Chasing Brighter Podcast: Choosing Real Over Perfect

The Friendships That Found You
Chasing Brighter | Season 6: Becoming, Not Arriving
Some of the most important people in your life never came from a plan. They came from a park bench, a softball tryout, a Friday coffee table, or the spot next to you in a gym class. This month, Jessica and Kelly are talking about relationships that grow with us, and they're starting with the friendships that found us when we weren't even looking.
In this episode, Jessica and Kelly explore the psychology of "incidental closeness": how repeated, low-stakes contact builds trust without any performance pressure. They talk about why seeing people tired, distracted, and unpolished can build more accurate trust than a carefully planned girls' night, why some shared spaces spark friendship while others never do, and how hard life seasons can speed up closeness. Plus, Kelly owns up to a "real over perfect" moment about the friends she once judged from the sidelines, and Jessica shares why specific gratitude does more for a relationship than general appreciation.
In This Episode
(00:07) A five-year friendship that started with a text at a softball tryout
(00:56) Kelly's "OG mom friends" and the power of proximity and timing
(02:21) The psychology of incidental closeness and why low-stakes contact builds real trust
(03:19) Why the same setting can create friendships one year and none the next
(04:29) Guarded on the sports sidelines, and why the gym is a great place to connect
(05:21) "Where's your friend?" What happens when the regulars notice you're missing
(06:35) Proximity, timing, and frequency: 15 years of Friday coffee
(07:55) How high-stress seasons deepen friendships faster
(09:33) Identity, obligation, and showing up for yourself versus for your kids
(10:09) College friends, playground friends, and friends who see you at your least polished
(11:25) Vulnerability as a trust accelerant
(11:56) The power of specific gratitude: naming the what and the why
(14:40) Real Over Perfect: the friends we almost didn't make
(16:11) This week's Brighter Move
(17:04) The Friendship Audit, October's freebie
Key Takeaways
You don't have to work hard to build every friendship. Showing up again and again in the same place lets trust build naturally, because you're trusting how someone behaves when the stakes are low, not just what they say.
Being open matters as much as being present. The same setting can lead to lifelong friends or no connection at all, depending on your mindset and whether you're there for yourself or out of obligation.
Hard seasons bond people quickly. Vulnerability speeds up trust, which is why "real over perfect" friendships tend to last.
Specific gratitude beats vague appreciation. Telling a friend exactly what they did and why it mattered signals that they were truly seen.
This Week's Brighter Move
Send a specific, detailed thank-you message to a friend who found you unexpectedly (or who you found unexpectedly). Name exactly what they did and what they mean to you. Bonus move from Kelly: if there's a friend you weren't sure about at first, tell them what you originally thought and have a good laugh about it together.
October Freebie: The Friendship Audit
Sort your friendships into thriving, resting, or complete, and be honest without being brutal. Get the Friendship Audit free when you sign up for the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com.
unexpected friendships, adult friendships, how to make friends as an adult, mom friends, incidental closeness, proximity and friendship, friendship psychology, building trust, vulnerability in friendships, specific gratitude, gratitude practice, friendship audit, real over perfect, women's friendships, friendships in midlife, making friends at the gym, sports parent friendships, college friends, life seasons, connection, personal development, Chasing Brighter podcast, Becoming Not Arriving, Jessica Colarco, Kelly
Connect With Us
Website: chasingbrighter.com
Instagram: @chasingbrighter
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Facebook: @chasingbrighter
YouTube: @chasingbrighter
Newsletter signup: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter
 

Superwoman Diaries #4: Car Loop Chaos & the Case for Just Being a Good Human
It's 99 degrees, school is back in session, and the drop-off line has become a test of character. In this Superwoman Diaries episode, Jessica and Kelly vent about morning traffic, dog walkers who don't know the school schedule, and the car loop parents who turn a two-second drop-off into a full farewell ceremony. What starts as a rant turns into a real conversation about what we owe each other: American individualism versus community, what Lois Lowry's The Giver shows about rule-following societies, and whether kindness needs a religious label at all. Jessica and Kelly land on something simple: be a good human, for whatever reason works for you. Then they get honest about how hard that is when you're running late and someone cuts you off.
