It’s probably the most dreaded week of the month.

The week of crying on the couch, eating ice cream in stained sweatpants you’ve been wearing for three days, feeling irritated, frustrated, or just full of rage.

And honestly, I don’t think people talk enough about the rage.

Women can carry a lot of anger quietly.

Sometimes it comes out as feistiness or being short with people. Sometimes we cry over things that normally wouldn’t bother us. Sometimes we just simply feel more emotional.

And for a long time, I thought that meant something was wrong with me.

But what I’ve started to realize is that my luteal phase is actually showing me where I’m not free yet.

It’s showing me what still wants to be felt.

Because all of these emotions that bubble to the surface aren’t random.

And honestly, I think that’s beautiful.

As women, we have this built-in invitation every month to slow down and pay attention.

As estrogen the confident, social, fun hormone drops and progesterone rises, we naturally become more inward. We might crave more alone time. We may not want to be as social. And our emotions tend to become even louder.

But I think so many women believe this is bad.

So naturally, we try to find ways to feel better.

We eat the ice cream.

We pour the wine.

We scroll.

Or we laugh it off and say, “I’m just hormonal.”

Trust me, I’ve done the same thing.

But I started asking myself:

What if I used my luteal phase to my advantage instead?

Not because it feels good.

Because honestly, it doesn’t.

Sometimes it feels incredibly uncomfortable or just straight up painful.

But maybe these emotions aren’t problems to solve.

Maybe they’re invitations.

You know, it’s funny because I’m writing this in my luteal phase right now.

I think that’s what sparked the inspiration.

Because if I’m struggling with this, there’s got to be someone else out there who is too.

And after years of severe PMS—and I mean severe PMS—and being put on anxiety medication when I was younger because my symptoms felt so overwhelming, I had to learn how to navigate it and now things are so much better.

I’ve cleaned up my lifestyle, prioritize my hormone health and support my nervous system.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t still experience sadness, irritability, anger, and emotional waves.

The difference is that I don’t see them as problems anymore.

I see them as invitations.

And honestly, I’ve learned that beneath my anger is rarely just anger.

Sometimes it’s sadness.

Sometimes it’s disappointment.

Sometimes I’m just exhausted.

And, if I’m being really honest, it’s a younger version of myself asking for kindness.

Not another reason to be hard on myself.

Not another reminder that I should just push through.

Just kindness.

Because for so much of my life, my response to difficult emotions was to push through.

Stay productive. Keep going. Don’t cry. Don’t be dramatic. Get over it.

But I’m learning that pushing through isn’t always strength.

Sometimes strength looks like slowing down or taking a deep breath and letting yourself cry.

Sometimes it looks like giving yourself the compassion you so freely give everyone else.

Last night, I felt emotions bubbling up and I ignored them most of the day because life doesn’t stop.

I had things to do, people to get back to, and a to-do list that wasn’t magically disappearing.

You can’t just sit and cry all day. (Even though sometimes I wish I could lol.)

But when I finally had some time to myself that evening, I decided to listen.

I put on a guided meditation and just sat with what I was feeling.

And honestly, it hurt.

I felt my chest tighten.

My mouth started salivating.

My body got warmer.

I could feel the emotion moving through me.

And instead of trying to make it go away, I stayed.

I just let myself feel what was there.

And eventually, it passed.

I finally gave myself space to feel what I hadn’t had time to feel throughout the day.

And what I found afterward was quite profound.

I felt free.

I think that’s what so many of us misunderstand about emotions.

Feeling them can be uncomfortable.

Sometimes even painful. But emotions that are felt can move.

It’s often the emotions we avoid, suppress, or distract ourselves from that seem to linger the longest.

So yes, your luteal phase can feel like hell. I’ve experienced that.

But what if, instead of seeing it as something to dread, we saw it differently?

What if it wasn’t punishment?

What if it was a monthly invitation?

A chance to slow down.

A chance to release.

A chance to notice where we’re still holding on.

And maybe your luteal phase isn’t working against you.

Maybe it’s gently showing you the places that are still asking to be loved.

Chloe <3

About the Author

Hellooo there! My name is Chloe. I’m a holistic health coach, writer, and curious student of what true wellness really means. Here, you’ll find a mix of nourishing recipes, reflections on holistic health, cyclical living, and honest thoughts on what it means to slow down in a world that constantly asks us to speed up.

My hope is that this space feels like a gentle exhale in your day. A reminder to slow down, reconnect, and come back home to yourself. I’m so glad you’re here.

Let’s Keep In Touch:

📸 If you’d like to connect beyond your inbox, you can find me on Instagram!!

If you’re looking to go deeper in your holistic health journey, you can explore my coaching work here:

🌿 Coaching: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

And if you’re new here (or want to revisit something you loved), you can read past essays below:

📝 Newsletter Archive: Read Past Articles

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In this episode, Pharis shares the story of leaving behind everything familiar and following a deep inner knowing that she couldn’t ignore. With no job lined up, no apartment, and no certainty that things would work out, she trusted herself enough to take the leap anyway.

Her journey is a beautiful reminder that some of the best things in life happen when we stop letting fear make our decisions and start listening to our intuition.

In this episode, we talk about:

✨ Following your intuition when the path doesn’t make sense

✨ Moving across the world with no job, apartment, or plan

✨ Fear vs. alignment: how to know when it’s time to take the leap

✨ Trusting yourself through uncertainty and life’s transitions

✨ The connection between anxiety, intuition, and self-trust

✨ Why stillness, meditation, and slowing down matter more than ever

✨ Creating a life that feels aligned instead of living by societal expectation

✨ and more…

If you’ve been feeling pulled toward something bigger but fear has been holding you back, this conversation is for you. I hope it reminds you that the life meant for you often begins the moment you decide to trust yourself.

I've absolutely love following along on Pharis’s journey on social media and watching her build a life that's so aligned with who she is. Be sure to follow along with her adventures in Australia on Instagram: @pharis.sippel 🤍

With love,

Chloe

✨ Stay connected with me!!
Instagram: @chloee.marshall
Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com
YouTube: Chloemarshall1

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I did all the things. I woke up at 5 a.m., never missed a workout, and tracked every single morsel of food.

I was gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free.

I’d spent thousands of dollars on supplements and testing.

And somehow, I still didn’t feel good.

To be honest with you, I was completely exhausted.

My skin was still breaking out no matter how many foods I cut out, and my body always felt stressed.

I was constantly thinking about what I needed to fix or remove next.

But the truth is, my “wellness routine” was becoming one of the biggest sources of stress in my life.

Nobody talks about how your wellness routine can actually become a trap.

There’s always another supplement you could be taking.

Another step you could add to your already 15-step morning routine.

Another food to eliminate.

Another habit to optimize perfectly.

And unfortunately, I fell into that trap.

At the time, I genuinely thought I was doing everything right. But as time went on, I became terrified of everything I put into my body, and I started asking myself:

Is this really the kind of life I want to live?

Two years ago, I went to Costa Rica, and it completely changed my life.

