In this raw and honest Monday Myth Busting episode, Heather tackles one of the biggest lies in entrepreneurship and personal development: that "massive action" equals success. Through vulnerable storytelling about her own addiction to doing, she reveals why frantic activity often masks deeper identity issues and keeps us stuck in cycles of exhaustion and self-sabotage.

• The psychology behind "doing addiction" and why it becomes unconscious
• How the need to constantly fix, learn, and figure things out is actually avoidance
• The role of AI in helping us avoid showing up authentically
• Why identity-level beliefs determine success more than strategy
• The power of vulnerable humanness in an increasingly artificial world
• The difference between "trying" and actually making things happen
• How to check your energy before taking any action

1. You can't out-hustle your identity - if you believe you're meant to fail, you'll prove yourself right
2. Your identity is your operating system - strategies are just apps that won't work on faulty software
3. Vulnerable humanness is your competitive advantage - especially in our AI-dominated world
4. Energy matters more than activity - one aligned action beats a hundred desperate ones
5. The antidote is simple - check your energy before you act

Chapters:

• 00:10 - Reflecting on Your Progress
• 00:43 - The Cost of Hustle Culture
• 03:08 - Understanding the Roots of Failure
• 05:31 - The Power of Identity in Achieving Success
• 06:01 - Embracing Strategic Action

Before taking any business action this week, pause and ask: "What energy am I bringing to this?" If it feels desperate or forced, stop and align your inner game first.

Please like, share, subscribe and leave me a review. This is a self funded podcast and every small action helps me build the podcast.

• Choosing Happy Podcast: www.choosinghappypodcast.com
• Connect with Heather V Masters for transformation work

Tune in next Monday for another myth-busting session where we challenge conventional wisdom in personal development and entrepreneurship.

Tired of the same patterns keeping you stuck?

Check out the Pattern Breaker Coaching Program: www.choosinghappy.co.uk/pattern-breaker

Want to dive deeper? Drop me an email: heather@heathervmasters.com

Join the conversation: Community | Buy me a coffee

If you would like to support the podcast you can drop a donation here:

Support this Podcast

Stop getting ready to get ready, and just... start.

In this deeply personal Friday Fail Forward episode, Heather shares her journey through one of her darkest periods - when suicidal thoughts felt overwhelming and her dog's broken leg pushed her to breaking point. Discover how personal anthems became her lifeline and learn practical ways to use music and movement as tools for mental health recovery.

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicidal ideation and mental health struggles. Please listen with care and seek professional support if needed.

• Why "personal anthems" can be powerful tools for mental health recovery
• The science behind how music reduces stress hormones and increases happiness chemicals
• Three practical strategies for using music to shift your emotional state
• How movement amplifies the neurological benefits of music
• The importance of creating an "emergency anthem" for your darkest moments

Chapters:

• 00:22 - Introduction to Mental Health Awareness
• 01:07 - Overcoming Darkness: A Personal Journey
• 04:12 - Finding Strength Through Music
• 07:02 - Using Personal Anthems to Empower Yourself
• 08:59 - The Power of Personal Anthems
• 10:26 - Choosing Happy: The Power of Music and Movement

Support the Podcast

• Please like, subscribe, leave a review and share the podcast with someone who might need to hear this today.
• Support the podcast by donating: Support this Podcast

1. Emergency Anthem - One song that makes you feel unstoppable
2. Daily Soundtrack - Morning, focus, and reset anthems for different needs
3. Movement + Music - Combining physical movement with music for maximum impact
4. The 3-Minute Reset - Using your anthem with movement for just 3 minutes when struggling

If you're struggling with your mental health:

• Contact your GP or local mental health services
• UK: Samaritans 116 123 (free, 24/7)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 85258
• Mind: 0300 123 3393

• Share your personal anthem using #ChoosingHappyAnthem
• Tag @ChoosingHappyPodcast on social media
• Join the Choosing Happy community to connect with others

