Scenic Route, Social Change and Mental Health for Tired Perfectionists

Scenic Route is a mental health and social change podcast for perfectionists, overthinkers, and high-achievers who are tired of holding it all together.

If you're burned out from performing, people-pleasing, and pretending everything's fine — this is your space to finally exhale.

Hosted by sociologist and recovering perfectionist Jennifer Walter (MA Sociology, University College Cork) — navigating chronic illness whilst rebuilding life in her 40s and rethinking what resilience actually means.

We talk about:
Mental health without the toxic positivity
Real tools for anxiety, burnout, and the inner critic

Social change that starts within
Feminism, capitalism, and how your healing is political

Mindfulness for sceptics
No crystals, no BS, just what actually works

Expect solo deep-dives, expert guests, and the occasional bit of potty humour because healing doesn't have to be so damn serious all the time.

This podcast is for you if:
You're questioning so many things and trying to stay hopeful
You're done with perfectionism but still want to grow
You believe inner work and activism go hand in hand

New episodes every Tuesday.

The longest way round is the shortest way home. That's why we're taking the Scenic Route.

Start with the latest episode — or jump into whatever speaks to you.
The view here is chef's kiss 🫶

All Episodes

Scenic Route, Social Change and Mental Health for Tired Perfectionists

Weekly Affirmation – Letting Go

December 12, 2025 • Jennifer Walter • Season 7 • Episode 115

Pause for a breath you didn't know you were holding.

This soft landing is for the woman who's been holding it together so well that no one thinks to ask if she's okay.

This week's affirmation:
"The strategies, steps, decisions that got me here served their purpose — I release them with grace."

You don't have to carry what no longer fits. You don't have to make letting go mean you failed.

What got you here won't always get you where you're going. And that's okay.

This weekend, ask yourself: What am I holding onto simply because it once worked?

Thank it. And let it go.

New Soft Landings every Friday. Save this. Share it. Come back to it when you need the reminder. 🤍

About Soft Landings:
Every Friday on The Scenic Route, one grounded affirmation to help you rest, reset, and remember who you are.

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Visit jenniferwalter.me – your cosy tree house where tired perfectionists and those done pretending to be fine find space to breathe, dream, and create real change.

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Jennifer Walter: 0:00

It's Friday. And you're taking the scenic route. And you've been caring a lot. I know you're feeling weary of being alone. Who holds it all together? So take a breath. You don't have to do anything right now, really. You're allowed to rest. If you've been holding it together so well that no one thinks to ask if you're okay, here's your soft landing of the week. The strategies, steps, decisions that got me here served their purpose. I released them with grace. The strategies, steps, decisions that got me here served their purpose. I released them with grace. The strategies, steps, decisions that got me here served their purpose. I released them with grace. We've been taught that letting go means failure, that if something worked once, we should hold on to it forever. That changing course means we were wrong all along. And we give us crap for that. But that's not really true though, is it? That's loyalty to a version of ourselves that no longer exists. Because here's the truth, what what you what got you here won't always get you where you're going. The strategies that kept you safe might now keep you small. The decisions that once served you may now be weighing you down. And the steps you took with such certainty, they were right for that moment and for that particular Polaroid snapshot version of you. But you're allowed to outgrow. You're allowed to release without baking any stories up about yourself. So this weekend, ask yourself, what am I holding on to simply because it won't work? Maybe it's a way of thinking, a pattern of responding, a strategy for staying safe. Whatever it is. Just pause and think about it. And remember, you really don't have to carry it anymore if you decide not to. You can thank it, you can thank it for what it gave you, and just let that shit go. Really sweet grace and make space for what's next. So that's your soft landing for this week. I'll see you again Tuesday.