Lean In, Let Go, and Trust Yourself

Sometimes the mission, the task, or the healing we face is so overwhelming that it’s easy to dismiss the power of tiny actions and mighty pauses. There is profound significance in your process and your journey itself, so dissolve thoughts about the past and future – the “should haves” and “must-dos.” When you trust that each step is important, you honor that you are exactly where you need to be.

And, as you cultivate a healthy sense of trust, you reduce unnecessary fear that pulls you from your path. When you have less anxiety, you live into your full potential with a healthy, balanced mind and body. Below are some of our favorite practices to explore as you recognize the power of process and cultivate trust.

If you'd like to get started by strengthening your ability to tap into the present moment or explore other mindful themes within the Brighter Being System, take a peek at our Center Guide.

1. Celebrate Small Wins for Personal Growth

Life is a series of moments that accumulate in such a way to uniquely define you. Many of these moments may seem insignificant, while others burst with goodness. To deepen your trust in yourself and your process, capitalize on those bright spots. When you feel great about your life, a milestone you just crossed, or something else that has just occurred - celebrate! Data says the more you reinforce and milk these joyous moments, the more likely they will continue to appear. AND, by taking a moment to really honor and celebrate them, you are soaking in every bit of the chemicals your brain sends through your body when you feel good.

So, what about when you are on a dry spell of sparkling moments? If it seems like every project is dragging out or finding a setback in your life, there is good news. This is when the act of acknowledging small wins is even more potent because it invites you to actively seek and celebrate. It’s often a shift in perspective and may take some extra reflection time to begin unveiling hidden gems of growth and positivity when things seem like they are moving at a glacial pace. You might even start with something as basic as appreciating that your level of patience has increased.

There’s one last idea to consider as you cultivate deeper trust. Set yourself up for success. Each day, especially when you’re in a high-vibe dry spell, plant some low-hanging fruit by picking an easy thing for you to accomplish. It might be as simple as walking to the bottom of my stairs and enjoying a deep, mindful breath. Whatever it is, start small. And, when a big project is laying heavy on your heart (or back), pick the next small win. And then host a little dance party when you knock it out. These bursts of positive feedback give your body and mind the energy and direction to continue forward with strength and commitment.

✨ Celebrate small wins and build momentum

• Pick One Easy Win – Start the day with a guaranteed win like stretching or drinking water.
• Pause and Acknowledge – When you complete something, take a second to notice it.
• Shift Your Focus – If big wins feel scarce, celebrate the small steps forward.
• Celebrate Your Way – A fist pump, or a quick dance, whatever feels good.

2. Overcome Setbacks in Life

Living with intention means you are proactively nurturing your own growth and thoughtfully responding to the world around you. Of course, none of us are perfect, and we will make "mistakes" that ultimately lead to situations that may be uncomfortable. And there will also be circumstances and situations where a curveball lands in your lap. Whether you see a setback as being self-inflicted or being dealt a bad hand isn't the point. Creating the stability in your life that you desire is about recognizing and accepting that this hurdle is a part of your process.

Research shows seeing setbacks as teachers and an essential part of your journey strengthens and enriches who you are.
Practicing overcoming setbacks starts by first letting yourself feel and process the disappointment and whatever other emotions arise. You may want to allocate a set amount of time before redirecting your emotional energy elsewhere. Depending on the scale and depth, consider reaching out to a therapist to help you work through your pain. As you process the challenge you faced, you can begin seeing the experience in a more positive light.

And, perhaps more critically, when you overcome a setback, you clear up blind spots that often emerge when you're living in the past. This allows you to use your full strategic mind to chart out the next steps<

✨ Try This: Turn Setbacks into Stepping Stones

• Feel and Reframe – Process it, then shift the story.
• Find the Lesson – Spot the patterns and take the insight.
• Take One Step – Pick a small, clear action to move forward.
• Get Support – Talk it out with someone who can offer perspective.
• Keep Going – Every setback builds strength if you let it.
  

3. Trust the Journey

There is a lot involved when it comes to trusting yourself more deeply. An excellent place to start is by thinking about experiences in your life as points on a journey. And this journey isn’t a quick trip to Disney world; it’s your ultimate growth and learning process! And the destination? You arrive in it each moment.

As a Brighter Being, you recognize each moment can have an impact and opens an opportunity to reveal the whole YOU, at peace and fulfilled. By seeing that life, your life specifically, is a whole lot more than a series of external achievements to get to, you begin to live. This is the route of living with intentionality — seeing each experience on this planet as information-rich points along your journey.

One reason why trusting the journey is at the top of our practices list is because a recent study found that humans spend nearly half their waking lives thinking about what may have been or what could be. In other words, our big-brained species is prone to missing the whole point - experiencing, enjoying, and learning from the life right in front of us.

So how do you go about building more trust in your journey? First, take full responsibility for your actions and response to whatever arises. In addition, knowing and reaffirming that the skills, knowledge, and connections you make along the way support your inner growth and lead you to exactly where you are meant to be. Trials and rough patches strengthen and guide you. Ultimately, the journey reveals the brilliant light that you are.