It opened my eyes to a totally different way of living.

The Costa Rican people didn’t have a 15-step morning routine, red light therapy, or a vibration plate. They stuck to the basics, because that’s what has worked for thousands of years.

They ate the food they grew. Their physical activity came from walking, working in their gardens, and living their lives. They got sunshine constantly, had a deep faith in God, weren’t obsessively checking the clock, and prioritized their community and families.

I couldn’t help but absorb the energy of the country because it was contagious.

I remember being almost slap happy the whole trip because, for the first time in a long time, I felt like my nervous system could relax.

The slogan in Costa Rica is “Pura Vida,” which translates to “Pure Life.”

It represents their slower way of living, their gratitude, and their optimism.

Visiting Costa Rica made me realize how deeply I crave that kind of life.

But when I came back to the United States, where hustle culture is glamorized, I slowly conformed back to my old patterns and continued chasing a fast-paced life.

A lot of us have been conditioned to believe that if we’re not feeling our best, we should just keep doing more.

And for someone who struggles with perfectionism, that’s a dangerous game.

Looking back, I realized my pursuit of health had become a way to create some sense of control in my life.

I was craving certainty. I wanted answers for why I still didn’t feel better when I thought I was doing everything right.

And in that endless pursuit, I kept reinforcing the belief that I needed to constantly fix myself—that maybe the next protocol, the next supplement, or the next elimination diet would finally make everything better.

My perfectionism was wearing a wellness disguise.

But in reality, it was only hurting me more.

Before I continue, I want to clarify something.

I still believe healthy habits matter.

I believe in nourishing your body with whole foods, moving your body regularly, getting enough sleep, spending time outside, and creating routines that support you.

None of those things are bad.

In fact, they’re incredibly important.

But I do think there’s a fine line between supporting your health and becoming consumed by it.

Because at some point, my wellness routine stopped feeling supportive and started feeling obsessive.

Instead of helping regulate my nervous system, it was constantly dysregulating it.

I was so focused on doing everything perfectly that I never stopped to ask myself if all of this pressure was actually helping.

What I’ve realized is that you can eat all the healthy foods, take all the supplements, and follow the perfect workout plan, but if your nervous system is constantly stuck in a state of stress, fight-or-flight, and hypervigilance, it’s going to be incredibly difficult to feel your best.

Ironically, most of the things I thought were wrong with me weren’t because I needed to add something else or eliminate something else.

What I actually needed was less.

When Wellness Became a Full-Time Job

Wellness started to feel like a full-time job, and not in a good way.

Let me paint a picture.

I woke up every single morning at 5 a.m. Even when my body was craving more rest, I got up anyway.

I obliterated my muscles in the gym. My goal back squat was 225 pounds, and I had no idea my nervous system was already at complete capacity.

I used to be incredibly puffy and inflamed, and now that I’ve dropped the weight I use in the gym and prioritized walking more, so much of that inflammation has melted off my body.

Every little thing I ate stressed me out.

I couldn’t fully enjoy a dinner out because I was worried about consuming something “toxic.”

I obsessed over every symptom—my acne, bloating, fatigue, emotions—and always assumed it was because I was doing something wrong.

What Finally Clicked

What finally started to click for me, after way too many people told me I needed to slow down… was realizing:

I don’t want my entire life to revolve around trying to heal.

I just want to live life fully for the short time I’m here.

So I started giving myself permission to sleep in.

Now I wake up at 6 a.m. (Wow, sleeping in one whole hour.)

But honestly? That hour has made a drastic difference. I still wake up early enough to have a peaceful morning, but I no longer feel like I’m forcing my body to operate on a schedule it’s begging me to slow down from.

I slowly added dairy back into my diet, and ironically, my acne has actually started to clear. My skin has never looked better.

I’ve also been allowing myself to enjoy meals out without thinking I’ve ruined all my progress.

I’m learning to be more present in my life.

And I’m learning to trust my body more.

The Real Lesson

The irony is that the more I tried to control my body, the less safe my body felt.

The healthiest version of me isn’t the one following all the “rules” perfectly.

It’s the one who actually allows herself to live.

The one who can enjoy dinner with friends.

The one who can rest without guilt.

The one who doesn’t spend every waking moment trying to “perfect” herself.

I’m starting to think wellness is a lot simpler than we’ve made it out to be.

The people I met in Costa Rica weren’t chasing the newest health trend or trying to optimize every aspect of their lives.

They were connected to their food, their families, their faith, their community, and the world around them.

Maybe that’s why I felt so good there.

Not because they had some secret I didn’t know.

But because they weren’t spending all of their time trying to fix themselves.

Lately, I’ve been learning that I don’t need another protocol, another supplement, or another thing to eliminate.

I just need to slow down.

Trust a little more.

And remember that I’m a human being, not a human doing.

As I continue learning how to slow down and trust my body more, I’d love to know:

What’s one thing you’ve been trying to control that might actually need a little more trust?

Feel free to reply in the comments. I’d genuinely love to hear from you.

Let’s Keep In Touch:

Instagram: @chloee.marshall

Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

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I do the same morning loop almost every morning, and usually I don’t bring my phone with me. I just walk and try to be truly present with whatever is coming up in my mind.

And as I was walking by this white truck, this older man got out and said to me, “Hey, have we talked before? I think we’ve talked before.”

I laughed, “I don’t know, have we?”

Then he looked down at my weighted vest that I was wearing and asked if I was a firefighter.

I jokingly told him, “No, I’m in the military.”

Which was ironic that I said that, because then he started telling me about how he used to be in the Marine Corps and how they had to wear 45-pound weighted vests and walk three miles in 45 minutes without running.

Which honestly sounded insane.

No thank you!

Anyways, he then asked me what I do for work, and I told him I’m a health coach.

And he said something that really stuck with me.

He said when you get into your 70s, you realize how important it is to take care of yourself when you’re younger because it saves you so much pain and struggle later on.

At one point I asked him, “Wait… how old are you?”

And he goes,

“I’m 74.”

I was genuinely shocked because he looked amazing.

Not just physically, but full of life.

He had this energy about him that felt vibrant and youthful.

I told him, “Well, you look great.”

And he just laughed and said, “Thank you. You’re a great liar, but you’re really nice though.”

I just giggled at that.

But the truth is, he really did look incredible. You could tell he had taken care of himself throughout his life.

He was literally about to drive 15 hours to Wyoming to go kayaking in the Tetons.

Like… that’s amazing.

He also told me if I ever sit on a park bench and just observe people, I’ll notice that there are people in their 50s who look like they’re in their 80s.

And we started talking about how easy it is these days to live an unhealthy lifestyle.

Not even just physically unhealthy, but mentally and emotionally too.

It’s too easy to constantly escape ourselves now.

Through alcohol.

Food.

Social media.

Overworking.

Constant stimulation.

In today’s world, there’s too many opportunities to just consume things rather than simply sitting with ourselves.

And I think a lot of these unhealthy habits are based on just trying to find a solution to feel better in the moment.

