Burnt Out Betty

By Shane Kulman

Dear Enchantress,

I’m 30 years old and I feel like I’ve been sleepwalking through my twenties. I did everything “right”—went to college, got the stable job, climbed the ladder—but now I’m stuck in a career that drains me. Every Sunday night, I feel the dread start to creep in, and by Monday morning, my body is tense before I even open my laptop.

My job is soul-sucking. It pays well and looks good on paper, but I feel like I’m wasting my life doing work that doesn’t matter to me. I don’t feel creative or seen. I’ve always had a spark—an inner voice whispering that I’m meant for something more—but I’ve gotten so used to ignoring it. Now, I’m scared I’ve waited too long or that I’m being ungrateful.

How do I find the courage to listen to that voice again and trust that a more enchanted life is possible?

Thank you.

Dear Burnt Out Betty,

Oh, darling soul, I hear you. Your sighs are like wind through ancient trees, rustling with longing. The ache in your chest? That’s your true self trying to stir awake. You are not broken. You are in the sacred pause before the bloom.

You’ve been living in the Castle of Shoulds—where the curtains are neat, the clock’s always ticking, and everything is filtered through what’s expected. You’ve worn the polished armor, smiled through the meetings, checked the boxes. But my dear, you were never meant to shrink into a system. You are stardust and stories, not just systems and schedules.

That quiet, persistent voice inside you—the one dreaming of color, music, connection, maybe a splash of rebellion? That’s your magic. And it’s not imaginary. It’s your compass home.

The most important thing is to DOUBLE DOWN on pleasurable activities.

You don’t need to burn eve­rything down. It’s important to be smart and not all wild. It’s all about INTEGRATION. A bit of grounded responsibility and a bit of wild self-expression. What you do need is one true, brave, sparkling step. One honest yes. One liberating no. One return to your natural rhythm.

So, here’s your invitation: Move your body to a song that makes your hips sway. Write something that makes no sense and every kind of sense. Say no to the energy drainers. Say yes to what makes your skin hum with aliveness. Even if it’s weird. Especially if it’s weird. Go to an open mic, share a piece of writing, go to a live music show by yourself and dance with your focus only on yourself.

Magic rarely kicks down the door. She knocks gently. She whispers. She hides in joy. And she shows up more when we believe we’re worthy of her.

You don’t have to quit your job, leave your town, or become someone entirely new. But you can absolutely begin today—saying yes to beauty, yes to breath, yes to becoming fully, deliciously you. Make your work just a part of your day.

You are not behind. You are not too much. You are not the only one feeling like something precious is missing. You are exactly on time.

Love,
The Enchantress

P.S. If your soul is craving a space to remember who you are—through story, style, movement, and magic—there’s a very special VIP Day waiting for you. A day where your essence is celebrated, your voice is centered, and your photos tell the truth of your becoming. It’s called the Enchanted Expansion VIP Day, and it’s your next enchanted step.

If you have a question for Enchantress Shane, email her at love@enchantedembodiment.com