What I’ve Been Learning Lately (even as a Coach)

Because apparently, knowing better doesn’t stop you from doing the same dumb thing twice.

There’s something uniquely humbling about giving great advice to someone else… while quietly ignoring that same wisdom in your own life.

That’s been me, lately. Not falling apart. Not in crisis. Just noticing that quiet little voice, the one I thought I’d outgrown, getting a bit louder again.

The doubts. The second-guessing. The “Wait, am I even doing this right?” spiral.

And here’s the kicker: I know I’m capable. I’ve done the work. I’ve come through worse. But somehow, when you’re in the middle of a pivot (personally or professionally) all that hard-won clarity starts to get a little… fuzzy.

So here’s what’s been coming up for me. The real, unpolished stuff. The things I thought I’d mastered, showing up for a round two (or five). Because growth? It loops. And sometimes the next version of you gets built on the edge of what you thought you’d already handled.

Yes, I know what I’m doing - and no, that doesn’t stop the doubt

You’d think that knowing your own capability, really knowing it, would silence that inner critic by now.

But no.

Mine’s been showing up lately with a lot of energy. Not dramatic, just persistent. Asking things like: “Are you sure this is the right move?”

“Maybe just wait until you feel more ready.”

“Shouldn’t this be easier by now?”

(Helpful.)

And here’s the thing: I get it. I’ve moved countries. I’m building in a new market. There’s uncertainty. It makes sense that the noise would get louder again.

But it’s frustrating when you can feel your own strength and your own self-doubt - at the same time. Like your brain forgot who you are for a second.

Still, I’m not treating it as a crisis. I’m treating it as a reminder: Even solid ground can feel shaky when you're building something new.

Moving the goalposts - that’s not failure, that’s growth

Here’s something else I’ve had to come to terms with: just because you set a goal once, doesn’t mean it’s still the right one.

For example, a few years ago, I had my fitness routine dialed in. The goal? Look fit, feel lean, follow the plan. I was proud of the results, and I felt great.

But now? Perimenopause has entered the group chat. (And no, it’s not subtle.) Suddenly, the goal is less about abs and more about energy. Hormone balance. Feeling good in my body for the long haul.

That shift didn’t come because I failed the first goal. It came because my priorities changed. My body changed. My life changed.

And that’s not backtracking. It’s evolving.

It’s surprisingly hard to give yourself permission to shift focus, even when it makes total sense. But I’m learning to let the endgame grow with me, instead of holding myself hostage to a version of success that no longer fits.

Old patterns don’t die — they just wait for a rebrand

You know the ones I mean.

The thought spirals you thought you’d buried. The habits you broke. The inner narratives you definitely dealt with in therapy (right?).

And then… something new happens. A move. A pivot. A new audience. A new version of your work.

Suddenly those old stories come knocking again, all dressed up like they’re new here.

For me, it’s been overthinking, especially around visibility and messaging as I step into a new market. I’ve done this before. I know how to do this. And yet? The second-guessing is back. Full force. Asking if I should wait, tweak, polish - juuust a bit more.

Classic.

But I’m learning not to panic when the old stuff resurfaces. It doesn’t mean I’m back at square one. It just means I’m growing again, and the next level version of me is being asked to meet it differently.

You can want more - and still enjoy where you are

I haven’t always known how to dream big, but I’ve always been someone who moves. Who leaps. Who deals with what’s in front of me and keeps going.

And lately, I’ve been reminded: I don’t have to hold my breath until I “get there.”

I can still want what I want and let myself enjoy where I am. The weird in-between bits. The not-quite-sure moments. The surprise turns that weren’t part of the original plan but end up being exactly what I needed.

Being present doesn’t mean lowering the bar. It means remembering that growth isn’t about constant acceleration. Sometimes, it’s about looking around and going,“This is uncomfortable… but kind of exciting too.”

Final Thoughts: This is the work

So yes, I’m a coach. Yes, I help other people move through doubt, uncertainty, identity shifts, and big transitions.

But that doesn’t mean I’m done with my own.

The truth is, I still get wobbly. I still overthink. I still revisit lessons I thought I’d locked down. And honestly? That’s what keeps me honest in this work.

Because growth isn’t about arriving. It’s about staying in relationship with yourself, through all of it. The doubt. The redefinition. The weird middle bits.

So if you’re in a season of transition…If the old thoughts are back…If the goal suddenly feels like it shifted on you…

It doesn’t mean you’re lost. It means you’re learning.

And you’re not alone in that.

Eva