✨ Try This: Live with intention

• Be Present – When your mind drifts, bring it back to now.
• Own It – Take responsibility for how you act and react.
• See Your Growth – Look at how far you’ve come.
• Trust Your Path – Remind yourself: I’m exactly where I need to be.

4. Face your Fear of Failure and Move Forward

Right there next to snakes and spiders is the big "F" word: failure. We may not jump, squeal, and run when a picture of failure crosses our mind, but the fear can be just as or more intense. Interestingly, to really embrace your life and whole self, it's essential to start by seeing losses for what they are. Research shows that working through fear of failure and self-sabotaging habits can lead to better outcomes and personal growth.

First, you should know that failure is 100% unavoidable. Of course, you can hide from it, but that will likely result in feeling lost, unfulfilled, or restless. So your first step to setting yourself free of this is accepting that failure is possible and perhaps inevitable. Next up is to pursue opportunities you may have previously passed due to the risk of falling.

It might also be helpful for you to figure out exactly what is at the root of your fear. Then begin to unpack the possible outcomes with your brilliant mind. You might notice some of the thoughts that swim around your mind are irrational, but they just feel real because you've been repeating them in your mind over and over again. Or you might identify with clarity the risks and make contingency plans. Find a process and a speed that is right for you, and invite the most optimistic, open version of yourself to have a say.

You exhibit a form of deep self-respect when you connect your inner truth with your external reality and actions. This further feeds your ability to take even more risks, trust yourself, and expand your possibilities.

5. Drop the Doubt and Be Decisive

You make millions of decisions in your life, big and small. Each one warrants a different amount of time, energy, and consideration. And, if you find that your decision-making process feels more like a never-ending ride on a merry-go-round playing your least favorite song, this practice is for you! Overanalyzing or questioning decisions you’ve already made is draining and, ultimately, shakes the foundation of YOU.

Several things may be at the root of your wishy-washiness. One of the biggest is the fear of making the wrong decision. If this is you, check in with the previous practice first. But sometimes, your challenge in making a decision and sticking with it is simply because you don’t trust that the person making the decision is qualified. The truth is that you are, in fact, the perfect fit for the job of running your life! One of the best ways to open your eyes is to build your decision-making capacity AND adaptability. So let’s draw the curtain back on a process to help you be in motion and settle into your choices.

First, scan your thoughts, feelings, and options with the idea to “seek the small.” Often big decisions aren’t made in one fell swoop. Instead, they are a series of smaller choices that allow you to collect more information and sense out where you’re headed next. So when you feel stuck or uncertain, see if there is a tiny step that you need to take first. This might be information gathering; it also might be getting a good night’s sleep! If nothing small is popping in, and the decision still feels big, consider allocating a specific amount of time to quickly sort through the ideal choice. It could just be five minutes, as our initial thoughts often guide us in the right direction.

Another way to strengthen your trust in your choices is to play a movie – one you create in your mind! Start by visualizing the scenarios. It may be helpful for you to write down a list of options in a flow chart and then close your eyes to meditate on each possibility independently. Give yourself some space to really listen to your mind and body as you imagine the happenings. You might find that just thinking through and seeing the play of possible outcomes (good, bad, meh) is enough to crystalize your mind and heart on the right direction.

If things still feel murky, jot down a good old’ fashion pros and cons list for each option. As you’re strengthening your decision-making muscle, it’s helpful to write down your thoughts. The more natural and routine this process becomes, you may find it easier or quicker to choose your path.

Remember that when you make decisions and allow them to take root, you honor yourself and connect with your power.

✨ Try This: Strengthen Your Decision-Making

• Set a Time Limit – Give yourself a deadline to avoid overthinking. Even five minutes can help.
• Start Small – Break big decisions into tiny steps. Take one simple action to gain clarity.
• See the Outcome – Visualize each choice like a movie. Notice how it feels in your body..
• Write It Down – Use a flowchart or pros and cons list if needed. Seeing it on paper helps.
• Trust and Move Forward – Make your choice, commit to it, and let go of second-guessing.

6. Stop Asking for Reassurance

There is tremendous value in gathering input when forming your thoughts or having a sounding board to help organize your thoughts. However, there is a big difference between asking for someone else’s help in thinking through something versus asking for validation. Asking for reassurance is a tactic to make you feel better, not help guide your life choices. Research shows creating a habit of “checking your numbers” with someone else is self-defeating and weakens your ability to make future decisions.

“Phoning a friend” can inhibit your ability to navigate your life with less stress because, with this act, you reinforce that decision-making is scary and that you are not good at it. See our Be Decisive practice for ideas on how to develop your capacity. When you take ownership of your life and choices, you generate more self-trust. This is because you’ll find that you do make great decisions! And, just like everyone else, you’ll also make some choices that are stinkers. The more you hold on to your decisions with confidence, the more trust you will build in yourself.

Final Thoughts on How to Trust Yourself: Overcoming Fear & Setbacks

Trusting yourself, owning your path, and making confident decisions all come down to backing yourself. Every win, setback, and uncertain moment is part of the process. The more you lean into your own judgment instead of looking outside for validation, the stronger and clearer you become. Keep going, celebrate the progress, and trust that you are exactly where you need to be. 

If you’d like to take a moment to reflect on your relationship with centering, visit our Trust Page for a simple journal prompt to deepen your connection with this intention.