Clarity Chat: Circling in Indecision (S3E3)

Clarity Chat: Circling in Indecision (S3E3)

Oct 13, 2025 | Podcast: Simple Shifts Forward

Simple Shifts Forward Podcast

Episode 03: Circling Indecision (S3E3)

Circling in Indecision? Ever get stuck circling a decision — from picking pillows to choosing a career move? Indecision isn’t laziness; it’s your brain trying to keep you safe. In this talk, Dana shares a playful ice cream counter metaphor and a powerful question that helps you cut through the noise.

You’ll learn:

• Why your brain delays decisions and how that’s actually protective

• A playful trick that reveals your gut answer in 24 hours or less

• How to shift from “What if this goes wrong?” to “What do I want instead?”

Want more clarity tools? Download the free Stuck to Started Reset Kit at www.dana-mitchell.com . For more short, story-based talks, follow Dana on Insight Timer. https://insighttimer.com/danamitchell 

    “Think of one decision you’ve been circling. If you had to choose within the next day, what would bubble up first?”

    Full Transcript

    “Ever get stuck circling a decision? Like an ice cream counter with too many flavors — you freeze instead of choosing.”

    Hi, I’m Dana. Around here, we keep things simple — no big lectures, just everyday ways to feel a little less stuck.

    Indecision is exhausting. I’ve done it with little things, like standing in Target debating pillow colors. And with big things, like career changes.

    And here’s the truth: it’s not laziness. It’s your brain’s way of keeping you safe.
    “If I don’t decide, I can’t be wrong.”
    “If I delay, I stay safe.”

    But safety can feel like being trapped in circles.

    Here’s a playful trick: tell yourself,
    “I know I don’t know… but if I did, what would I choose in the next 24 hours?”

    It’s like the ice cream shop. If someone said “Pick now, quick!” — you’d blurt out a flavor you already love. That’s your gut cutting through the noise.

    Think of one decision you’ve been circling. If you had to choose in the next day, what would bubble up first?

    Remember: the answer doesn’t have to be forever. Just the next step. One color, one email, one start.

    In closing:

    So next time you find yourself circling, try asking the question – “I know I don’t know… but if I did, what would I choose. Then let the small answer be enough.

    Thanks for joining me — I’ll be back soon with another gentle nudge.

    💭 Reflection Prompt:

    Think of one decision you’ve been circling. If you had to choose in the next day, what would bubble up first?
    Remember: the answer doesn’t have to be forever. Just the next step. One color, one email, one start.

    Your Next Steps

    Let’s navigate “what’s next”:

    • A new business or career path
    • A reinvention after retirement
    • A shift in identity, energy, or priorities
    Work With Me

    Listen to more episodes

    • Season 3: Simple Shifts Forward
    • Season 2: Master Essential Oils
    • Season 1: Organize DIY
    More Episodes

    Clarity Chat: Circling in Indecision (S3E3)

    Clarity Chat: The Goo of Change (S3E5)

    Oct 13, 2025 | Podcast: Simple Shifts Forward

    Simple Shifts Forward Podcast

    Episode 05: The Goo of Change (S3E5)

    Clarity Chat: The Goo of Change. Change rarely feels exciting at first — it often feels sticky, messy, and uncomfortable. Dana calls this the “goo stage,” the in-between space where you’re no longer who you were, but not yet who you’re becoming. Through her own story as a mom shifting roles, she shows how to find breadcrumbs of joy in the messy middle.

    You’ll learn:

    • Why change feels like goo (sticky, stretchy, and awkward).
    • How to reframe transitions as space, not loss.
    • One small way to reconnect with things you used to love.

    “Change doesn’t feel clean — it feels like goo. Sticky, stretchy, messy — the middle space between what was and what’s next.”

    Full Transcript

    Hi, I’m Dana. Thanks for being here. I share small shifts and real-life stories to help you feel clearer and calmer as you move forward.

    There’s a stage of change I call the goo. You’re not who you were, but you’re not yet who you’re becoming. It’s the in-between.

    It feels… sticky. Like gum on your shoe, slowing you down.

    It feels… stretchy. Like you’re being pulled in two directions. It could show up as I could do this or that…

    It feels… uncomfortable. Like wearing a sweater that doesn’t fit anymore.

    I’m in the goo right now. That’s why I thought we could chat about it today. My daughter has started driving. Overnight, I’m not needed as the family Uber anymore. I had extra time — and this weird, strange ache. The words that come to mind are bittersweet. She’s growing up and making her own decisions – that’s what she’s meant to do in this phase and chapter of her life AND I will miss her telling me about her day in those first moments after carpool pickup.

    So the GOO
    It can show up when you least expect it – usually during transitions:
    • when kids leave home,
    • when jobs shift,
    • when relationships end,
    • or even in retirement.

    We think change should feel exciting. But often, it feels like goo.

    Here’s the gift, though: goo isn’t just sticky. It’s space. Space to breathe. Space to remember what you used to enjoy. Space to try something new or pick back up on forgotten projects,

    For me, it was picking up an old craft hobby. Not to spend a ton of time to be perfect, just to reconnect with a forgotten part of me. I bought an inexpensive bow maker – and am going to redo some of my wreaths. Exciting, I know! Really only for the crafters listening.
    So here’s a question for everyone…

    Reflection Prompt: If you’re in the goo, what’s one thing you used to enjoy that you could dip back into, even just a little?

    The goo doesn’t last forever. It’s not a failure. It’s just the middle stage of becoming something new. 

    In closing:

    So if you’re in the goo right now, take heart. It means you’re already in motion. Messy, yes. But also full of possibilities.

    Thanks for sharing this space with me — we’ll meet again soon.

    💭 Reflection Prompt:

    If you’re in the goo, what’s one thing you used to enjoy that you could dip back into, even just a little?

    Your Next Steps

    Let’s navigate “what’s next”:

    • A new business or career path
    • A reinvention after retirement
    • A shift in identity, energy, or priorities
    Work With Me

    Listen to more episodes

    • Season 3: Simple Shifts Forward
    • Season 2: Master Essential Oils
    • Season 1: Organize DIY
    More Episodes

    Pin It on Pinterest