• "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen
• "Love My Life" by Robbie Williams

More Takeaways:

• In this episode, we dive deep into the heavy stuff, discussing mental health and the darkness of suicidal thoughts, so buckle up!
• We all have dark days, but remember, reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness—you're not alone, my friend!
• Music can be a powerful lifeline; it can literally change your brain chemistry and lift your spirits—let's get moving and grooving!
• Creating a personal anthem can turn your mood around—find that one song that makes you feel unstoppable, and dance like nobody's watching!
• The journey through mental health struggles can feel isolating, but sharing our stories connects us—we’re all in this together, folks!
• Sometimes, all it takes to shift from despair to hope is three minutes of music and movement—let's keep choosing happy, one beat at a time!

"From Fear to Freedom: My Journey Through Decision Making in a Crisis"

In today's Wednesday Real Stories episode of the Choosing Happy Podcast, Heather V Masters shares a deeply personal journey through the paralysing uncertainty faced while caring for her parents in crisis. With raw honesty and warmth, Heather explores the grip of decision paralysis and reveals how finding courage in the midst of chaos can create momentum and clarity—even when the path forward seems blocked by fear and doubt.

Through a powerful storm-crossroads metaphor, Heather illustrates why waiting for perfect clarity keeps us stuck and how taking even the smallest, most imperfect step forward can change everything. Listeners will discover that movement itself breaks paralysis, creates momentum, and reveals the path ahead.

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that joy and positivity aren't about perfect circumstances but about rising above reality and embracing hope and resilience as daily practices. Heather's story demonstrates that you don't need to have it all figured out to deserve happiness—you just need the courage to take one brave step forward.

Key Takeaways:

• Why decision paralysis happens during crisis and uncertainty
• How to find courage when you can't see the path clearly
• The power of imperfect action over perfect planning
• Why joy is a choice you make daily, not a destination
• Practical ways to move forward when everything feels overwhelming

If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by what comes next, or paralysed by uncertainty in your business, relationships, or life decisions, this episode is for you. Tune in, grab your favourite cuppa, and let Heather's authentic story guide you toward choosing happy in every messy, beautiful moment.

Chapters:

• 00:12 - Facing Uncertainty: Embracing Change
• 01:10 - Facing Decision Paralysis
• 03:15 - Facing Decision Paralysis: The Storm of Uncertainty
• 05:17 - Embracing Courage in Uncertainty
• 06:37 - Choosing Happiness in Uncertain Times
• 08:31 - Conclusion and Community Engagement

🎧 Love what you heard? Here's how you can help:

LIKE this episode if it resonated with you

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SUBSCRIBE so you never miss a Wednesday Real Stories episode

LEAVE A REVIEW - it really helps the podcast reach those who need it most

Your support means everything and helps us continue bringing authentic, transformational content to entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone ready to choose happy.

Connect with Heather:

Tag us @ChoosingHappyPodcast on social media and share your wins, stumbles, and brave steps forward. We're walking this journey together!

Remember: you are the hero of your story. Stop auditioning for your life and start living it fully. Choose happy, choose being.

In this week’s Myth Busting Monday episode, Heather unpacks the exhausting and toxic myth that we must constantly prove ourselves to be worthy and successful.

Through personal stories and hard truths, Heather reveals how the relentless chase to prove yourself fuels anxiety, imposter syndrome, and that nagging ‘not enough’ feeling.

Listeners will hear about the self-development hamster wheel—endless courses and gurus promising to fix what isn’t broken—and why these often mask the real issue: lack of authentic self-acceptance.

Heather offers practical insights on how to recognize this pattern and shares a tiny experiment designed to help you start breaking free and embrace the power of simply being yourself.

This episode is essential listening for anyone trapped in the validation loop who wants to reclaim their inner peace, power, and joy. Tune in and start choosing happy today!

