Emotionally Uncomfortable

"If you choose to quit and run away, you're 100% guaranteed to not get the result that you came for."
In this episode, Heather shares an honest conversation about emotional endurance, how it's not the "hustle-hard, push-through" version we've been sold, and why it's important to stay with yourself when things get uncomfortable, inconvenient, or uncertain. She unpacks why reinvention often stalls out when self-abandonment is mistaken for strength, how real lightness comes from honoring capacity rather than overriding it, and what it actually means to keep going without betraying yourself. If you've ever felt torn between wanting more and feeling the weight of resistance from yourself or those around you, this episode is an invitation to redefine endurance as knowing when to lean in and when to take a damn break.
What to listen for:
✨ The real reason most people aren't doing the work to reinvent themselves
✨ Heather's love letter on not abandoning yourself and creating more lightness
✨ Navigating resistance from the people around you as you go for more
"You won't feel lighter or freer by forcing yourself to push harder. It doesn't come from endurance alone; it comes when you stop betraying your capacity in the name of proving you can handle more."
✨ Teaching your family and the people around you how to lead themselves
✨ Sitting with the discomfort of doing the shit that you don't want to do
✨ Why leaning into discomfort is part of what guarantees success
"Become the change you want to see in the world around what you have control over. It's really hard for people to understand that concept because they self-abandon all the time."
✨ Why you need to play with identifying as somebody who isn't avoidant
✨ What do you need to do in alignment with how you want to feel?
✨ You can't give to other people while self-abandoning
"Emotional endurance is looking within, leaning in when you need to be more curious, leaning out when you need a fucking break. Just don't quit."
✨ The difference between performative action and real leadership
✨ Co-creating your life with the people in it and without abandoning yourself
✨ Why emotional endurance has nothing to do with how heavy you feel
***
For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life.
We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy.
Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate?
Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit
Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply
Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime):
https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

"A lot of good things happen when we grab control of that space between our first in our second thought. There's a lot of gifts that come from just taking agency back over your own thoughts before you act."
What happens when we stop trying to manage emotions and start taking responsibility for the space between reaction and choice? In this episode, Heather and Chris Cullen explore a deeper, more grounded conversation about emotional regulation, gender dynamics, and why so many well-intentioned approaches to growth and healing are failing most men. They talk about respect versus control, collaboration versus competition, and how reclaiming agency over our second thought can radically change the way we relate to ourselves, our partners, and our families. This isn't about "fixing" men or "watering down" women; it's about creating environments where both can actually show up differently.
What to listen for:
✨ Why men are realizing that the old ways of "managing emotions" aren't working
✨ What makes traditional therapy feminine in a way that doesn't always support men
✨ The men in your life aren't "unmotivated"; they just have different needs
"Men want to feel respected, women want to feel admired. Part of the respect is bringing us into the equation versus telling us what to do. Making it pro-social for a purpose bigger than you will help ignite that flame."
✨ How to create space for men to feel respected and supported in their growth
✨ When women reclaim their power, men will naturally show up differently
✨ Shifting into relationship as collaboration versus competition
"If you come to me with a chin up and chest out, like, 'You need to do this', you're probably getting it right back. And I don't know that that friction creates a great environment to express or feel."
✨ Your first thought may be reactive, but you're always in charge of your second thought
✨ It's not your spiritual journey to manage your children or partner's experience
✨ Navigating the fear of anger when the men in your life are struggling
About Chris Cullen:
Chris Cullen is a keynote speaker, author, and founder of Win Within, where he helps people and organizations unlock their best through mindset training. A former Division 1 athlete and two-time Ironman finisher, he brings real-world lessons on resilience, growth, and performance into his talks and workshops. Over a decade in the medical field, he generated more than $100M in sales and led high-performing teams across the U.S. and Canada before shifting his focus to mindset and culture. He is the author of I Get To: Change Your Words, Change Your Life, a book that explores how three simple words can transform self-leadership, performance, and workplace culture. Chris also serves as the mental conditioning coach for the University of Georgia softball team, guiding Division 1 athletes with tools to sharpen their mindset and identity. His work blends science, story, and strategy to help others lead themselves first—and thrive in life, sport, and business.
Connect with Chris Cullen:
Website: https://www.chriscullen.com 