In This Episode
(00:05) Fall is coming, but first, a 99-degree morning and a school run blocked by walkers, bikers, and dog owners
(01:50) The $750 school bus fine and how having kids changes how you see school zones
(03:07) Car loop etiquette: unclip, backpack in lap, tuck and roll
(04:31) Kelly on being considerate as a member of your community
(05:19) Americans and individualism, plus reading The Giver with Giovanni
(07:37) Kindness, faith, and whether "treat your neighbor as yourself" belongs to any one religion
(11:37) Greek mythology, parables, and the stories that shape our moral code
(13:17) Staying kind in traffic, road rage, and choosing compassion over "have the day you deserve"
(15:18) Kelly's new habit of shopping close to home because her time matters (more on this next Superwoman Diaries)
(16:11) Nobody's perfect, and this month's freebie
Key Takeaways
Being considerate is a shared responsibility. If you know you'll need extra time, whether in the drop-off line or on a busy road, plan for it so you don't slow everyone else down.
You don't need a specific faith to live by a moral code. Many traditions teach the same basic idea: be kind and look out for other people.
When someone's behavior sets you off, try telling yourself a more compassionate story about what might be happening in their life.
Nobody gets this right all the time. Jessica and Kelly are still working on it too.
Resources Mentioned
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Brené Brown's books
Tara Brach's podcast
This Month's Freebie: The One Thing
September's free download is The One Thing. Sign up for the Chasing Brighter newsletter to get it: https://chasingbrighter.com/newsletter/
Keywords & Search Terms
Superwoman Diaries, Chasing Brighter podcast, school drop-off, car loop, carpool line, back to school, school zone traffic, moms podcast, sister podcast, being considerate, community, kindness, be a good human, individualism, The Giver, Lois Lowry, reading with kids, faith and morality, morals without religion, Greek mythology, Prometheus, The Four Agreements, Brené Brown, Tara Brach, road rage, compassion, traffic, Las Vegas traffic, shopping local, valuing your time, nobody's perfect, Becoming Not Arriving, real over perfect, women's podcast, personal development
Connect With Us
Website: chasingbrighter.com
Instagram: @chasingbrighter
TikTok: @chasingbrighter
Facebook: @chasingbrighter
YouTube: @chasingbrighter
Newsletter: Sign up here
A few things to check before you publish:
I numbered this episode #4 based on the file name. Change it if your episode numbering is different.
The transcript says "Tara Brock." I'm assuming you meant Tara Brach.
I named Giovanni in the timestamps because you said his name on air. If you'd rather keep the kids' names out of the notes, change it to "reading The Giver with her son."

Let's Get Honest: What We've Been Waiting to BeginChasing Brighter | Season 6: Becoming, Not Arriving | September 24
All September long, we've been talking about beginnings: self-sabotage, the stories we tell ourselves, and the "not yet" that keeps us stuck. To close out the month, Jessica and Kelly get honest in a free-flowing conversation. Instead of focusing on what they haven't done, they share what they're actually doing to begin, messy parts included.
Jessica opens up about wanting to hire a stylist as her body has changed in her 40s and through her 47-pound weight loss journey. She names the fears that kept her stuck (What will it cost? Will they judge my closet? Will they make me buy more?) and shares the small step she took instead: using AI as a collaborative style assistant to build weekly outfit inspiration from the clothes she already owns. Kelly talks about her perfectionism around creating social media content, the videos she films but never posts, and how she's using simple coaching steps to start showing up anyway.
The sisters also get real about AI itself: its limits, its "glazing," why encouragement still matters, and why it's a tool and an assistant, not a replacement for human connection, friendship, or mental health support.