Takeaways:

• Proving yourself is like running on a hamster wheel, exhausting and unproductive, so stop it!
• Feeling the need to prove your worth often leads to chronic anxiety and stress, yikes!
• The chase for self-improvement programs can distract you from realizing you’re already enough.
• Authenticity is your superpower; being yourself is way more powerful than performing for approval.
• When you stop trying to prove yourself, you unlock your real strengths and abilities.
• Remember, you don't need to earn your place here; you already belong just as you are.

Chapters:

• 00:13 - Dismantling the Myth of Proving Yourself
• 00:29 - The Exhausting Cycle of Proving Yourself
• 04:10 - The Shift from Proving to Accepting
• 07:14 - Embracing Authenticity: The Power of Acceptance
• 09:41 - Choosing to Be: The Journey of Self-Acceptance

Please share, like and/or leave a review and support the podcast. I really appreciate it!

Ready for more uncomfortable truths?

Join my Sunday Newsletter where we're redefining what it means to thrive without the fluff: Sunday Newsletter

Tired of the same patterns keeping you stuck?

Check out the Pattern Breaker Coaching Program: www.choosinghappy.co.uk/pattern-breaker

Want to dive deeper? Drop me an email: heather@heathervmasters.com

Join the conversation: Community | Buy me a coffee

If you would like to support the podcast you can drop a donation here:

Support this Podcast

Stop getting ready to get ready, and just... start.

Ever feel like a productivity failure because you can't get through your daily to-do list? You're not broken - you're just human. In this episode, Heather breaks down the science behind why we're terrible at estimating time and shares practical strategies to stop the self-sabotage cycle.

• Why we overestimate what we can do in a day but underestimate what we can achieve in a year
• The "planning fallacy" and how it's sabotaging your productivity
• How to audit your persistent tasks: delegate, schedule, or delete
• The 3-3-3 rule for realistic daily planning
• How to stop negative self-talk about productivity

• 00:07 - Introduction to Fail Forward Friday
• 00:58 - The To Do List Trap
• 05:27 - Reassessing Your Daily Tasks
• 08:43 - The Importance of Small Wins
• 10:55 - Embracing Productivity and Self-Kindness

The Planning Fallacy: We consistently underestimate task completion time by 25-50%, even with previous experience of similar tasks taking longer.

The Compound Effect: Small, consistent actions over time create massive results, but we can't see it day-to-day.

The 3-3-3 Rule: Each day, pick 3 important tasks, 3 admin tasks, and 3 small wins to celebrate.

Look at your current to-do list and pick the 3 things that have been there the longest. For each one, make a decision:

• Delegate it - Can someone else do this?
• Schedule it properly - Give it realistic time allocation
• Delete it entirely - Does this actually need doing?

• The Sunday Audit: Weekly review of your ongoing to-do list
• The Delegation Detector: If it's been on your list for more than a month, it needs action
• The Compound Tracker: Keep a weekly wins list to see your actual progress

"Productivity isn't about doing more things. It's about doing the right things. And sometimes the rightest thing is to stop beating yourself up for being human."

• Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky's research on the planning fallacy
• The compound effect of small consistent actions

• Website: www.choosinghappypodcast.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherbond/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvmasters/

The Choosing Happy Podcast is for transformational practitioners - coaches, consultants, NLP practitioners, hypnotherapists, and energy workers - who are ready for uncomfortable truths and real transformation. New episodes drop three times a week: Monday myth-busting, Wednesday real wins, and Friday fail forward sessions.

If this episode resonated with you, please:

• Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform
• Leave a 5-star review
• Share with someone who needs to hear this message

Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

Episode Length: 12-15 minutes

Release Date: 15 August 2025

Tags: Productivity, Time Management, Personal Development, Coaching, NLP, Self-Compassion, Planning Fallacy

Support the Podcast with a donation: Support this Podcast

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Daniel Kaneman
• ...

