Episode 165 - You Say You Want Growth, So Why Does It Feel So Scary?
Many women business owners say they want growth. More income, better clients, stronger visibility. But when growth begins to happen, it can feel surprisingly uncomfortable. This episode explores why the very progress you want can also trigger fear, resistance and self-doubt.
We look at how the nervous system and the brain naturally prefer what feels familiar, even if the current situation is frustrating or limiting. When business growth requires new behaviours, new beliefs or a different identity, it can feel like a challenge to long-held stories about who you are and what you’re capable of.
In this conversation, we unpack the psychology behind the expand–retract cycle many business owners experience. You’ll hear why awareness, courage and humility are essential when navigating growth, and how recognising your own patterns can help you move forward with more clarity and steadiness.
Tune in to hear:
Why your brain often prefers what is familiar, even when you consciously want change.
How growth can challenge identity and trigger resistance or self-doubt.
Why self-awareness, courage and humility are essential for sustainable business growth.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why many women business owners unconsciously resist the very growth they say they want.
How the expand–retract cycle keeps people moving forward and then pulling back.
Why identifying with old stories or beliefs can quietly limit business progress.
How developing self-awareness and humility helps create real, lasting change.
Themes & Time Stamps:
00:00 — Introduction: Why growth feels so scary
02:18 — How the nervous system and ego keep us stuck
03:17 — Book recommendation: Say What? They Can't Unhear
03:57 — Why most businesses are actually selling change
04:30 — Free Aligned Women Book Club plug
05:19 — Two patterns: choosing what doesn't work vs. ignoring good advice
06:08 — The expand-retract cycle explained
07:14 — Self-awareness is the answer
08:20 — The danger of self-identifying with your limiting stories
09:28 — "It's not your grade five bully" — debunking the block
10:28 — Identity, shame, and why trying feels like ego death
11:56 — Ad break: Rebranding your business for higher-caliber clients
13:23 — Growth feels like an attack on your intelligence
14:54 — The humility piece: being open to not knowing
15:41 — Rewriting core beliefs with new evidence
16:46 — Instant gratification vs. real success
17:28 — The answer: self-awareness, courage, and humility
18:17 — Healthy Energetics in Business workshop
18:40 — Final encouragement: discomfort means you're doing it right
Resources:
Repurpose Ai: Streamline your content creation. Repurpose Ai.
Later Content Scheduling: Plan your social media effortlessly. Later.
Flodesk: Elevate your email marketing. 50% off with this link.
Other Resources:
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