, high achievers and relationships, nervous system regulation, fear of abandonment, emotional suppression ________________________________ ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a 5-star review so more people can find the tools they need to live and work in alignment. ________________________________ MORE FROM MINH-THU Learn about the Higher Alignment Program → higheralignmentconsulting.com/program Watch: The Real Reason You're Burnt Out → higheralignmentconsulting.com/the-real-reason-youre-burnt-out/ Take the Burnout Quiz → higheralignmentconsulting.scoreapp.com Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram

    33 min

  3. FEB 5

    Why You're Afraid to Change (Even When You're Ready) | EP 70

    In this episode, I break down why change can feel so terrifying, even when it is something we deeply want. Using a real client example, I explain how fear is not about logic or readiness, but about the nervous system being stuck in survival mode. When we are dysregulated, the body prioritizes familiarity over growth, even if that familiarity is unhealthy or unfulfilling. This is why big decisions like career changes, relationships, or choosing a more balanced life can feel paralyzing. I share how self-abandonment and over-performing slowly erode self-trust, making it harder to believe in ourselves when it matters most. The way forward is not forcing clarity. It is rebuilding self-trust through small, consistent acts of self-honoring. When the body feels safe again, confidence returns and the right decisions become clearer. ________________________________   KEY TAKEAWAYS Fear of change is a nervous system response, not a lack of readiness Self-abandonment erodes self-trust and fuels indecision Consistently honouring your needs rebuilds confidence and clarity ________________________________   Episode Highlights: survival mode and fear of change, nervous system dysregulation, self-trust and decision-making, self-abandonment patterns, over-performance conditioning, inner child needs, faith versus fear, building self-trust through small habits, regulation before clarity ________________________________ ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a 5-star review so more people can find the tools they need to live and work in alignment.   ________________________________ MORE FROM MINH-THU   Learn about the Higher Alignment Program → higheralignmentconsulting.com/program Watch: The Real Reason You're Burnt Out → higheralignmentconsulting.com/the-real-reason-youre-burnt-out/ Take the Burnout Quiz → higheralignmentconsulting.scoreapp.com Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram

    22 min

  4. JAN 29

    The Real Reason January Motivation Fades by Spring | EP 69

    In this episode, I talk about the false sense of optimism that often shows up in January. A new year can feel motivating, but if your patterns and behaviors don't change, neither will your results. I break down how high-functioning burnout often goes unnoticed, why short breaks don't equal recovery, and what it actually takes to create lasting change. This is a reminder that real shifts come from pattern interrupts, simplification, and intentional choices — not the calendar flipping. ________________________________   Key Takeaways   January optimism can mask burnout if behaviors and patterns don't change High-functioning burnout often shows up in subtle, normalized ways Sustainable change comes from simplifying, increasing capacity, and creating pattern interrupts ________________________________   Episode Highlights: January optimism trap, high-functioning burnout, stress deposits, executive burnout cycle, pattern interrupts, behavior change, simplification, capacity building, work-life presence, burnout denial ________________________________ ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a 5-star review so more people can find the tools they need to live and work in alignment.   ________________________________ MORE FROM MINH-THU Learn about the Higher Alignment Program → higheralignmentconsulting.com/program Watch: The Real Reason You're Burnt Out → higheralignmentconsulting.com/the-real-reason-youre-burnt-out/ Take the Burnout Quiz → higheralignmentconsulting.scoreapp.com Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram

    15 min

  5. JAN 22

    Why "Having It All" Can Still Feel Like Nothing with Brittany Anger | EP 68

    In this episode, I sit down with Brittany Anger to unpack what happens when you "have it all" on paper, but your body is quietly waving the white flag. Brittany shares what life looked like coming back from maternity leave into a fast-paced corporate banking role while recovering from thyroid surgery, carrying the emotional load at home, and living in constant go-go-go mode. We talk about how high performers often guilt themselves into "just being grateful," even when they're running on fumes, and why knowing you need help isn't the same as your nervous system being able to receive it. One of Brittany's biggest breakthroughs was learning the difference between resetting (scrolling, numbing, zoning out) and decompressing (actually refueling her body and capacity). She explains how small shifts like outsourcing meal prep, letting her husband own bedtime, and choosing the "good enough" option on hard days helped her reclaim energy, confidence, and presence, without needing life to feel hard to be valid.   ________________________________   Key Takeaways Your nervous system can reject "help" even when your mind agrees you need it. Resetting isn't the same as decompressing, and the difference changes your entire capacity. The real win is learning your "low battery warning" before you hit burnout. ________________________________   Episode Highlights: High achiever burnout, nervous system regulation, resetting vs decompressing, mom guilt, default parent, corporate burnout, capacity and boundaries, stress management for moms, emotional load, burnout recovery, confidence in your body, letting go of control, high performance nervous system, self-care for high performers, sustainable success ________________________________ ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a 5-star review so more people can find the tools they need to live and work in alignment.   ________________________________ More from Minh-Thu   Learn about the Higher Alignment Program → higheralignmentconsulting.com/program Watch: The Real Reason You're Burnt Out → higheralignmentconsulting.com/the-real-reason-youre-burnt-out/ Take the Burnout Quiz → higheralignmentconsulting.scoreapp.com Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram

