This time, the story wasn’t his. It was the story of so many of us.

What Ryan Hennessey’s moment of clarity reminds us about choosing ourselves

Author

Matt Gilhooly
July 23, 2025

When burnout becomes your wake-up call.

After ten years in the classroom, Ryan Hennessey reached a breaking point. A story shared by a stranger at a retreat mirrored his own life and sparked a decision he couldn’t ignore: to walk away from teaching and build a life more aligned with who he had become.

🎧 Listen now: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com

Sometimes, we don’t realize how far off course we are until we hear our own story coming out of someone else’s mouth. Ryan didn’t hate teaching. In fact, he loved it. But he loved it so much that he could no longer do it halfway. His body had been whispering for years. And finally, through the courage of another person’s vulnerability, he heard it loud and clear. This week's episode is a reminder that clarity often arrives when we slow down enough to listen.

THREE things to think about

  • Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes it looks like quiet disconnection from the things we used to love.

  • Letting go of something good might be the only way to create space for something great.

  • Identity isn’t fixed. It evolves with every honest choice we make about who we want to be.

TWO things to ask yourself

  • What signs am I ignoring in my life that might be nudging me toward change?

  • What parts of my life feel aligned with who I am today – and what parts feel like old versions of me?

ONE thing to try this week

Spend 15 quiet minutes writing about a part of your life that feels off. No edits. No judgment. Just listen to what comes up.

If Ryan’s story stirred something in you, I’d love to hear it. Just reply to this email or send a note through thelifeshiftpodcast.com. And if you’re feeling brave, share this with someone else who might be ready for their own shift.

Warmly,

Matt

PS: During a recent long weekend trip, I created a short-form podcast, “It’s Okay If…” Each episode is under three minutes long and provides a permission slip to simply be human. I’d be honored if you subscribed to the show. New episodes are released every Wednesday at noon ET.