These “solutions” are a means to:

Try to avoid discomfort.

Try to avoid loneliness.

Try to avoid emotions.

Try to avoid ourselves.

But eventually these habits of trying to escape will catch up to us someday.

Maybe not immediately, maybe not tomorrow, but they will over time.

These habits quietly compound over time.

And I think that’s why preventative health is crucial.

Because the habits you create in your 20s, (ESPECIALLY YOUR 20s) 30s, and 40s eventually become the very foundation of your life.

The way you treat your body NOW matters.

The way you cope with difficult emotions matters.

The stories you tell yourself matters.

And the way that you manage stress matters.

It all will eventually add up.

And this is why I care so deeply about health coaching.

Because I’m really not interested in helping people find another quick fix.

I care more about helping people create sustainable habits and actually learn how to understand what their body needs so they can feel good long term.

Not just for summer.

Not just for aesthetics.

But for their actual life.

So they can feel safe in their bodies, connected to themselves again, think clearly, and enjoy life now and when they’re older.

Because I’ve learned through my own personal experiences and watching others very close to me, that if you don’t have your health, it makes life a whole lot harder.

And quite honestly, one of the biggest things I took away from this conversation was this:

I probably never would’ve met this man if I had my head in my phone.

There are so many conversations, moments, and little reminders we miss when we’re constantly distracted.

This conversation felt like one of those reminders.

A reminder that the life you’re creating isn’t built overnight.

It’s built through the small choices you make every single day.

Your future is being shaped by your daily habits whether you realize it or not.

So what are the habits you’re creating right now that your future self will thank you for someday?

P.S. If this article resonated with you, maybe that’s your sign that there’s something in your life you’ve been wanting to shift for a while now.

Your habits don’t change overnight, but your awareness is where everything starts.

Let’s Keep In Touch:

Instagram: @chloee.marshall

Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

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In this practice, we’ll slow down together through intentional breathwork, grounding awareness, and gentle guidance designed to help you release tension, soften overwhelm, and reconnect with the present moment.

So many of us have become conditioned to constantly go, do, achieve, and stay busy.

Sometimes, even rest can feel uncomfortable when your nervous system has been living in a constant state of doing.

This meditation is an invitation to step out of that cycle for a few moments.

This practice isn’t about fixing yourself or forcing yourself to feel a certain way.

It’s about creating space to remember that safety already exists within you.

✨ Stay connected with me!!
Instagram: @chloee.marshall
Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com
YouTube: Chloemarshall1

💌 For updates, future meditations, and offerings: Subscribe here

I’m really glad you found your way to this space.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected from yourself, overwhelmed by all the noise, or simply craving a slower, more intentional way of living, you’re in the right place.

This isn’t a place where you need to figure everything out.

It’s a space to slow down.

To come back to yourself.

To remember what it feels like to live in your own rhythm again.

I’m Chloe, a Certified Holistic Health Coach, writer, podcast host, and someone who is still learning, healing, and growing right alongside you.

A few years ago, I got sober, and it changed everything.

It made me look inward and opened up so much clarity.

That experience led me into deeper holistic health work, nervous system healing, self-discovery, and a kind of honesty with myself that I hadn’t known before.

For a long time, I believed healing was something I had to find outside of myself.

I chased strict routines, diets, plans, protocols, and an endless hunt for answers.

I thought that if I could just do everything right, I would finally feel okay.

But eventually I realized something that changed the course of my life:

Nothing outside of me could create lasting change if I wasn’t willing to go within.

The more I learned to slow down, listen to my body, regulate my nervous system, and trust myself, the more life began to feel different.

Not perfect.

Just more aligned.

And that’s why I created this space.

Because I know what it’s like to spend years searching for answers outside of yourself.

Aligned with Chloe exists to remind you that the wisdom you’re looking for may already be within you.

Sometimes we just need a little space, reflection, and support to hear it again.

What You’ll Find Here

This publication is a collection of everything I’m learning, living, and creating along the way.

You’ll find:

Weekly Newsletters

Personal essays and reflections on healing, self-discovery, nervous system awareness, holistic wellness, and living a more intentional life.

The Aligned with Chloe Podcast

Honest conversations, solo reflections, and interviews with inspiring guests exploring health, healing, growth, and what it means to live in alignment.

Guided Meditations

Simple practices to help you slow down, reconnect with yourself, and come back into your body.

Recipes, Rituals & Everyday Wellness

Nourishing recipes, seasonal inspiration, and practical ways to make wellness feel more lived-in and less overwhelming.

Why Subscribe?

By subscribing, you’ll receive:

• Weekly reflections delivered straight to your inbox

• New podcast episodes and guided meditations

• Holistic wellness insights and resources

• Personal stories and lessons from my own journey

• A gentle reminder to slow down and reconnect with yourself

Most of all, you’ll become part of a community of people who are learning to trust themselves, care for themselves, and create lives that feel aligned from the inside out.

Subscribe now

Some Reader Favorites

If you’re looking for a place to begin, here are a few pieces that capture the heart of this publication:

There is no right order.

No catching up required.

Just begin where you are.

A Final Note

If something here resonates with you, maybe it’s because a part of you was already searching for it.

Whatever brought you here, I’m grateful you’re here now.

I hope this space offers you something meaningful, a new perspective, a moment of reflection, or simply a reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out.

You’re welcome here exactly as you are.

With love,

Chloe

Let’s Keep In Touch:

Instagram: @chloee.marshall

Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

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No scrolling. No posting. No checking notifications. Just complete stillness.

And honestly… I didn’t realize how disconnected from myself I had become until I stepped away from the constant noise.

In this episode, I’m sharing what this week offline taught me about overstimulation, dopamine, comparison, nervous system regulation, creativity, and the importance of stillness in a world that constantly demands our attention.

We talk about:

• why social media can leave us feeling anxious, burnt out, and disconnected

• the dopamine cycle of scrolling and constant consumption

• comparison culture and feeling “behind” in your 20s

• how getting offline helped me reconnect to my body and intuition

• why nature, stillness, and creativity are medicine

• practical ways to reduce screen time without completely quitting social media

• simple nervous system-supportive habits that helped me feel calm again

This isn’t about demonizing social media. I truly believe it can be an incredible tool.

But I also believe we need moments of silence now more than ever.

Even just one day offline can change the way you experience your life.

Please enjoy this episode of Aligned with Chloe 🤍

✨ Stay connected with me!!
Instagram: @chloee.marshall
Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com
YouTube: Chloemarshall1

💌 For updates, future meditations, and offerings: Subscribe here

Physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I think that’s why I love it so much.

The waves are the same as our breath. They come in and out, just like we breathe in and out.

And somehow, being by the ocean puts you back into rhythm again. Back into yourself.

The waves help regulate your nervous system with the subtle rhythmic sound of them crashing onto the shore.

These waves are not only healing, they are symbolic too.

The waves ebb and flow just like there are ebbs and flows to life.

Every wave that comes crashing in eventually passes. It always returns back into the earth where it came from.

And I think there’s something comforting about that.

