You know that thing where you're about to go through a big change and suddenly you're up at 2am planning for every possible scenario?

I made THREE different Google Docs for my son's school transition. Three. Each one mapped out a different morning routine depending on what time he woke up. I was literally scheduling my coffee time down to the minute.

Looking back? That wasn't planning. That was me trying to control something I couldn't control because I was scared.

You'll journal through:

• What's actually keeping you up at night about this transition (hint: it's probably not what you think)
• The sneaky ways you're trying to make change feel "safer"
• What you're most afraid would happen if you just... let it unfold
• Your personal pattern when things feel uncertain

Plus: The reframe that changed everything - what if your discomfort isn't a problem to fix but information about what you actually need right now?

Journaling Prompts from this episode:

1. What specific part of this transition is making you feel the most anxious or unsettled right now? (Go deeper than "change is hard")
2. What have you been doing to try to make this transition feel easier or less overwhelming?
3. What are you most afraid would happen if you stopped trying to control how this transition goes?
4. When was the last time you went through a major change in your life? How did you handle it? What patterns are showing up again now?

Resources Mentioned:

Calm Mind Blueprint - my framework for processing emotions and making decisions with clarity: https://www.samanthapenkoff.com/calm-mind-pod

• Book a free Clarity Call → https://calendly.com/samanthasays/clarity-call
• Private 1:1 Coaching (2 spots open, start with a 4 month container instead of 6 in October only) → https://www.samanthapenkoff.com/privatecoaching

Connect: Instagram | Facebook

A month ago I recorded an episode where I was completely spiraling about my son starting Montessori & my business hours changing. I walked you through my anxiety, my fears about losing work hours, all of it.

Today? I'm giving you the raw update. Week one was a disaster. Week two, I sat in my car for 4 hours taking coaching calls with the engine running. Week four, my anxiety is completely gone

...even though I'm recording this while Griffin interrupts me every 3 minutes asking for a bandaid because he cut himself on a cardboard knife. (Fact lol I may have edited that one out bc #momfail, but you'll hear his tiny voice!)

You'll hear:

• Why my anxiety disappeared once I stopped comparing schedules
• How losing work hours made me fitter (counterintuitive but true)
• What actually worked vs. my three planned Google Doc schedules
• My almost 5 year old's transformation in 4 weeks

Once those 7-hour daycare days weren't an option anymore, it stopped being "how will I ever make this work" and became "this IS working."

I'm not saying it's smooth. Last week I carried Griffin out without shoes. The library internet keeps dropping calls. But I can breathe now.

If you're in your own messy middle trying to make something work that feels impossible—you figure it out by doing it. Even from your car in a parking lot.

Mentioned in this episode:

Cindy from @mama_vision: mom coach who helped me through this transition (and many other parenting ones!)

Work with me:

• Book a free Clarity Call → https://calendly.com/samanthasays/clarity-call
• Private 1:1 Coaching (2 spots open, start with a 4 month container instead of 6 in October only) → https://www.samanthapenkoff.com/privatecoaching

Connect: Instagram | Facebook

You've got the career, the title, maybe the income you worked for. So why does success feel like you're constantly running on empty?

If you're burned out behind closed doors while everyone else sees you "having it all," this quick journaling session is for you. I'm walking you through 4 prompts that help you see the gap between how your life looks and how it actually feels—so you can finally figure out what needs to change.

Grab your journal and work through:

• The real disconnect between your external success and internal reality
• What you're actually afraid people will think if you admit you're struggling
• Your automatic response when overwhelm hits (and where else it's sabotaging you)
• What the aligned, peaceful version of you would do differently starting today

This episode is for you if:

• You're successful on paper but constantly exhausted
• You snap at your kids even though you don't want to
• You keep thinking "this isn't what I worked so hard for"
• You're barely present at home or at work
• You want to stop just surviving your success

• Calm Mind Blueprint: https://www.samanthapenkoff.com/calm-mind-pod
• Free Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/samanthasays/clarity-call

1:1 coaching: Now accepting applications, 2 spot opens. Learn More here: https://www.samanthapenkoff.com/privatecoaching

Connect with Sam on IG: https://www.instagram.com/samantha.s.says

DM Sam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachSamanthaHawley/