The Performance Trap with Oliver Jenkin
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Have you ever looked around at your life and thought, “This looks fine… so why don’t I feel like me?” – then this episode is for you.
Performing doesn’t always look loud. Sometimes it looks like overachieving, people-pleasing, or smiling when you’re quietly unravelling. And if you’re sensitive, chances are you’ve gotten very good at it.
In this episode of The Sensitive Professionals Podcast, I’m joined by Oliver Jenkin, somatic practitioner. Oliver helps people reconnect with their bodies, their creativity, and a deeper sense of aliveness. Through simple, sensory practices, he supports clients to shift out of performance and pressure – and into a life that feels more real, present and nourishing.
We’re talking about:
The quiet, habitual ways we perform to fit into structures
How that performance distances us from our real selves
The numbness and disconnection that can creep in – and what they’re telling you
Simple somatic and sensory practices to reconnect with your aliveness
Why creative refuelling isn’t indulgent – it’s essential
If you’ve ever caught yourself over-functioning or quietly burning out in a life that no longer feels like yours – this conversation is for you.
Resources from this episode
About your host
Hi, I’m Teresa—career coach, ex-corporate insider, and proud sensitive professional.
After 20+ years in high-pressure roles—often as the only woman in the room, quietly absorbing everything while others talked over each other—I know what it’s like to feel out of place in environments that prize boldness over nuance and speed over substance.
But here’s what I discovered: sensitivity wasn’t a weakness—it was my greatest advantage.
Now, I help ambitious, sensitive professionals like you turn struggles into strengths and build careers that feel as good as they look—without burnout, bravado, or trying to be someone you’re not.
© Practical Feeling. Everything shared here is for information and reflection – not professional advice. Please use your judgement before taking action based on anything you hear. Practical Feeling accepts no responsibility for any decisions made in connection with the content.