    55 min

  6. JAN 15

    Before You Set Your 2026 Goals, Listen to This | EP 67

    In this episode, I'm breaking down why most goals don't stick and it has nothing to do with discipline, motivation, or willpower. What I've seen again and again in my work is that we often chase external outcomes, thinking they'll make us feel a certain way, when what we're actually craving is an internal state. I walk you through the eight core areas of life I use with my clients and show you how to identify both the external goal and the internal feeling attached to it. From there, I explain how to find your personal "North Star" — the few key feelings your nervous system is truly longing for — and how to use those as a guide for everyday decision-making. Instead of forcing change or pushing harder, this approach helps you shift your internal state first, so your external world can follow naturally. When your nervous system learns it's safe to experience peace, confidence, or freedom, lasting change becomes not only possible, but sustainable. If you're ready for a more aligned, grounded way to approach 2026, this episode will give you a completely new lens on goal setting. ________________________________   Key Takeaways Most goals fail because they're chasing external validation instead of internal regulation. Your nervous system determines what feels safe long before your mind takes action. Sustainable change happens through small, consistent choices aligned with your desired internal state. ________________________________   Episode Highlights: goal setting, New Year goals, goals that stick, intention setting, sustainable goal setting, personal growth, nervous system regulation, internal vs external goals, aligned living, conscious goal setting ________________________________ ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a 5-star review so more people can find the tools they need to live and work in alignment.   ________________________________   More from Minh-Thu   Learn about the Higher Alignment Program → higheralignmentconsulting.com/program Watch: The Real Reason You're Burnt Out → higheralignmentconsulting.com/the-real-reason-youre-burnt-out/ Take the Burnout Quiz → higheralignmentconsulting.scoreapp.com Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram

    28 min

  7. JAN 8

    2026 Numerology Forecast: What This New Cycle Is Asking of You with Meaghan Alton | EP 66

    In this episode of the Higher Alignment Podcast, I'm joined by Meaghan Alton for our annual numerology forecast, this time to break down what 2026 holds and how to use it intentionally. We reflect on 2025's "nine year" energy as a cycle of endings, release, and pattern-breaking, and why that can actually become the best year of your life when your nervous system has the capacity to welcome change. Meaghan explains why 2026 is a "one year," meaning it's a fresh start and the beginning of a new nine-year cycle. This is the year to plant seeds, set a clear vision, and take real action toward what you want. We walk month-by-month through the energetic themes (relationships, creative expression, building foundations, freedom and change, honest conversations, risk-taking, mastery, pruning what's not working, and setting up systems that reduce mental load). You'll leave with a grounded, practical way to work with the energy of 2026 without bypassing reality, while still moving forward with trust, clarity, and momentum. ________________________________   Key Takeaways Nervous system capacity changes everything because when you feel safe inside, you stop clinging to control and you can welcome change as opportunity. 2026 is a "one year" so the fastest path forward is choosing a direction, taking action, and treating feedback as data instead of a personal verdict. Creative expression and honest conversations are fuel this year because what you don't move through voice or action often turns into anxiety and overthinking. ________________________________   Episode Highlights: 2026 numerology forecast, one year energy, new nine year cycle, endings and beginnings, nervous system regulation, change and capacity, rewriting old patterns, intuition and decision making, creative expression, risk taking and trust, aligned action, leadership and discernment, boundaries and relationships, data over self judgment, systems and structure, embodiment and self trust, manifestation through action, inner work to outer results ________________________________ ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a 5-star review so more people can find the tools they need to live and work in alignment.   ________________________________ Links & Resources   Virtual Planning Workshop | https://www.meaghanalton.com/offers/dJWavTZL/checkout Private Forecast | https://www.meaghanalton.com/offers/6nffzj3y/checkout Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/meaghan_intuitive_strategist/  ________________________________ More from Minh-Thu   Learn about the Higher Alignment Program → higheralignmentconsulting.com/program Watch: The Real Reason You're Burnt Out → higheralignmentconsulting.com/the-real-reason-youre-burnt-out/ Take the Burnout Quiz → higheralignmentconsulting.scoreapp.com Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram

    1h 13m

  8. JAN 1

    Want a Different 2026? Do These 5 Things | EP 65

    In this New Year's episode, I walk you through the five things you need to hear to make sure 2026 doesn't become a repeat of 2025. Using December as your "report card," I break down why you ended the year either grounded and present or overwhelmed and crawling toward the finish line. We look at the real reasons burnout keeps circling back—under-recovery, weak boundaries, ignoring your body, relying on willpower, and trying to do everything alone. This episode gives you a clear starting point, a simple action step to anchor your week, and an invitation to choose how you want 2026 to feel—so you can build micro-patterns that actually change your year instead of repeating old cycles. ________________________________   Key Takeaways You're not just tired, you're under-recovered, and real productivity requires built-in recovery, not just weekends or vacations. Burnout is rarely a scheduling problem and almost always a boundaries problem rooted in self-abandonment. Your body and nervous system have been sending signals for a long time, and listening to them is actually your competitive edge. ________________________________   Episode Highlights: burnout, nervous system regulation, high performers, stress recovery, executive burnout, emotional capacity, boundaries at work, holiday burnout, under recovered, overworked professionals, nervous system patterns, productivity habits, personal development, self leadership, mindset shifts, burnout prevention, 2026 planning, year end reflection, self regulation, high achiever patterns, stress management, capacity building, leadership coaching ________________________________ ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and leave a 5-star review so more people can find the tools they need to live and work in alignment.   ________________________________ More from Minh-Thu Learn about the Higher Alignment Program → higheralignmentconsulting.com/program Watch: The Real Reason You're Burnt Out → higheralignmentconsulting.com/the-real-reason-youre-burnt-out/ Take the Burnout Quiz → higheralignmentconsulting.scoreapp.com Connect on LinkedIn and Instagram

    35 min
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The Higher Alignment Podcast with Minh-Thu Lam invites you to explore all things related to executive self mastery. Whether that means excelling as a leader, growing your business, healing burnout or improving relationships...all roads lead to more freedom, more love and finding greater levels of mastery in life! Minh-Thu invites you to redefine success on your terms and explore your greatest potential by finding Higher Alignment.

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