"What needs to happen now so you can start being your future self?"

This is one of the most powerful questions I ask the women I work with, after they’ve described their future self as confident, free, happy, calm, organised, fulfilled, successful. (Notice how she’s always described in a positive light.)

The answer that always comes up is this:

“I need to believe that I can do it, and start taking action.”

Yes, it always comes back to self-belief.

Believing in yourself enough to take that first uncomfortable step. To be brave and courageous. To stretch beyond your comfort zone even if it feels scary or uncertain. Nothing will change if you stay within your comfort zone.

Many women tell me they want to grow in their careers, pivot, or start something new when “the kids are older”.

But then come the thoughts that keep them stuck:

“I’m too old.”

“I don’t have enough experience.”

“I don’t have time for interviews.”

“I can’t afford to quit, even if I dislike my job.”

“I’ve invested too much in this career to walk away.”

“I don’t know how to run a business. What if I fail?”

The common theme I see is the feeling of failure long before they even tried and actually failed.

I don’t tell them what to do. That’s not my job. My role is to hold a non-judgmental space where smart, ambitious women can say their dreams out loud, often for the first time.

Together, we work on:

Building belief in their strengths

Owning their worth

Creating a new story about what’s possible

So, as you begin this week, I invite you to ask yourself:

“What needs to happen now so I can start being my future self?”

Sometimes, the first step is simply getting honest about what’s not working and sharing it with someone you trust.

One small shift. One brave conversation. One honest reflection.

That’s how your future begins.