In this episode, we talk about:
A simple three-step template for beginning: name what you want, name your fear, and choose one small step
Why the hardest part is often not knowing what you're waiting for in the first place
Waiting for perfect conditions, credentials, or expertise before giving yourself permission to start
Jessica's journey toward a capsule wardrobe and feeling good in the clothes she already has
Kelly's perfectionism around posting content, and taking baby steps to put herself out there
Using AI as a collaborator and assistant, including its funny flaws and real limitations
Why human connection, community, and real relationships still come first
Other ways to find your first step: talking to a friend, asking someone who's doing what you want to do, podcasts, YouTube, and books
Why small matters, messy counts, and beginning requires you to be real, not brave
Episode Highlights:
00:11 Closing out September by getting honest about what we're doing
01:54 Flipping the script: talking about what we are doing
03:01 Jessica names her goal (hiring a stylist) and the fears behind it
04:32 Kelly on using AI as a guided conversation, not a set of orders
06:41 The template: name what you want, name your fear, choose a small step
07:22 Kelly's perfectionism around social media content
10:16 Maintaining our humanity while using AI as a tool
12:29 Figuring out what you're actually waiting for
13:05 Closing September: start where you are, not where you think you need to be
Free Resource: The One Thing Starter WorksheetIf you've been sitting with your own "not yet" all month, this short, simple worksheet will help you name what you want, name the fear, and take your next small step. Download the One Thing Starter Worksheet or get it by signing up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com.
Coming in October: Relationships. Trust us, it's worth showing up for.
self-sabotage, how to start something new, fear of starting, perfectionism, real over perfect, waiting for the right time, overcoming procrastination, small steps, bite-sized goals, women's personal development, midlife women, body changes in your 40s, weight loss journey, capsule wardrobe, personal stylist, AI style assistant, using ChatGPT for fashion, AI for personal growth, social media anxiety, content creation fear, fear of judgment, becoming not arriving, sisters podcast, Chasing Brighter podcast, self-growth podcast for women
Connect With Us
Website: chasingbrighter.com
Instagram: @chasingbrighter
TikTok: @chasingbrighter
Facebook: @chasingbrighter
YouTube: @chasingbrighter
Newsletter: Sign up here
Until next time, keep chasing brighter. 💚

Back to school looks nothing like it did when we were kids. Jessica and Kelly compare the back-to-school shopping of their childhoods (the planned outfits, the double socks, the once-a-year wardrobe refresh) with what it looks like now: uniforms, reused backpacks, digital textbooks, and teenagers who carry their entire lives around because nobody uses lockers.
Then the conversation gets real. They talk about the mental load of the school year, why middle school is such a big transition, how much of it is really the "noise" around the coursework, and what it means to let your kids figure things out without tying their achievements to your worthiness. If you're a parent trying to be more chill than your instincts allow, this one's for you.
In This Episode
Back-to-school shopping memories from the '90s, and how different it feels today
Why kids' wardrobes, and parents' spending, have changed
Reusing supplies instead of replacing everything: Kelly shares reporting that 28% of parents plan to reuse last year's items
The financial strain of back-to-school season
Why backpacks are the size of a body when lockers go unused
The textbook maze: ebooks, physical books, and being "analog learners"
Supply lists that never get used (and the supplies kids won't let you remove)
Raising kids who follow the rules when you're the "efficiency over rules" type
Trying to be "chill" about grades, and where that gets hard
Why middle school is a lot: new teachers, hormones, and executive function expectations
Planners, calendars, and communication: what helps kids stay on top of assignments
Transparency vs. "tricking" students: why knowing what's coming isn't cheating
Seeing the teacher's side while still advocating from the parent side
Letting go of micromanaging school and keeping the relationship at the center
Timestamps (approximate)
00:05 – Welcome and why back to school feels so different now
00:24 – Back-to-school shopping memories: the outfits, the socks, the stirrup pants
02:30 – Today's version: uniforms, one pair of shoes, and teens with opinions on fashion
05:00 – Why is it different? Cost, quality, and where clothes come from
05:39 – Reusing supplies and the financial strain of the season
06:40 – Backpacks, binders, and the no-lockers reality
07:57 – Textbooks, ebooks, and analog learners
10:26 – The supply inventory: "Are you using this?"
