Hello, and welcome back to The Happya Life Podcast. I’m Clare Deacon, your guide on this journey from surviving to thriving. If this is your first time here, welcome. I’m so glad you’ve found your way here. And if you’ve been listening for a while, you already know that this space is all about finding the balance between self-compassion and growth. You’re exactly where you need to be.

I want to start today with a question. Have you ever set yourself a goal, something exciting, something important but after a while, it felt like you were carrying a weight too heavy to bear? Maybe you started strong, full of motivation and enthusiasm, but then life happened. You got tired. You got overwhelmed. You got stuck. And suddenly, that goal you were so passionate about felt impossible.

It’s a story I hear all the time. And the truth is, it’s a story I’ve lived myself. The pressure to change everything overnight is real. The temptation to dive in headfirst and hope for the best is strong. But today, I want to invite you into a different conversation, one about gentle progress. The kind that feels achievable, kind, and most importantly, sustainable.

Because here’s what I’ve learned: hope comes from what’s achievable, not aspirational. It’s in the small, meaningful steps we take every day that big shifts happen. And that’s exactly what we’re exploring today.

Now, before we dive in, I have some exciting news. Next week marks the Blooming Happya Anniversary Special, and I’ll be running a daily podcast series to celebrate. It’s going to be a beautiful opportunity to take small, intentional steps together, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

But before we get there, let’s lay the groundwork. Because gentle progress isn’t just about doing things differently; it’s about seeing yourself differently.

Let’s start by letting go of the idea that change needs to be big to count. This is something I struggled with for years. I used to believe that if I couldn’t do something perfectly, if I couldn’t go all in, then it wasn’t worth doing at all. And I see this so often with the women I work with. There’s this deep fear of doing things wrong, of not doing enough. But what if we could let go of that pressure? What if we could approach change with curiosity instead of judgment?

Imagine walking up a mountain. If you tried to take one giant leap to the top, you’d probably fall. But if you take it one small step at a time, pausing when you need to, catching your breath, enjoying the view, you’re far more likely to make it to the summit.

And here’s the thing: the journey isn’t just about reaching the top. It’s about how you get there. So today, I want to explore how you can start taking those small, gentle steps in a way that feels safe, achievable, and aligned with your life.

One of the biggest reasons people struggle with change is because they try to force themselves into it without addressing what’s happening internally. The nervous system plays a huge role in this. When you’ve been living in survival mode, constantly feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained, your brain is wired to protect you, not to push forward. This is why drastic changes often feel so impossible. Your body is simply trying to keep you safe.

So before we talk about doing, let’s talk about being. I want you to take a moment and ask yourself: When was the last time I truly listened to what my body needed? Not what my to-do list demanded. Not what other people expected. But what you actually needed in that moment?

This is where gentle progress begins. It starts with awareness. It starts with slowing down enough to notice where you are, without rushing to where you think you should be. Maybe today, progress looks like taking a deep breath before diving into your emails. Maybe it looks like drinking a glass of water instead of reaching for another coffee. Or maybe it looks like simply acknowledging that you’re tired, and that’s okay.

I know these things might sound small. But small steps create safety. They create consistency. They build trust with yourself in a way that no grand resolution ever could. And when you’re able to show up in these small, sustainable ways, that’s when big shifts start to happen.

I remember working with a client, let’s call her Sarah. Sarah came to me feeling completely overwhelmed by her life. She wanted to make big changes: eat healthier, set better boundaries, and find more balance in her career. But every time she tried, she’d burn out within weeks and feel like she was back at square one. Together, we started small. Instead of trying to change everything at once, we focused on one tiny shift, taking five minutes each day just for herself. And over time, that five minutes turned into ten. Then twenty. Then an hour. And slowly but surely, Sarah started to feel more in control of her life. Not because she overhauled everything overnight, but because she built trust with herself one small step at a time.

And that’s what I want for you.

So, how can you start? One of my favourite questions to ask myself is, What’s the next kindest thing I can do for myself right now? Not tomorrow. Not next week. But right now. Maybe it’s stretching your legs. Maybe it’s taking a moment to breathe deeply. Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to rest without guilt. Whatever it is, start there.

And as we head into next week’s Blooming Happya Anniversary Special, I want to invite you to embrace this theme of gentle progress. Each day, we’ll be exploring different areas of well-being, self-care, boundaries, emotional resilience and I’ll be offering simple, actionable steps that you can take in your own time, in your own way.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need to do everything perfectly. You just need to show up, one small step at a time.

As we wrap up today, I want you to take a deep breath and remind yourself that gentle progress is still progress. You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You are doing the best you can with what you have and that is enough.

Thank you for being here today. If today’s episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you. Connect with me on Instagram @happyacoach and let me know what small step you’re taking today. And if you think someone in your life could benefit from hearing this message, please share it with them.

And remember, next week’s Blooming Happya Anniversary Special is going to be full of practical, meaningful tools to support you on this journey, so be sure to tune in every day.

Until next time, take care of yourself. You’re doing better than you think. And remember, small steps, big shifts.