Alright, folks!

Buckle up because today, we’re diving into the wild world of the invisible stories that run our lives, and trust me, they can get a little wacky!

I’m talking about those assumptions we cling to like a child to a teddy bear, thinking they’re keeping us safe when really, they’re just holding us back.

Remember that time I dressed like I was about to conquer Mount Everest, only to step outside and melt faster than an ice cream cone on a summer day?

Yeah, that’s a perfect metaphor for how we overthink our decisions!

Today, I’m sharing some honest-to-goodness wisdom about how these pesky little narratives are costing us not just our sanity but also opportunities galore.

So, grab your favourite beverage and let’s unravel these tales together—because the world needs your brilliance, and it’s time to break free from those self-imposed chains!

In a world where our brains are busy crafting elaborate tales about why we can’t do something, it’s time to flip the script!

This Wednesday on the Choosing Happy Podcast, I took a hilarious yet enlightening trip down memory lane, well - yesterday, sharing the tale of my ill-fated dog walk that turned into a life lesson.

We often get trapped in our own narratives, believing that our assumptions are facts.

But guess what? They’re just stories! And like bad sitcoms, they need to be cancelled!

From thinking that following up is annoying to believing our pricing is too high for clients, we’re unravelling these myths like a ball of yarn tangled in a cat’s paws.

Join me as I challenge you to audit your stories and take a leap of faith into evidence-based decision-making. Because let’s be real, the only drama we need in our lives is the one on Netflix!

Takeaways:

• Our internal stories often lead us to make assumptions that limit our potential, just like my dog walk saga!
• Don't let your mental narratives dictate your reality; test your assumptions and see what happens!
• Every assumption you haven't tested is a decision you're making on behalf of others—let them decide!
• Reality rarely matches our dramatic imaginations, so take action instead of getting stuck in your head!
• Challenge yourself to a little 'story audit' and find out which beliefs are holding you back from greatness!
• The world is waiting for what you have to offer, so stop hiding behind those old, untested stories!

Chapters:

• 00:01 - Introduction to Wednesday Wisdom
• 02:22 - The Invisible Stories That Shape Our Lives
• 06:03 - The Story Audit: Overcoming Assumptions
• 08:07 - Challenging Assumptions: A 24-Hour Experiment
• 10:00 - Challenging Your Assumptions

Where you can find out more:

Join my Sunday Newsletter where we're redefining what it means to thrive without the fluff: Sunday Newsletter

Tired of the same patterns keeping you stuck?

Check out the Pattern Breaker Coaching Program: www.choosinghappy.co.uk/pattern-breaker

Want to dive deeper? Drop me an email: heather@heathervmasters.com

Join the conversation: Community | Buy me a coffee

If you would like to support the podcast you can drop a donation here:

Today we're tackling three uncomfortable truths about why all that "Monday motivation" content is actually keeping you more stuck than a pair of skinny jeans after Christmas dinner. And honestly? You'll thank me for it.

I'm sharing my own Monday morning disaster - where I spent more time consuming motivation than actually doing anything that mattered. Because here's the thing about running a podcast called "Choosing Happy" - people expect you to have your life sorted. Spoiler alert: I absolutely don't.

By the end of this chat, you'll understand why motivation is basically emotional chocolate - feels amazing in the moment, gives you a proper high, then leaves you crashed out wondering why you feel worse than when you started.

What you'll discover:

• Why motivation isn't fuel - it's a drug that keeps you coming back for more hits
• How "getting motivated" is actually procrastination wearing a fancy outfit
• Why the motivation industry needs you to stay dependent (and how to break free)
• What to do instead when Sunday night dread hits

The uncomfortable truth? The most productive people I know are often the least motivated. They just do the work whether they feel like it or not.

So if you're tired of that cycle of Sunday night planning, Monday morning panic, and Wednesday "where did my week go?" - this one's for you.