You can let go of every worry, everything you’re carrying, and the ocean reminds you that nothing stays in one state forever.

Change is a reoccurring constant in this life.

What feels like forever will eventually pass.

Maybe that’s why it feels like home to me.

It really does.

I don’t get that feeling anywhere else in the world.

And I think there’s something to say about your environment. Where you surround yourself, where you wake up every day, the energy your body is constantly absorbing without you even realizing it.

Because when you’re in nature versus when you’re not…

It’s the biggest difference in the whole entire world.

You realize,

oh my God, I didn’t know I needed this so bad until I got here.

And I think that’s the scary part sometimes.

You don’t realize the lifestyle you’re living doesn’t actually feel good in your body because you’ve adapted to it. You’ve normalized it.

But your environment literally shapes who you are.

The people you surround yourself with.

The pace of your life.

The places you spend your time.

The things you see every day.

All of it matters.

And maybe that’s why I resonate so deeply with the word alignment.

Maybe alignment is becoming more connected with the earth. More connected with nature.

Which is essentially becoming more connected with yourself.

Because we are nature.

And the more connected you are with nature, the more connected you are with the Self.

The more disconnected you are from nature, the more disconnected you become from the Self.

Holy shit.

I think I got that.

I think that’s why I feel like myself here.

Because I’m connected to something real again. The ocean, the waves, the air, the energy of it all… it just does something to me.

And honestly, it makes me look at the world differently too.

We wonder why there’s so much anxiety, depression, addiction, and homelessness in big cities.

People are disconnected from nature.

Disconnected from stillness.

Disconnected from the earth.

Disconnected from themselves.

Nature is healing.

I truly believe that.

I think if you are connected with nature consistently, you will naturally become a healthier person. A happier person.

You naturally want to take care of yourself when you feel connected to yourSelf again.

I know that now.

Because maybe the ocean was never just a place.

Maybe it was a reminder of who I already am.

In this practice, we soften out of overthinking and reconnect with the deeper intelligence within, the heart as a field of awareness, calm, and inner truth.

Through breath, awareness, and gentle guidance, you’ll be invited to slow down, to feel more present in your body, and to reconnect with a steady inner space you can return to anytime.

Let this be a space where you don’t have to fix anything.

A space to just breathe.

To just be.

And from there… live from the heart.

If you give this a listen, I would truly love to hear how it resonates with you. You can always respond directly to this, I read and reply to every message 🤍

✨ Stay connected with me!!
Instagram: @chloee.marshall
Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com
YouTube: Chloemarshall1

💌 For updates, future meditations, and offerings: Subscribe here

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These are reflections from a place of noticing the difference between fear and truth in my own life. I’m sharing it as I’m living it, not from certainty, but from experience.

I’m starting to get it now. It’s all beginning to make sense to me. I can actually feel in my body when I’m living from the identity the ego created versus when I’m truly living from my truth.

I notice I’ve been pulling myself back into my old ways out of protection.

Protection from things that happened to me in the past.

I notice I do this most when I open up my heart to someone.

My mind immediately starts trying to prepare me for loss before anything has even happened.

I’ve felt this loss before when I opened up my heart to someone.

I realized that giving my heart to someone felt like a potential risk.

A risk of not feeling lovable, a risk of not feeling good enough, a risk of being alone.

My mind was just trying to protect me.

I know this now.

I laugh sometimes at the silly scenarios my mind likes to orchestrate.

And I remind myself once again: I am not my thoughts. Those thoughts were never true.

I return to my heart, and I feel so much truth living there.

I know now when I’m performing from the mind rather than living from the heart.

There’s a huge difference between the two.

I also know now that I can still live and be okay even while experiencing these automatic thoughts.

They don’t hold power over me anymore.

I used to spiral for days.

Part of me thinks, if only I knew then what I know now, it would’ve saved me so much time and pain. But at the same time, I’m grateful for those experiences because without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Everything had to happen exactly the way it did to get me to this moment.

I sit here writing this, remembering who I actually am before I decided to become who I thought I should be.

At the time, I thought that was the right thing to do.

Now I understand that it came from survival. It was the only thing I knew how to do then.

It felt easier to fit in and please others than to be loved for who I truly am.

Because being myself felt risky.

A risk of being unlovable.

A risk of not being good enough.

A risk of being alone.

Ah. That’s the root of it.

Living from the heart is pure authenticity. And authenticity feels like a warm embrace of golden light.

For so long, living from the heart felt risky because it meant truly being seen. But now I realize that risk is something I’m willing to take, knowing so much of it was created by the ego and the identity I constructed about myself.

It’s honestly a rush to be my true self.

What I didn’t realize back then is what I know now:

There was never anything wrong with me.

I just wanted to feel like I belonged. Like someone actually understood me and saw me for who I truly am.

The truth is, none of this is actually risky.

When you are embodied and living from the heart, there is only so much to gain.

And if someone rejects you for living from the heart, wish them well. They simply don’t understand your truth.

There’s no need to convince someone else of your truth.

The right people will come to you effortlessly, like two magnets coming together.

The wrong ones will naturally repel away from you.

None of that means there’s something wrong with you.

You don’t need to mold yourself into a version of someone everyone accepts.

That’s not how this works.

If anything, having some people repel away from you means you’re doing something right.

It means you’re living boldly, authentically, and courageously as yourself.

That is Truth.

And that is enough.

Living this way exists beyond the mind’s conditioning. It’s a way of living from the heart.

And that feels like such a beautiful way to live.

If anything, I see now that the only real risk was forgetting who I am.

Stay Connected:

Instagram: @chloee.marshall

Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

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When I first started implementing meditation into my life, I kept hearing this little voice telling me, “You need to start meditating.” Eventually, that voice became so loud that I finally surrendered to it and gave meditation a real chance.

In the beginning, it was incredibly frustrating. I couldn’t get my mind to quiet down, and I wanted to give up because it felt way too difficult to sit alone with my thoughts. But the more I showed up for the practice every day, the more it started to become something I genuinely looked forward to.

I began noticing that I actually felt safe being alone with my thoughts. I realized that my thoughts do not define who I am, I can simply be the awareness behind them and watch them pass through. There was so much freedom in discovering that.

At first, I thought I needed to meditate for hours to find peace, but I’ve learned that even taking just five minutes out of your day to go inward and reconnect with yourself can make a massive difference. This is not a perfect practice, and I do not consider myself a master at meditation by any means. I’m still exploring it in my daily life, and I’m so happy to bring you along in the process.

Incorporating breathwork into my meditation has also completely changed my life. I had no idea the breath could be so powerful. Every time I practiced breath work, I found myself crying because my body finally felt like it could relax.

I was able to release emotions that had been stored in my body for years, and it has been one of the most cathartic experiences of my life. I also truly believe this practice helped me get my menstrual cycle back. I didn’t realize how dysregulated my nervous system was until I finally started slowing down. It took almost two years for my cycle to return and for my hormones to rebalance, and now I’m so grateful I never gave up.

