Emotionally Uncomfortable

"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

"At the end of the day, our brains are wired to crave peace and order, and our outer environments can mirror our inner environment, or vice versa."
In this episode, Heather sits down with Katy Wells to explore overconsumption and overcommitment, as well as the many forms of clutter that quietly erode our patience, focus, and presence. Many women find themselves struggling to concentrate or feeling constantly overwhelmed, which leads them to wonder, "What's wrong with me?" This conversation reveals that it's decision fatigue and unexamined accumulation pulling attention in too many directions at once, not a personal failing. Together, Heather and Katy unpack the deeper layers of clutter rooted in identity, loss aversion, and the guilt that keeps us holding on long past usefulness.
What to listen for:
✨ The three different types of clutter that lead to continued overwhelm
✨ One question to break free from identity clutter and the guilt that comes with it
✨ Why the endowment effect keeps us from releasing what no longer aligns
"Loss aversion is a real thing. I don't want to feel like I failed at getting healthier or that I'm using my money the wrong way. It's helpful to reframe that loss and say, 'You know what, I did what I could', or 'Here's five other ways I'm working on my health that are simpler and better for me that don't involve a Peloton', so I feel confident in letting go."
✨ Navigating the emotional discomfort that comes with releasing things
✨ The science behind the sudden urge to declutter when we've decided to change
✨ Why women struggle to change their behavior and opt out of consumerism
✨ How to create micro counterculture moments that support the life you want to live
"Cultural pressure, societal pressure, or 'this is just the way it is', can make us feel like, 'Well, I guess this is just what we're gonna do', because they play to the part of our brains that wants the best for our kids. It's so nuanced, and the guilt is real as a parent." 
✨ How to make decisions as a family unit around commitment clutter
✨ Ways you can give gifts without adding more clutter to other people's lives
✨ How to talk to your kids about shifting from material gifts to experiences
About Katy Wells:
Katy Wells, author of Making Home Your Happy Place, helps families break the cycle of clutter that keeps coming back—no matter how many times they've tried to get it under control. As the creator of Holistic Decluttering and host of The Maximized Minimalist podcast (5 million listens), Katy's been featured on NBC, Martha Stewart, and Real Simple for her approach that gets to the root of why we hold onto things we don't need. She teaches families how to let go of what's weighing them down so they can create an easy-to-manage home and finally stop feeling overwhelmed every time they walk through the door.
Connect with Katy:
Read Making Home Your Happy Place—A step-by-step guide to breaking the clutter cycle for good: (link available soon)

Listen to The Maximized Minimalist—Real talk and practical strategies for simplifying your home, mind, and life: https://plinkhq.com/i/1460805372 

Get once-a-week encouragement with behind-the-scenes strategies, actionable tips, and honest insights you won't find anywhere else: https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify 

***
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

"I put myself in situations where I didn't have a back door and couldn't run away from myself. The natural consequence was that I felt lighter, and I'm finishing the year more proud of myself than I've ever been, with more confidence."
In this episode, Heather guides you through her unique process for creating a personalized, focused plan for 2026 that brings real lightness into your life. But that doesn't mean bypassing internal struggles or heavy emotions, because you can't reclaim your time or create more peace without addressing your biggest energy leaks. If your goal is to feel lighter next year, while bringing on more responsibilities that move you forward, this conversation will guide you to work with the four essential energy types that support real growth, so you can release what no longer fits and move forward with more ease, clarity, and self-trust.
What to listen for:
✨ 80% of how you spend your day is hiding, and why you need a north star
✨ The four types of energy you need to understand how to manage for growth
✨ Understanding the type of dreamer you are and how to work with yourself
✨ Why the more responsibility you have, the lighter you should feel
"When you begin to embody this identity of 'the more responsibility I have, the lighter I should feel', your brain begins to find evidence of how that's possible. Because the way that you manage your time and energy is focused on how light you can feel."
✨ Shifting the belief systems that limit your ability to experience lightness
✨ Continuously and relentlessly facing the parts of yourself you avoid
✨ Living for others as a way to feel better, but with strong boundaries
"You have to face parts of yourself that you've never, ever, ever faced, especially with that identity. And to be lighter, you have to let go."
✨ Getting radically honest about what you're sacrificing by holding on to stories
✨ Auditing the tasks currently on your plate to uncover what you can release
✨ Holding the emotional discomfort of learning how to trust and receive
✨ Why women often use strategy and information to avoid integration
"You have one precious life, and if you're wasting time on a strategy that's not working, it's time to put it down. If you are wasting it on relationships or skills that aren't working, or you feel like you've outgrown a career, it's time to put them down."
✨ Using community support to enhance personal growth and accountability
✨ Understanding that fear can be a catalyst for growth if managed intentionally
✨ Creating a 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' list to help clarify your desires
*******
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   
Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): https://heatherchauvin.com/membership