Instagram: @chriscullen_c3

Book: I Get To: Change Your Words, Change Your Life: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-get-to-chris-cullen/1148030572 

***
For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life.
We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy.
Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate?
Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit
Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply
Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

"Who you are when you have to make an emotionally uncomfortable decision says everything about how quickly you will get results."
In this episode, Heather shares a grounded, no-bypass conversation about decision-making when your nervous system is activated, clarity feels unavailable, and quitting would be easier than staying in it. She unpacks why decision fatigue isn't about doing too much, but about avoiding the decisions that actually matter, how unmade choices quietly turn into identity-level habits, and why real momentum is built by staying in motion even when outcomes, other people, or next steps are uncomfortable and uncertain. This episode will help you stop circling the same choices, outsourcing your power to external conditions, or spiritually rationalizing why now isn't the time, because success is something we all have to consciously choose in each moment.
What to listen for:
✨ Why decision fatigue shows up and what it takes to persevere
✨ The real reason you're not seeing results and where you need to invest more time
✨ Working through the messy middle when your nervous system gets dysregulated
"Lock in, figure it out, and go through this emotional discomfort. Are you committing to this journey and the result that you want, or are you going to run away from it?"
✨ Using repetition to build the muscle of being all in and figuring shit out
✨ How to stay in motion when you don't know what decision someone else will make
✨ Being successful and achieving your goals is a decision, and it needs to come from within
"People are more addicted to their external environment than their internal environment. And the reality is, when you're maneuvering your emotional energy to your external environment versus your internal environment, you'll always feel out of control."
✨ How we use spiritual bypassing to avoid making uncomfortable decisions
✨ Decision fatigue is rooted in our avoidance of making decisions in real time
✨ No matter what your faith is, you still need to act from self-trust and discernment
"When you choose not to make a decision in real time, you pay the natural consequence of unmade decisions. And so oftentimes, a lot of our fatigue, which is a huge energy leak and a huge time suck, is literally coming from unmade decisions."
✨ Why decisions that are a year old are now identity-based habits
✨ You can change your personality when you change your personal reality
✨ How to start thinking about decision-making differently and more productively
***
For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life.
We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy.
Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate?
Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit
Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply
Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime):
https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