I firmly believe you can be doing everything “right” for your health, eating healthy, taking supplements, working out, but if you’re not tending to your inner landscape, none of it fully matters. My hope is that these practices become something you can return to daily to help water your own garden instead of constantly reaching for something outside of yourself. There is already so much power within you, and tapping into it can become such a beautiful experience.

This guided meditation and breathwork practice focuses on diaphragmatic breathing. I guide you through a series of breaths: inhaling for four seconds, holding for two seconds, and exhaling for six seconds. The key is breathing into your diaphragm instead of your chest. Sometimes we don’t even realize we’re breathing shallowly into our chest, which can keep us stuck in a stressed state. This practice is designed to help you breathe deeper into your body and shift into a “rest and digest” state. You can do it anytime, right when you wake up, before or after a workout, or whenever you feel disconnected from your body.

My deepest gratitude for being here with me on this journey.

I hope this becomes a space where you can reconnect with yourself, one breath at a time.

Chloe

✨ Connect with me:
Instagram: @chloee.marshall
Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com
YouTube: Chloemarshall1

💌 For updates, future meditations, and offerings: Subscribe here

I really believe people come into your life for a reason, and Kris is one of those people for me. We’re on such a similar path, and this conversation felt so natural and expansive. She shares so much wisdom around health, healing, and creating a life that actually feels good from the inside out.

In this episode, we talk about:

• coming off birth control + restoring hormonal balance naturally

• hormone health for women + cycle awareness

• non-toxic living and reducing endocrine disruptors

• clean eating basics + healthier sugar alternatives

• the impact of alcohol on mental and physical health

• self-love, healing, and trusting your life path

I know you’ll find so many powerful takeaways in this conversation.

I highly recommend checking out Kris’s Instagram, she shares amazing recipes, non-toxic living tips, and all things health + wellness. She truly lives what she teaches.

Connect with Kris:
Instagram: @livingwellwithkris

If this conversation resonated with you, especially around feeling out of sync with your body or wanting to better understand your cycle, this is exactly the work I dive deeper into inside my Cycle Alchemy eBook.

It’s a simple, grounded guide to understanding each phase of your hormonal cycle and learning how to actually live in alignment with it in your day-to-day life.

If you’re feeling called to explore that more, you can find it linked below.

Explore Cycle Alchemy

As always, you can find me on Instagram @chloee.marshall for more on hormones, healing, and living in alignment with your body.
Explore more at chloemarshallcoaching.com

I’m sitting here writing this on the columns of my old college campus. I can’t help but feel so many emotions.

It’s the most beautiful day, the sky is a clear blue with white puffy clouds, it’s a crisp 60 degrees out, and my hair is blowing effortlessly in the wind.

I close my eyes. You are safe now.

Tears just start rolling down my face. I’m trying not to just bawl my eyes out because people are sitting next to me, but I don’t even care anymore.

This is the last time I’ll probably ever be here again. I have to put this all behind me now.

I’m experiencing so many different emotions.

I walked my old route I would take every single day to class, my old sorority house, my apartment, my business school. Images just started flooding into my mind. So many memories.

I started remembering a lot of the good times that I had, because I really did have some good times. But then I started remembering the really awful times too, the times where I felt so lost and had no idea who I was.

Walking around now, a young woman who knows exactly who she is…

I wish I could just tell her: those 4 years are such a short period of time. The things that you are worrying about will not matter ever again, and you will get through this. You can get through literally anything, no matter how hard it may seem in the moment.

I’m watching all the girls in their little white dresses taking their graduation pictures. One girl said, “I’m such a mess, I don’t even know how to pose.”

I just wanted to tell her—you look beautiful either way. Don’t worry about what you look like. Your time here is almost up, so enjoy every single second while you can.

I’m starting to realize just how fast time goes.

How did 4 years go by that fast?

All of those things I was worrying about, all of the people… none of that matters anymore. It’s all gone.

I’m upset that I wasted so much time worrying about things that never even mattered, but they seemed like such a big deal at the moment.

This too shall pass.

It never really mattered.

I’m in a state of shock at how fast time went by, and now I know I need to just enjoy the time I have right now while I have it. No matter what.

Even if it’s not exactly where I want to be yet, I know that this moment right now is enough. It is exactly where I need to be.

I see that young college girl, just so lost and just wanting to feel like she was accepted. She did anything to just feel like she could fit in.

That never mattered.

It gets you nowhere, and you completely lose sight of who you are in the process.

The truth of who you are lives within you, but it gets clouded by the opinions of others. So you mold yourself into a version of what you think others will like, only to realize that it completely backfires.

You don’t realize you are so much more than you think you are.

And by letting other people’s opinions control your life, it calls for a life half-lived. You’re not truly living the way you want to.

The greatest thing I ever did was set myself free.

I set myself free from an environment that made me think I needed to be a certain way to feel accepted.

I set myself free from people who made me feel like I needed to shrink myself.

I set myself free by not following what I think I should do.

I’m so grateful.

I’m so damn grateful I was so lost.

I’m so grateful that I hit rock bottom more times than I can count.

Because without all of that, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.

And that right there is enough.

So yeah, was I miserable? Incredibly.

But I clawed myself out of that hole. I was deep in the belly of the inferno, and I’m so glad I was, because I was missing out.

I was missing out on a life that was fully aligned with who I am.

I now know what I want, and it was never that.

I can actually taste the sweetness of life now… and wow, it tastes better than I could have ever imagined.

I’ve also been seed cycling during my phase follicular and luteal phase, which is something I really love incorporating. I definitely can tell a difference in my body when I’m seed cycling vs when I’m not. It helps support your hormones naturally, which I’ll share more about below.

Seed cycling is something I’ve been slowly incorporating into my routine, and it’s honestly just a really simple way to naturally support each phase of your cycle.

The idea is that certain seeds can help support your hormones depending on where you are in your cycle.

Follicular + Menstrual Phase (Days 1–14)

From the start of your period through ovulation, this is when your body is naturally producing more estrogen.

During this phase, I like to add:

• Flax seeds

• Pumpkin seeds

These help support healthy estrogen levels and give your body some of the nutrients it needs during this rebuilding phase.

Luteal Phase (Days 15–28)

After ovulation, your body shifts into producing more progesterone.

During this phase, seed cycling typically looks like:

• Sunflower seeds

• Sesame seeds

These support progesterone production and help your body stay more balanced as you move toward your next cycle.

Nothing about this has to be complicated.

It’s really just about supporting your body in small, consistent ways and overtime it will make a huge difference.

Have you ever noticed your cravings shift throughout your cycle?

Let’s Keep in Touch

Instagram: @chloee.marshall

Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

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We have officially entered spring, and I can just feel myself coming out of my hermit crab shell from the winter time.

Spring is one my favorite seasons because I truly believe it kicks everything off into the new year.

I’ve taken some time off from posting recipes on here because life’s been a tad bit crazy, but that ends today. I’ve really missed sharing this part of my routine with you, and I want to start bringing more of it back. I know you guys always seem to enjoy them.

