Welcome to the first full episode of Stress Less For Greater Success! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m Coco Duan, life and leadership coach, and in this episode, we’re getting real about what’s actually behind your stress—and it might surprise you.
So many smart, high-achieving women think their stress is caused by work deadlines, demanding family responsibilities, or difficult coworkers. But here’s the truth: most of your stress isn’t about what’s happening—it’s about how you’re responding internally.
🌿 In this episode, I’ll guide you through:
- A powerful self-check-in to assess your current stress level
- The difference between “good stress” (that helps you grow) and “bad stress” (that drains you)
- How ancient survival instincts still show up in our modern-day stress responses
- My personal story of chronic overworking, people-pleasing, and becoming what I call a “helium arm” 🙋🏻♀️—saying yes to everything and burning out
- The hidden cost of overdoing, over-giving, and constantly trying to prove your worth
- The eye-opening coaching session that helped me trace my stress back to a deep-rooted belief: “I’m not valuable enough.”
- How I began to shift that belief, and the emotional and energetic freedom that followed
💡 Key insight:
Most of your stress comes from within—from unconscious beliefs, perfectionism, and people-pleasing patterns rooted in childhood or cultural conditioning. And that’s good news… because it means you can change it.
✨ My transformation:
I used to live at an 8 or 9 on the stress scale. Now, I live at a 2 or 3 most days. That shift didn’t come from changing my environment—it came from changing my inner world. And I’ll be teaching you how to do the same, step by step.
🎧 What’s coming next:
In the next episode, we’ll dive into how Asian cultural, parental, and societal expectations contribute to the internal stress so many Asian women leaders carry—and how to begin releasing those pressures.
👉 Want to build your Grounded & Unshakable Confidence? I offer a free 45-minute clarity call to help you gain insight into where you are now, where you want to go, and what’s holding you back. If you’re ready to take action, email me at coco@nullcocoduancoaching.com.
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Until next time, remember: Be kind to yourself.