12:03 – Rule followers, blending in, and efficiency over rules
13:00 – The grind of the school year and trying to be chill about grades
15:20 – Letting kids navigate it themselves: achievement isn't worthiness
17:40 – The middle school transition and the "noise" around coursework
19:04 – Planners, teacher communication, and executive function
20:23 – Syllabi, transparency, and the "real world"
22:36 – The teacher's perspective and staying curious
23:40 – Letting go of micromanaging, plus what's next
Reflection Questions
What did back to school mean to you as a kid, and how does that shape the way you approach it as an adult?
Where are you doing something out of habit that isn't actually serving you or your family?
What would it look like to give the people you love space to figure something out, even when you can see the bumps coming?
How do you separate someone else's achievements from your own sense of worth?
Freebie of the Month
Grab this month's The One Thing worksheet by signing up for the newsletter at chasingbrighter.com.
Join the Conversation
How are you doing with back to school? Send us a DM on Instagram at @chasingbrighter and tell us what's working, what isn't, and where you're trying to let go.
Keywords & Search Terms
back to school, back to school stress, back to school shopping, back to school then vs now, parenting middle schoolers, sixth grade transition, middle school parenting, executive function in kids, letting go as a parent, micromanaging school, parenting teens, parenting tweens, mom life, mental load, working moms, sisters podcast, women's podcast, lockers, backpacks, school supplies, reusing school supplies, back to school budget, ebooks vs textbooks, teacher communication, planners and organization, grades and worthiness, achievement and worthiness, raising independent kids, intrinsic motivation, rule followers, 90s nostalgia, Superwoman Diaries, Chasing Brighter, Becoming Not Arriving, personal development for women, self-care, lively living, connection
Connect With Us
Website: chasingbrighter.com
Instagram: @chasingbrighter
TikTok: @chasingbrighter
Facebook: @chasingbrighter
YouTube: @chasingbrighter
Newsletter signup: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter

Do you have high standards, or are you sabotaging yourself and calling it perfectionism? This week Jessica and Kelly dig into the sneaky ways perfectionism disguises itself as a virtue — and why it can be one of the most sophisticated ways we keep ourselves safe. They unpack the real clinical difference between standards that move you forward and self-sabotage that quietly keeps you stuck, share personal examples (hello, unposted Instagram drafts), and offer a few honest questions to help you tell which one you're actually dealing with.
In This Episode
Why "having high standards" can be a more socially acceptable cover story for perfectionism
The clinical distinction that matters most: high standards move you toward something, while self-sabotage keeps you from it — even though they can look identical on the surface
How Carol Dweck's research on praise, mindset, and risk-aversion shows up in adult perfectionism
Socially prescribed perfectionism — when the standard feels like it's coming from outside you — and why it's the version that does the most damage
Two questions to ask yourself when you're not sure which one you're facing:
Is the bar specific, or does it keep moving? Genuine standards have a finish line; perfectionism doesn't, because the point is never completion.
Does "not good enough yet" protect you from a specific fear? If the fear is about being seen, judged, or found out, it's a vulnerability problem — not a quality problem.
Why naming the fear ("name it to tame it") shrinks it, and how avoidance makes it bigger than it actually is
A reminder that this isn't about perfectionism being bad — caring about how things turn out isn't the problem; it's about getting curious about what the pattern is protecting you from
Brighter Moves
Kelly's move: Name one thing you've been refining past the point of readiness. Ask yourself honestly — is this next round of changes making it better, or are you just not ready to let it be seen? You don't have to change anything yet. Just notice.
Jessica's move: Sit with this question this week — what would I finish or share if I knew that scared and good enough could coexist? Because they can. You don't need to feel calm to be ready.