The other morning, I woke up and was just absolutely craving blueberry pancakes. And I’ve noticed with the warmer weather, my body naturally starts craving lighter, fresher foods again.

So today, I wanted to share one of my current favorites with you…

Lemon Blueberry Protein Pancakes

They’re fluffy, fresh, and perfect for a slow spring morning.

These pancakes are also gluten-free, refined sugar free, and dairy free but still so satisfying!!

Here is what you’ll need…

Ingredients:

• ½ cup gluten-free oat flour

• ½ ripe banana

• 1 egg

• 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder (I use Sprouted Living Vanilla Protein)

• ¼ tsp baking soda

• 1 tbsp almond milk

• 1 tbsp coconut yogurt

• ½ cup blueberries

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Mash the banana and whisk together the egg, protein powder, almond milk, and coconut yogurt.

2. Stir in oat flour, baking soda, salt and lemon juice until smooth.

3. Gently fold in blueberries.

4. Cook on a non-stick pan over medium heat, flipping carefully once bubbles form.

5. Blueberry Compote:

   In a separate pan, add ¼ cup fresh blueberries and warm over low heat.

   1. Add 1 tbsp maple syrup and let it gently simmer until the blueberries start to soften and release their juices.

   2. Once it becomes slightly jam-like, remove from heat and drizzle on top of your pancakes.

6. Best enjoyed slowly, savoring every last bite!

Something I’ve really been leaning into lately is that food doesn’t have to feel restrictive or complicated to support your body.

It can feel light.

It can feel nourishing.

It can feel like something you actually look forward to.

Sometimes it’s as simple as slowing down on a Sunday morning, making yourself a stack of pancakes, and letting that be enough.

If you make these, I would love to know

Or let me know… what has your body been craving lately as we move into spring?

Chloe <3

Let’s keep in touch:

Instagram: @chloee.marshall

Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

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Zack is someone I truly believe was divinely guided into my life. There was no coincidence in the way we met, and I’m so grateful that we did. His presence instantly makes you feel at peace, he illuminates a quiet calm that is magnetic.

His story is a beautiful example of what can happen when you truly look within and allow yourself to experience the depth and beauty this life has to offer. He inspires me every single day, and I’m feel honored to call him my mentor.

Zack is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Licensed Social Worker, Board Certified Coach, writer, and artist— truly a man of many gifts.

In this conversation, we dive into:
• how to change your relationship with fear
• why trust is the antidote to suffering
• How emotional states become habits we unconsciously live from
• Why reducing “importance” changes everything
• what it means to truly live from the end state
• practical ways to embody peace in everyday life

This conversation is an invitation to trust that what feels like everything falling apart may actually be life guiding you home to yourself.

If you’ve been navigating uncertainty, fear, burnout, or a season of deep inner change, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

I know this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.

If this conversation resonated with you and you’d like to explore more of Zack’s work, I highly encourage you to visit his website at zackbodenweber.com, where you can dive deeper into his writing, coaching, art, and offerings.

You can also explore his beautiful articles and listen to his podcast, The Self Explorers Club, at selfexplorersclub.com, a space I always find myself returning to for deeper reflection and insight.

Disclaimer: This conversation includes discussion of mental health and personal experiences related to emotional struggle. It is shared for educational and reflective purposes and is not a substitute for professional mental health support.

If this episode resonated, you can find me here:

Instagram: @chloee.marshall

Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

A brisk 50 degrees, sunlight filtering through my window kissing the tops of my pillows.

Vibrant purple buds sprouting off from the tree just outside of my window.

The sky is a clear egg shell blue.

I throw on my egg shell blue sweater and my favorite flowy white skirt.

It’s been some time since I’ve been to Sunday mass.

Nothing’s changed.

I recognized a boy from my high school sitting right in front of me, just like it was yesterday.

He looked the same, just older.

Time has passed.

The same church I used to go to as a young girl, now much older.

I’m happy I’m here.

People singing Hallelueigh! Christ has risen today!

What a beautiful reminder.

A reminder of what suffering can bring to our lives.

A sense of sweetness and liberation.

I usually listen to the priest’s sermons, they’re always of value, but this one hit me in a way that I’ve never heard before.

And I will never forget what he said.

The priest began his sermon by saying, “I was talking with the other priests and we made a bet on who could keep their sermons under 3 minutes on Easter Sunday.”

He chuckled.

“Well you win some and you lose some, I’m already one minute in now so let’s see where this goes.”

He began by telling this story of how he met God in the middle of the Circle K gas station this morning on his way to get his first of four Diet Mountain Dews, and a man named Bob.

As I was listening to him, I couldn’t quite understand where he was going with this one.

I was thinking:

Okay how is Bob and Circle K related to the resurrection of Jesus?

But he spoke in such a way and with conviction he drew me right into the story.

Let’s start with the story about Bob.

So now Bob was practically on his deathbed and came to the priest saying he needed to go to confession.

He knew he could trust him.

He’s never told this story before and he felt guilty.

He hadn’t even told his wife before.

He said to the priest he felt guilty that he didn’t understand what God was trying to tell him all along.

One day, Bob felt called to kayak down the Mississippi river and left his wife behind to go on this adventure.

While in the middle of the Mississippi a large barge was coming right towards him.

He started screaming and shouting at the barge, but it wasn’t stopping.

All of a sudden, it started to look as if he could see himself from above in his tiny little kayak screaming, shouting, trying to paddle away from the massive barge coming right towards him.

He could see all of this unfolding right before his very eyes.

As I was listening I could feel the goosebumps all over my body from head to toe.

As Bob was watching himself in this terrible disaster he heard a voice and it said to him,

“It is not your time yet, you will be saved.”

And just like that, the current changed and Bob was able to gracefully get away from the barge and his life was saved.

Then, the priest began telling his story about his encounter with God this morning in the middle of the Circle K gas station.

He went to the cash register and stood in line to check out and glanced over and noticed a woman who looked as if she lived off social security, just like him, was buying lottery tickets.

He said to us that woman buying those lottery tickets is full of so much hope.

She truly believes she’s going to hit it big someday.

He then says, as he was checking out his first Diet Mountain Dew of the day, the woman working at the cash register had intricate tattoos all up and down her arm.

He said to her, “Those are some interesting tattoos.”

The woman working the cash register replied, “Thank you, I’m working overtime today to save up for another one.”

I’ve never heard a priest so passionate before.

The priest looked at all of us and exclaimed,

“Both of these women were filled with so much hope within them, thinking the lottery ticket was going to fulfill her or that next tattoo was finally going to make her feel beautiful for the world. What they don’t realize is that God is already within them. You don’t need to go searching. You can feel that hope and love right now if you know that you are always being held by something much greater than you.”

It all started to make sense.

I sat there stunned, just trying to soak it all in.

That was the most beautiful sermon I’ve heard before.

Just like Bob in the middle of the kayak, realizing if you have faith in God, anything is possible.

That God does not live in material things.

God lives within us.

That same hope that woman wanted from the lottery ticket already lives within her.