Next week: Why your weekend habits reveal everything about your real priorities. Trust me, you're not going to like it. But you'll probably need to hear it.

Key Moments:

• 00:01 - Why I'm ruining Monday motivation forever
• 01:00 - My actual Monday morning disaster (not some made-up client story)
• 04:48 - Truth #1: Motivation is a drug, not fuel
• 07:04 - Truth #2: Monday motivation = procrastination in disguise
• 09:00 - Truth #3: The motivation industry keeps you dependent
• 11:27 - What to do instead of getting motivated

Your challenge: Next Monday, skip the motivational content entirely. Pick one thing - one actual thing - and do it before you allow yourself to consume any "motivation." Watch what happens.

Ready for more uncomfortable truths?

Join my Sunday Newsletter where we're redefining what it means to thrive without the fluff: Sunday Newsletter

Tired of the same patterns keeping you stuck?

Check out the Pattern Breaker Coaching Program: www.choosinghappy.co.uk/pattern-breaker

Want to dive deeper? Drop me an email: heather@heathervmasters.com

Join the conversation: Community | Buy me a coffee

If you would like to support the podcast you can drop a donation here:

Support this Podcast

Stop getting ready to get ready, and just... start.

Your Fear Is Fake - Here's What's Really Stopping You

Let’s dive into the good stuff right off the bat: this week, we're tackling the sneaky shame monster lurking in the corners of our minds and how it's been running the show more than we'd like to admit.

I’m Heather Masters, and trust me, if you’ve ever felt like you’re not good enough or you’ve sabotaged your own success, you’re not alone—this is the kind of chat we all need!

We’re peeling back the layers on why shame is often the real culprit behind our fears, and spoiler alert: it’s not just about the fear of failure, it’s way more personal.

So, grab your favourite drink, get cosy, and let’s unpack how we can kick shame to the curb with some practical tips that'll have you strutting into your greatness like the fabulous human you are!

Plus, I’ve got some exciting news about our new thrice-weekly schedule coming up, because let’s face it, we all need more joy and less shame in our lives!

The Details:

Ready for some real talk that might just bust your brain wide open?

Heather Masters is back with a fiery episode that’s as enlightening as it is entertaining.

She tackles the oh-so-awkward topic of shame, which, let’s be honest, can feel like that one friend who always shows up at the worst times—like when you’re about to crush it and then suddenly think maybe you should just hide under a rock instead.

Heather shares her own battle with shame, showing us that it’s not about running from fear but rather recognising shame for what it is: the sneaky little gremlin that keeps us small.

With humour and heart, she breaks down the shame spiral, complete with the steps that lead us from feeling bad about ourselves to self-sabotage city. But fear not! Heather arms us with five actionable strategies to confront and dismantle our shame, from having a heart-to-heart with a trusted friend to keeping a wins jar to celebrate all those glorious little victories we often overlook.

If you’re ready to flip the script on how you see yourself and embrace the beautiful mess that is being human, this episode is your golden ticket to a happier you!

Takeaways:

• Shame often masquerades as motivation, but it actually paralyses us instead of propelling us forward.
• The difference between fear and shame is crucial; fear looks to the future, while shame attacks our present worth.
• Practicing self-compassion can counteract the harsh judgments that shame imposes on us, so treat yourself like your best friend.
• Recognising and celebrating even the smallest wins nurtures a positive self-image and helps combat shame's negative narratives.

Links referenced in this episode:

• tamingyourgremlin.com
• linkedin.com
• facebook.com

Chapters:

• 00:17 - The Shame Game
• 05:01 - Understanding the Shame Spiral
• 07:39 - Understanding and Overcoming Shame
• 10:18 - Embracing Self-Compassion to Combat Shame
• 14:14 - Celebrating Wins and Overcoming Shame

Let me know your biggest takeaways from this episode!

Share on social and please like, share and subscribe. It really helps the podcast, and I so appreciate it!

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