Ditch the Drama: Start by Seeing the Story
A gentle shift from overthinking to aligned action
I’ve been stuck in a loop lately: overplanning, doubting, reworking. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the right idea—I just couldn’t get past the noise in my own head.
The big shift? Realizing it wasn’t a strategy problem—it was a story problem.
Start by seeing the story you’re telling yourself.
Does hesitation mean you're not ready?
We’re told that hesitation means we’re not ready. If we really believed in ourselves, we would move faster, stronger, and louder.
But what if that’s not true?
What if hesitation doesn’t always signal fear—but a deeper story underneath the surface?
Most of us carry quiet narratives that shape how we show up: stories inherited from childhood, culture, or past experiences. And often, those stories aren’t even ours.
The result? Inaction. Or an action that doesn’t feel aligned. And nothing sticks no matter how many productivity hacks we try—because the real friction is mental, not tactical.
New Visions - Stopped By Self-Doubt
After nearly two decades of running a business, I had a new vision—one rooted in slow growth, clarity, and sustainable momentum. But as soon as I started moving toward it, self-doubt crept in.
"Who am I to build this? What if it doesn’t work? What if I lose everything I’ve built so far?"
Even with a clear plan, I stalled.
It wasn’t until I slowed down enough to listen that I noticed the problem: I was trying to act from a place of an old me, one that balanced value with output and clarity with perfection.
Once I saw that, the shift was small but mighty. I didn’t need a new strategy—I needed to rewrite the story I was telling myself.
Three Simple Shifts to SEE the Difference
Here are three simple mindset shifts that helped me get unstuck:
1. Not every delay is a red flag.
Sometimes, you need safety before you can take action. That's not to say that every time you pause and hesitate, it's for the wrong reasons. Our nervous systems try to keep us safe when we step into the unknown - protection.
You can be brave and cautious—both can be true. You only need to recognize the differences.
2. That inner critic? It’s often inherited.
Ask: Whose voice is this? If it’s not yours, you don’t have to keep listening.
Past experience and perceived cultural norms are how we receive many of our inherited beliefs. They come from somewhere, right? Those stories carry a lot of weight, too.
For example, I used to believe that real success looked like a packed schedule and constant visibility because that’s what I saw growing up and early in my career, and again, with every perceived success story.
3. Clarity doesn’t always feel like confidence.
There are times when the best path forward feels the quietest. Funneling through information and noise can be why we fail to act.
You don’t need to feel bold to take a bold step—just present. Sometimes, it’s best to pause, breathe, and tune into what feels true—not loud, not urgent, just aligned.
The next right step is quiet, not loud. What feels calm may actually be what’s true.
These aren’t tactics. They’re shifts in how you move forward—with more ease, honesty, and alignment.
Challenge Conventional Wisdom
There’s a lot of noise about “taking massive action” and “pushing past resistance.”
But not all resistance is bad. I can be a clue—a signal that something deeper needs your attention.
Instead of powering through it, what if you paused and got curious?
You might find that your next move isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing differently.
Try This Today:
Set a timer for 5 minutes. Then, choose one idea, offer, or plan you’ve been considering.
Now, without editing yourself, jot down what’s holding you back. Not what sounds reasonable—what feels true.
When the timer goes off, look at what you’ve written. What’s the story behind the hesitation?
Naming it is the first step in shifting it.
"I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing." Louise Hay
Positive affirmations can help counter feelings of self-doubt and imposter syndrome by reinforcing trust in your journey and decisions.
Mindset work is quiet work. But the more you notice your internal stories, the easier it becomes to write a new one.
And that’s where real clarity begins.
Ready to go deeper?
This article touches on the first phase of a framework I’m building called SHIFT. It starts with SEE: noticing the story you’re telling yourself so you can decide if it still fits.
The rest is coming soon—but for now, stay curious. Keep noticing. That’s the first step toward momentum that actually feels like yours.