Don't fall asleep waiting for your moment
How to recognize when you’re closer than you realize
Last week I wrote about how getting “NO” from the universe can be a great thing. How “no” most of the time isn’t “never”, but simply “not just yet.”
But it occurred to me that we can end up spending so much time in “no” land that we unconsciously find ourselves setting up camp, deciding we live there.
Sometimes, it takes so long for our goals to come together that we start believing they never will.
And that’s when we fall into the trap.
Not because the dream is impossible, or because we’re incapable.
But because we’ve been in the waiting room for so long that we start to forget why we walked in at all.
The longer we wait, the easier it is to:
miss the signs of progress
numb out to the momentum
sabotage our own efforts
adopt beliefs that shrink us instead of support us
So if you’ve been doing the work, if you’ve been building your foundation, and things still feel stuck: this is your reminder…
You might be closer than you think.
Signs that success is right around the corner
We don’t always recognize progress as progress. We expect big neon signs and loud celebrations, but growth is usually quiet.
If you notice any of the following, take them seriously:
✔️ You’re starting to say “no” to things that once pulled you off course
✔️ Your habits and routines are more aligned with who you want to become
✔️ You’re feeling bored or agitated with your old patterns (this is often a signal that you’ve outgrown them)
✔️ Opportunities that match your dream life are starting to show up, even if they’re small
✔️ You’re having thoughts like: “I know I’m meant for more.” (That’s your internal GPS kicking in)
These are green lights.
Not the finish line, but signals that you’re getting close.
Don’t ignore them just because they’re subtle.
How we self-sabotage when the finish line is near
Your brain doesn’t care that you’re happy or sad. Its job is to make sure you survive - that’s all.
Ironically, some of the worst self-sabotage happens right before success shows up.
Why?
Because change (even good change!) can feel scary as hell.
You’re about to become someone you’ve never been before.
You’re about to live a life you haven’t fully seen yet.
And your brain? It doesn’t care if the old life sucked. It only cares that it was familiar.
So it throws out fear-based behaviors to pull you back:
🚩 Procrastination (when you used to be consistent)
🚩 Picking fights or creating drama to feel control
🚩 Suddenly doubting things you were excited about
🚩 Feeling “tired all the time” or numb (a nervous system response to internal change)
🚩 Quitting things right before they gain traction
If any of these sound familiar, ask yourself:
Is this a sign that I’m not ready? Or is this just fear/resistance showing up in disguise?
You might not be failing, you may simply be resisting the breakthrough.
The beliefs that sneak in and stall us
We’re not always conscious of the stories we tell ourselves in long waiting seasons.
But over time, if we don’t check in with our inner narrative, it starts to sound like this:
“I’m not good at finishing things.”
“I’ve missed my chance.”
“I’ll always be behind.”
“I’m too late/too old/too inexperienced.”
“If it hasn’t happened by now, maybe it never will.”
These thoughts never sound dramatic, they sound reasonable.
And that’s why they’re dangerous.
Because they don’t scare you.
They slowly shrink you.
So, check in:
What have you been telling yourself lately?
Whose voice does it sound like?
And more importantly: Do you want to keep believing it?
How to get back on track when you’ve drifted
Here’s the good news:
Even if you’ve been numbing, doubting, or drifting—you can turn it around fast.
Here’s how:
🔁 Reconnect with your “why.”
Remind yourself why this dream mattered in the first place.
What would it change in your life? In your relationships? In your sense of self?
📍Zoom out.
Look back at the last 6 months.
What’s different now?
Where have you grown, even if it hasn’t “paid off” yet?
💥 Take one bold, visible action.
Not a big one, just a visible one. Something that shows your brain you’re back at the wheel.
Examples:
Pitch the idea
Apply for the thing
Tell someone your goal out loud
Post the first piece of your dream online
Your brain doesn’t need perfection. It needs evidence that you’re in motion again.
🔒 Double down on your fundamentals.
When in doubt, go back to the basics.
Routines. Rest. Boundaries. Joy.
Success sits on top of those things - not the other way around.
You are closer than you think
Sometimes, it feels like nothing is happening.
But behind the scenes?
Your skills are stacking.
Your identity is shifting.
Your alignment is locking in.
The green light might not have shown up yet.
But the path is clearing.
Don’t let a temporary “NO” talk you into never hearing the resounding “YES” when it comes.
You’re not starting over.
The weather is clearing, and the stars are coming out for you.
Stay awake for us.
So very true.