That love that woman wants from the tattoos already lives within her.

You don’t need to constantly search for God.

God is here.

Within us.

Love is within us, faith is within us.

How peaceful is it to know that we are always held.

We are always being guided by something greater than us.

We don’t need to worry, or have fear, or look to external things to make ourselves feel whole.

It’s already here.

What a blessing that is.

And as I walked back out into the brisk Easter morning, the sunlight still soft against the world, the sky still that same eggshell blue, I couldn’t help but feel the peace of knowing it’s always been here.

I’m going to live every single day as if I am being guided and held.

As if everything is working out into my favor.

Because I know God has me.

It’s always been there.

And so it is.

Let’s stay connected

Instagram: @chloee.marshall

Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

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I took one deep breath in and said to myself… ahhhh, it’s officially spring.

There is just something about spring. It feels like a complete reset into the new year.

Winter can still feel heavy. We enter into the new year and we’re still in hibernation mode, our bodies craving a bit more rest than usual. Part of the reason why I’ve never really liked the whole “new year, new me” thing is because I don’t believe we have to become a different version of ourselves.

And that’s what spring reminds us.

Spring is such a beautiful time to reflect on the winter months with this newfound energy. It’s a time for recalibration.

It can be easy to feel like you have to become a brand-new person by springtime and get ready for summer. But what if you moved slowly with the seasons? What if you allowed yourself to take some time to adjust?

Just like nature, a flower does not bloom overnight.

It has to rain. The seed has to be nourished, the bud has to peek through the soil, and the stalk has to grow before a beautiful flower can emerge.

The same thing applies to us.

We have to allow ourselves some time to fully bloom. The key here is not intensity, it’s consistency.

It’s how you create small little rituals throughout your day that can ground you as you bloom into a new season of life.

Spring also reminds us that winter is only temporary. The cold, dark days are not forever. Warmer nights do in fact come back. And with that, our cravings often begin to change too.

This time of year, I naturally find myself craving foods that feel lighter, fresher, and more hydrating compared to the grounding, warming foods I crave in the winter.

So I wanted to share with you some things that I will be doing as we transition into the spring season.

Starting my mornings with nature

My absolute favorite way to begin my mornings is with nature.

I love seeing the sunrise on my morning walk and breathing in the fresh air around me. For me personally, I am quite an early riser for this reason because I love having a slower morning.

I would much rather wake up early and enjoy the mornings than feel rushed.

Getting natural sunlight first thing in the morning resets your circadian rhythm, which helps you feel more alert throughout the day and can support better sleep later. Also… you can still get the same benefits even if its cloudy!

Going for a 30-minute walk in the mornings with no technology on me has become such a beautiful time for my mind to reflect. I always get the most creative ideas and insights on my walks.

There’s no stimulation, only me, nature, and my thoughts.

Planning today for tomorrow

This is something I am really excited to implement into my routine more.

I am definitely someone who needs to have a plan as I begin my day because it helps me stay focused, and I spend less time trying to figure out what I need to do because it’s already written down for me.

I also find that every day is always changing and different, so sometimes things don’t always go the way I planned. But if I have a clear intention written down and in mind, I am way more likely to do it than if I didn’t have it written down somewhere.

I love using my Google Calendar, and I create tasks in there for specific times when I need to get something done. I do this more for focused work, like writing this article, for example. I blocked two hours this morning.

That structure gives me freedom.

It allows me to be present with the task in front of me instead of mentally juggling everything else.

Journal Speak at night

Journal Speak is something I’ve known about for a while and have been wanting to start doing on a regular basis.

I’ve recently started, and I can already feel the difference.

Journal Speak was created by Nicole Sachs, and she explains it as a way to release repressed emotions like rage, fear, and shame.

The whole point is to brain dump into your journal, letting any emotions, memories, or experiences that are coming up flow onto the page for about 20 minutes.

The key is to be completely raw and unfiltered, letting yourself write freely without judgment or expectation.

It’s easy to have some resistance at first, (I am a perfectionist myself) but allowing yourself to truly unleash it onto the paper can feel incredibly freeing.

And try to be aware of what is happening within your body as you write.

This can definitely be hard at first if you haven’t allowed these emotions to come to the surface before, so you might notice a lot of resistance, but just keep going and trust the process.

I also love the idea of doing a calming 10-minute mindfulness practice or meditation afterward to ground your body again. This could look like listening to some soothing music, taking a few deep belly breaths, or just sitting in stillness.

This feels especially supportive if a lot comes to the surface.

I’m excited to keep exploring this as part of my nighttime routine, and I’ll definitely keep you posted on what I continue to notice from the practice.

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Eating seasonal produce

I truly cannot wait for my farmers market to open up again.

My favorite thing to do in the springtime is go to my local farmers market and pick up some yummy seasonal produce.

Eating with the seasons is one of the easiest ways to support your overall health because produce is picked closer to its peak ripeness during this time, which means it’s often fresher, more flavorful, and can be richer in nutrients. Foods that are in season also tend to spend less time in storage and transport, which helps preserve delicate nutrients like vitamin C and antioxidants.

There’s also something so grounding about letting the seasons guide what ends up on your plate. Spring foods naturally feel lighter, fresher, and more supportive for digestion and hydration as we come out of the heavier winter months.

I created a full guide about this in my article How to Move With The Seasons if you want to go check it out.

Some of my favorite seasonal produce to get during the spring:

• asparagus

• strawberries

• carrots

• apricots

• arugula

• radishes

• snap peas

• fresh herbs (like dill, cilantro, mint and parsley)

• citrus: lemons, limes, oranges

Yoga in the mornings

Yoga is a practice that I keep coming back to over and over again.

It’s a way to reconnect with my body and tune into how I’m actually feeling.

First thing in the morning, I hop on my yoga mat. I usually start with a short meditation because, right after waking, my mind is naturally in a softer, quieter state, what science calls the Alpha and Theta brain wave state. This makes it a really receptive time to meditate, helping you drop deeper into a state of presence before the busyness of the day sets in.

After my meditation, I roll onto my back and simply notice how my body feels.

Some days, I do just a few gentle stretches or poses to wake up my body and release any tension from the day before. I’m sore quite often because I lift weights regularly, so my time on the mat allows me to move intentionally and with awareness.

Some of my favorite yoga poses are:

• pigeon pose

• child’s pose

• happy baby

• downward dog with feet peddles to stretch the claves

• cat/cow

• forward fold

The key here is to not push your body past what it can do, it’s to simply notice how it feels in the moment and adjust accordingly.

The cool thing about yoga is that it is your practice.

There are no rules.

I hope this was able to give you some new ideas on how to add a little inspiration into your routine as we transition into the spring season.

And if you’ve been feeling ready for a gentle spring reset, I’m opening a few complimentary coaching spots to guide you. This is a chance to explore what your body, mind, and spirit need this season and leave with a simple, tailored plan to move forward with ease.

