I read a blog post recently that really resonated with me because it centers on something I coach all the time: mindset. The post suggested that much of what we experience as suffering isn't actual hardship, like physical injury or genuine grief. Instead, it is often the story we tell ourselves about a situation.
I admit that I do this myself. For instance, I might complain about the cold all morning only to step outside and realize it is entirely manageable. And then I do it again the very next day. In those moments, the suffering was self-invented. It was a product of a negative narrative I decided to tell myself. Of course, sometimes, it feels bigger and heavier than weather, but it is often the same scenario.
The question that has changed the way I think is this: "What story am I telling myself about this right now?"
I am amazed at how clarity and calm appear when I step outside myself, even briefly. The blog I read applied this idea to starting a business. The writer looked back on early failures that caused significant distress at the time and realized they were valuable learning experiences. He noted that his suffering was amplified because he didn't fully appreciate the privilege of failing and learning in the first place.
Examining Your Own Narrative
This concept is one I frequently coach on. Even though I guide clients through this exact material day and night, reading someone else's version of the same lesson can land differently. It makes me think differently about my own experience. That is exactly how learning and growth work. We know certain things intellectually, but applying that knowledge is what actually matters.
Lately, whenever I encounter a negative experience or thought, I pause to ask myself whether it is true. This simple shift has changed my mindset profoundly in a very short time. I share all of this to provide context for a major decision I have made.
My Decision to Commit
Many of you know I have been coaching for the last 11 years, first as a NASM personal trainer and running coach, and more recently as a board-certified health coach. What you might not know is that I have also held a full-time corporate marketing job. This job has provided traditional benefits, a regular paycheck, health insurance, and the flexibility of working from home. It was all the good, safe stuff.
I often joke that my full-time job is my side gig because coaching is my whole heart and soul.
Lately, I have realized that this comfort is holding me back from genuine growth. The dependable income, while secure, comes at the cost of eight hours a day that I cannot dedicate to pursuing my own dreams and passions. I keep thinking about how much more impact I could really have with more time.
I have been hesitating for years while waiting for the perfect moment or a grand sign. However, there is a quiet power in simply making a decision. I am choosing to leap. I am fully committed to my business. I am giving up the good security I have enjoyed to pursue what I believe can be great.
Overcoming the Fear of Uncertainty
This decision isn't without its actual problems. The story I keep hearing in the back of my mind is that it will be hard to replace my corporate salary. This thought is one of those self-limiting stories I just mentioned. It is an obstacle in my mind rather than a verified fact.
We will have to navigate the practical logistics of obtaining health insurance and the work required to increase my business income to full time. These aren't small things. They are logistical challenges to work through, not roadblocks that should stop me.
My intuition is clear. This is exactly what I need to do. While there is a quiet fear that I might be making a mistake, that feeling is overshadowed by the deep conviction that this decision is correct. My strength, and the strength of this business, lies in the connections we build. Now more than ever, I am leaning into the support of this community and the belief in the work we do together.
I am nervous, but I am doing it anyway. I trust that the growth and impact on the other side are worth the uncertainty.
Kick-Start Your Own Transformation
I am clearing my schedule to focus entirely on helping you navigate your own changes. If you are ready to shift your own narrative, my virtual January Kick-Start program can literally change the way you relate to health and fitness forever.
Are you tired of the cycle of starting over in your health and fitness journey, the accompanying guilt, and the feeling that you can't keep up? You likely know the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, but making it stick feels impossible. In five short weeks, you will have the skills to do this on your own for the rest of the year.
Let me help you kick-start your new year.
$40 OFF through December 31, 2025
Love, Lea
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Lea
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Lea Genders is a board-certified health coach, personal trainer, and workplace wellness consultant based in Fort Worth, TX. She offers corporate wellness programs for employee health and productivity, as well as in-person and virtual training / coaching for individuals worldwide. Her blog shares expert guidance on strength training, running, and sustainable nutrition @fortworth_trainer
Much of what we experience as suffering is just the story we tell ourselves about a situation. Recently, this simple shift in perspective gave me the clarity to finally make a massive decision I have been putting off for years. It is time for a major update.