"Almost everybody will overestimate how much they can grow in one year. At the same time, they underestimate how much they can grow in five."
In this episode, Heather talks with Jay Papasan about why doing more isn't the answer, how relentless productivity can actually work against you, and what happens when you commit to the one thing that truly matters. This is a conversation about focus as a skill, boredom as a feature of mastery, and the quiet, intentional choices that make everything else easier (or unnecessary). If you're tired of spinning your wheels and ready to aim strategically instead of swinging harder, this episode will reframe how you approach your goals, your time, and yourself.
What to listen for:
✨ What "the one thing" is, and how it applies to life roles and responsibilities
✨ How addiction to productivity is harming us and how to choose aligned priorities
✨ Training your brain to narrow its focus so that you make the most of your actions
"You get to pick where you're aiming the tool. You ask the question, 'What's the one thing I can do such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?'"
✨ Why doing tasks earlier in the day helps bypass resistance and distraction
✨ Implementing the essential practice of "goals before phones" to stay on track
✨ Working with the human element when accountability doesn't work
"What would your world look like if every day, before you look at your phone, you had to look at your goals? When people are reminded of their priorities, they're more likely to keep them."
✨ What happens on the other side of being strategically focused and intentional
✨ How to make peace with the boredom of success that's required for mastery
✨ Getting honest about how suffering and self-sabotage are serving you (or not)
About Jay Papasan:
Jay Papasan [Pap-uh-zan] is a bestselling author who has served in multiple executive leadership positions during his 24-year career at Keller Williams Realty International, the world's largest real estate company. During his time with KW, Jay has led the company's education, publishing, research, and strategic content departments. 
Jay is also CEO of The ONE Thing training company Produktive, host of The ONE Thing podcast, and co-owner, alongside his wife Wendy, of Papasan Properties Group with Keller Williams Realty in Austin, Texas. He is also the co-host of the Think Like a CEO podcast with Keller Williams co-founder, Gary Keller. 
In 2003, Jay co-authored The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, a million-copy bestseller, alongside Gary Keller and Dave Jenks. His other bestselling real estate titles include The Millionaire Real Estate Investor and SHIFT. In September 2025, Jay will celebrate the launch of his first solo title, Rookie Real Estate Agent. 
Jay's most recent work with Gary Keller on The ONE Thing has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide and garnered more than 500 appearances on national bestseller lists, including #1 on The Wall Street Journal's hardcover business list, and has been translated into 40+ different languages. 
Every Friday, Jay shares concise, actionable insights for growing your business, optimizing your time, and expanding your mindset in his newsletter, The TwentyPercenter.
Connect with Jay:
Website: https://jaypapasan.com

Facebook and Instagram: @jaypapasan

The ONE Thing book: https://the1thing.com

***
For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life.
We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy.
Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate?
Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit
Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply
Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

"What happens when you talk about the things that you want to do is people start to make connections for you. And this is exactly what happened and what has enhanced this year's experience."
In this episode, Heather explores what happens when we stop waiting for the perfect moment and start choosing courage instead. This isn't a travel highlight reel; it's a behind-the-scenes look at how Heather and her family prepared, decided, and executed the big life shift of snowbirding—without burning out their family or their bank account. 
She opens up about navigating her own (and her child's) resistance with compassion, holding space for discomfort without detracting from the learning opportunities, and recognizing how much freedom can come from facing your fears rather than avoiding them. If you secretly want more freedom but feel overwhelmed by the logistics, are a high-functioning mom who wonders if your current lifestyle is sustainable long-term, or you've thought about relocating, traveling, or changing your rhythm but get tripped up by fear, this episode is for you.
What to listen for:
✨ Heather's fear of winter and the decision to start snowbirding for her mental health
✨ The intentionality and preparation that go into bringing big goals to fruition
✨ Navigating the underlying stress that almost kept Heather from seeing this through
"What Mexico gave me was the courage to do emotionally uncomfortable things, the courage to test something, the courage to try. When you wait for things to be perfect, you're never going to live out your dream because it's about progress, not perfection."
✨ Using the "Wouldn't it be nice?" list to create a happier and healthier experience
✨ The power of being open to new possibilities and getting out of your comfort zone
✨ Working through your child's resistance to what you know is for their highest good
"As long as my commitment is to be of the highest service to his mental and emotional well-being without doing his own spiritual work for him, meaning not trying to take away his pain for his own aha moments, and I can sit with his emotional discomfort, this is going to be such a growth opportunity for him."
✨ Looking at your shadow side, fears, and anxiety to create more freedom
✨ Heather's realization that her kids are detoxing from North American culture
✨ The magic of type two fun and why it can only come from emotional discomfort
"Sometimes you have to realize that what appears to be paradise on people's Instagram feeds is growth opportunities. What you don't see is that person's willingness to take a risk, that person's courage to be emotionally uncomfortable, and to experience type two fun." 
✨ How getting uncomfortable can open you up to incredible, new experiences
✨ Understanding that you're in control of your and your children's lives, no one else
✨ Heather's top tips for working around the inevitable fear of uncertainty
***
For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life.
We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy.
Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate?
Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit
Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply
Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime):
https://heatherchauvin.com/membership