A couple of weeks ago, I sat down with Mel Robbins for a podcast conversation that turned out to be much more personal than I expected.
It was also one of the first times I prepared for an interview in a very intentional way.
I asked ChatGPT to help me come up with questions based on the things I’ve been struggling with throughout the year. Not “smart” questions. Not impressive ones. Just honest ones.
Because the truth is, I still carry a lot from my childhood.
I grew up in a family where money was always tight, and that fear never fully leaves you. Even now, I often find myself driven by the anxiety of not having enough to support my family.
That fear pushes me to say yes to opportunities I’m not excited about. It makes me worry about being forgotten. About slowing down. About missing something.
And going into 2026, I realized something had to change.
If I want a different level of life, a different level of impact, I can’t keep operating from the same place.
That’s where Mel’s perspective really hit me.
She talked about how dissatisfaction isn’t a problem. It’s information. It’s data. It’s often your ambition trying to get your attention. Wanting more doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful. It means you’re alive and paying attention.
She also challenged the idea that change has to be dramatic.
You don’t have to quit your job.
You don’t have to blow up your life.
You can let your current work pay the bills while you slowly, seriously get honest with yourself about what you actually want. And yes, even if you have kids and a full schedule, time exists. It’s usually just leaking into things that don’t move your life forward.
But the moment that stayed with me happened after the cameras were off.
Mel looked at me and said:
“You’re being too hard on yourself.”
That stopped me. Because she was right.
I’m constantly pushing myself. Forcing myself. Demanding more.
And in my head, I often sound a lot like my mom did when I was growing up.
Maybe the real work now isn’t doing more, but trusting myself more.
Trusting that when I need to, I can work harder.
I can figure things out.
I can provide for my family.
I don’t need to live in constant survival mode to make that true.
That’s my biggest takeaway from this episode.
I’m genuinely glad we’re starting 2026 with a conversation like this, because it has the potential to shape how you think about the year ahead.
If any of this resonates with you, I really hope you’ll watch or listen to the full episode!
And if you do, please leave a comment.
We read them. We feel them.
And they truly help us keep going. ❤️