Book Your Complimentary Session →

With love,

Chloe

Let’s keep in touch:

Instagram: @chloee.marshall

Website: www.chloemarshallcoaching.com

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I open up about my own journey through this, especially during my college years when I felt completely lost, stuck in the same cycles, and out of alignment with who I truly was. What I didn’t realize at the time was that those roadblocks I was experiencing, were actually redirecting me.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, uncertain, or like nothing is working out the way you planned, this episode is here to ground you, support you, and remind you that you’re not alone.

Inside this episode, we dive into:

• Why you keep experiencing the SAME patterns (and what they’re trying to teach you)

• How misalignment shows up as chaos, confusion, and constant resistance

• The difference between overthinking vs. intuition, and how to actually trust your inner voice

• How to recognize what feels like a “YES” or “NO” in your body

• The role of faith and surrender when you can’t see what’s ahead

• Simple, grounding tools you can use to get out of a spiral

And one of the biggest reminders from this episode:

What feels like everything falling apart… might actually be everything falling into place.

And I have a special surprise… stay until the end for a short, calming visualization to help you feel more grounded, safe, and supported in whatever season you’re in.

With love,
Chloe

Stay connected with me here:

Instagram: @chloee.marshall
Explore my Work: chloemarshallcoaching.com

P.S. If you listened, reply to this email and tell me one thing that resonated with you… I would love to hear where you’re at right now.

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But what if fear isn’t actually the problem?

What if it just means you’re actually on the right path?

In fact, if you’re building a meaningful life, fear is almost guaranteed to show up.

But where we start to go wrong is assuming what that fear means.

Most of us have been taught that fear is a warning sign, but lately I’ve been learning something very different about fear.

The belief most of us carry

We’ve been conditioned to believe that the right path will feel certain, maybe even calm and obvious to us.

So naturally, when fear shows up, we interpret it as a signal to stop. That maybe something could go terribly wrong.

But life rarely works the way we imagine it to in our minds.

And this is something I’ve been navigating a lot lately, especially being in my 20s.

For the past year of my life I have gotten incredibly outside of my comfort zone.

A year ago I quit my corporate job, not really knowing exactly what I wanted to do after. I had parted ways with some people in my life that no longer felt in alignment. I started putting myself out into the world online and speaking my truth (which I never thought was possible, I used to be terrified to post even a few times a year and would nitpick every single picture I shared).

I quit another job because of health reasons and ended up going back to school and starting my own coaching business.

I feel out of breath just typing all of that out.

Let’s just say the past year has been the most uncertain, craziest time of my life, and I had just graduated college almost two years ago now.

In saying all of this, I’m not writing from the perspective of someone who has it all figured out. Honestly, I would say I’m the complete opposite of that.

However, I am writing this as someone who is actively learning the lesson.

What I’ve been finding is that you never stop learning the lesson, even when you think you have it all figured out. Life likes to come in and humble you once more to remind you there is still more to learn.

But hey, I’m here for it.

That just means there is so much that I have yet to learn, and that thought actually excites me.

But while all of this seems exciting, I’ve been in a season of my life where almost everything that feels aligned (no pun intended) also feels like I’m about to fall off a cliff.

And it’s made me realize how quickly our minds jump to the worst possible scenarios, even when there is no actual danger present.

Why our brains do this

Our minds are like little prediction machines.

They are constantly trying to predict what is going to happen next.

Thousands of years ago humans had to constantly be on the lookout for potential danger. You had to worry about how you were going to feed yourself, where you were going to sleep at night, how to protect your family… you know, basic survival things.

Our brains evolved to keep us alive.

So when we’re stepping into something new, and there is no exact plan given to us, the mind immediately starts trying to predict the outcome.

And that’s where things get interesting.

Why trying to figure everything out feels so natural

Uncertainty is incredibly uncomfortable.

It sends a little surge through your nervous system. Your heart might beat a little faster, your hands get clammy, your stomach tightens.

There is a very real physical response when we feel uncertainty.

So of course you want to know exactly how everything in your life is going to pan out. That’s completely normal. You want to feel like an active participant in your life.

It feels like the smart thing to do.

But sometimes that constant strategizing becomes its own form of avoidance. When we’re trying to control every outcome, we can’t just be present in this moment right here, right now.

What I’ve been learning is that some things simply cannot be figured out right now.

Sometimes we just have to experience this life to figure it out.

And honestly, as I’m sitting here writing this, I feel just a little more at ease thinking about that.

You don’t need to use up so much mental space trying to figure it all out. That mental energy could go somewhere else entirely.

A good friend recently shared a metaphor with me that I love.

Think of life like a delicious reduction.

When you’re cooking and making a reduction, you simmer the sauce and evaporate all of the water and extra stuff out until you’re left with this rich, concentrated, beautiful sauce.

The same thing can happen in life.

Reduce the unnecessary things, the overthinking, the constant trying to control everything.

And what you’re left with is the really good stuff… the deliciousness of life.

The real problem with fear

So the problem is not the fear that you feel.

The problem is believing we must eliminate fear before taking action.

And believing we must fully understand the path before taking the next step.

When we try to plan every possible outcome, we end up stuck in our heads.

That’s why we never take action on our goals. We procrastinate. We tell ourselves we’ll start tomorrow.

We would much rather stay comfortable in what we’ve always known because uncertainty feels too scary.

Meanwhile life is simply asking us to take the next step.

To go out there and experience it for ourselves,

And that’s exactly what I’ve been learning (feel the fear and do it anyways).

A small shift that changes everything

Whenever I’m feeling stuck in my life something that always helps me is to simply just take one action.

Action creates clarity.

When we get clarity, it rarely comes from just thinking or pondering on it longer.

It comes from movement.

The nervous system often learns safety through experience. So we need to repetitively give it an experience over and over again until it learns.

While everyone’s comfort level with risk is different, many growth experiences involve some level of uncertainty. It doesn’t have to be something monumental like getting in front of 1,000 people and giving a presentation. It can actually be much more simple.

Here are a few ways you can navigate uncertainty in your life:

Step 1: Notice when fear is just uncertainty

Ask:
Is this actual danger or am I just doing something that I’ve never done before?

Step 2: Stop trying to solve the entire future

Instead of researching something for months or trying to predict every possible outcome.

Focus only on the next small step.

This could look like: Posting the idea, sending the email, or brainstorming all of your ideas down on top a piece of paper.

Step 3: Let action teach you

Most clarity arrives after movement, not before.

For example when I first started posting on social media I had no idea what I was doing, all I knew was that I wanted to start sharing what I was passionate about with the world. From taking consistent action there, I have learned so much. I’ve made the most incredible connections from social media that I wouldn’t have made if I never put myself out there in the first place.

Fear doesn’t mean stop

If there’s anything you take away from this, I hope you remember that fear doesn’t mean something bad is about to happen.

Sometimes it just means you’re standing at the edge of something new.

And maybe the most powerful thing you can do isn’t trying to map out the whole path, but simply taking the next step.

So I’ll leave you with this…

What’s one thing in your life right now that feels scary… but you also feel a pull toward?

Maybe it’s time to just do the thing.

Chloe