Stress Down, Joy Up with Lisa Pulliam

A conversation on sacred pauses, boundaries, and thriving in midlife

The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us.

One minute it’s early fall, and the next we’re juggling gatherings, obligations, expectations, shopping lists, emotional labor, and the quiet pressure to make everything feel magical for everyone else.

In a recent episode of Midlife Millennial Edit, I sat down with my friend Lisa for a conversation that felt less like an interview and more like a collective exhale. We talked about what it really means to thrive in midlife—especially during the holidays—and why intention matters more than tradition, perfection, or performance.

Lisa shared something that stopped me in my tracks:

“And what happens at the holidays, and I’ve seen it so many times, is we literally become so depleted that the season of joy and peace becomes just passing out and exhaustion. And it can and will rob us of our joy if we don’t be intentional at the get go as we walk into it.”

That’s the truth many of us don’t want to admit. The season that’s meant to feel joyful often leaves us drained, resentful, and counting down the days until it’s over. Not because we’re doing it wrong—but because we’re doing too much without asking how we actually want to feel.

The Power of a Sacred Pause

One of the most grounding parts of our conversation centered around what Lisa calls a sacred pause—a simple, intentional moment to slow down before the world starts asking things of us.

“I’m such a believer in what I call a sacred pause. In the morning, delaying the phone a little while. Allowing yourself time to breathe, to whisper a prayer of Thanksgiving or gratitude, to go walking—to whatever you need to do.”

There’s something quietly radical about delaying the phone. About choosing presence before consumption. About letting your nervous system wake up gently instead of being jolted into urgency.

These pauses don’t require a perfect routine or a full hour of meditation. They’re about creating space—space to remember who you are before the noise, the roles, and the responsibilities take over.

Boundaries Are Not Unkind — They’re Protective

Another theme that resonated deeply was boundaries. Especially for women in midlife, boundaries can feel uncomfortable, selfish, or “too much.” But Lisa reframed them as an act of self-respect and peace preservation.

“You have full agency, full permission to take your power back and to take your peace back by drawing a healthy boundary and saying, ‘Thank you so much, but I will not be able to do that this year.’”

No over-explaining. No guilt spiral. Just clarity.

Boundaries don’t mean you love people less. They mean you’re choosing not to abandon yourself in the process of caring for others.

An Invitation to Do the Holidays Differently

This conversation wasn’t about adding another thing to your plate. It was an invitation to remove—to let go of what drains you, to notice what restores you, and to redefine what “thriving” looks like in this season of life.

If you’re entering the holidays already tired…

If your body is asking for rest…

If your heart is craving more meaning and less hustle…

This episode is a reminder that peace is available—but it often requires intention, permission, and a willingness to choose yourself.

You don’t need to do the holidays perfectly.

You don’t need to do them the way you always have.

You just need to decide how you want to feel—and honor that choice.

🎧 You can listen to the full episode of Midlife Millennial Edit wherever you get your podcasts.

And if this resonates, I’d love to hear from you:

What’s one boundary or sacred pause you’re giving yourself this season?