This Month's Freebie
The One Thing Starter worksheet — a simple, no-pressure tool to help you name the one thing you've been putting off and take the one small step toward it. Grab it when you sign up for our newsletter at chasingbrighter.com.
Coming Up Next Week
No framework, no teaching — Jessica and Kelly sit down and get honest about what they've each personally been putting off, including the things they haven't said out loud yet.
Connect With Us
Website: chasingbrighter.com Instagram: @chasingbrighter TikTok: @chasingbrighter Facebook: @chasingbrighter YouTube: @chasingbrighter Newsletter: Sign up here
 
perfectionism, self-sabotage, high standards vs perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, Carol Dweck mindset, fixed mindset vs growth mindset, fear of judgment, imposter syndrome, procrastination, avoidance, anxiety, name it to tame it, vulnerability, self-worth, achievement and worthiness, women and confidence, social media perfectionism, fear of being seen, personal growth, mental health podcast, Chasing Brighter, Real Over Perfect, sisters podcast

Jessica and Kelly dig into the viral "2026 is the new 2016" trend — the exercise of looking back a decade and asking who you were then, what you miss, and what you don't. The conversation quickly turns into a heart-to-heart about parenting through transitions: Kelly reflecting on missing her kids' toddler years, and Jessica processing the very fresh experience of dropping her oldest daughter, Gabby, off at college. They talk through the emotional whiplash of watching a child thrive without you, the mental load that shifts (and doesn't) once a kid leaves home, and how far "away at school" really feels in 2026 versus a generation ago.
What We Talk About
The "2016 vs. now" trend and why picturing a specific year is so hard to do without anchoring on your kids' ages
Kelly's mixed feelings about missing her kids' younger years while not missing the exhaustion that came with them
Jessica's take on grief as a recurring, transition-by-transition experience — not a one-time event
Why going all-in on college visits, extended orientation, and getting to know the campus made the drop-off easier
The behind-the-scenes of choosing the right-fit school, and how a five-day orientation builds fast bonding and retention
How support systems (mentors, upperclassmen "hosts," roommates) ease the transition for freshmen
The temptation to monitor kids via apps like Life360 — and choosing not to
How the household mental load shifts when a "squeaky wheel" kid leaves versus a low-maintenance one
Meal plans, Venmo cards, and DoorDash culture — how Gen Z's relationship with food and money differs from their parents' childhoods
Why immersive campus culture (walkable, self-contained "mini worlds") shapes the college experience differently than it did a generation ago
Reflection Questions
What year would you pick if someone asked you "when do you wish you could go back to"? What does that answer say about what you actually miss?
Is there a transition in your life right now that you're grieving even as you're also excited about it?
Where are you holding onto more control (checking in, monitoring, managing) than you actually need to?
Connect With Us
🌐 Website: chasingbrighter.com
📸 Instagram: @chasingbrighter
🎵 TikTok: @chasingbrighter
📘 Facebook: @chasingbrighter
▶️ YouTube: @chasingbrighter
💌 Get our free monthly resource — sign up for the newsletter: chasingbrighter.com/newsletter
2026 is the new 2016, sending kids to college, empty nest, college drop off, parenting transitions, letting go of your kids, college orientation, freshman year college, mental load parenting, Gen Z college life, meal plan college, Life360 parenting, empty nest grief, college move in day, sisters podcast, midlife motherhood, parenting older kids, college readiness, letting your teenager grow up, nostalgia trend, women's mental health podcast

Last week we talked about "I'm not ready yet" as fear dressed up as logic. This week, Jessica and Kelly pull on that thread further to unpack the credential trap — the pattern of adding one more certification, one more year of experience, one more thing to point to before you'll let yourself begin. It looks like ambition and diligence from the outside, but underneath it is often a single question: do I have the right to be here?
Kelly shares her own story of pursuing (and ultimately not needing) her MBA and her PMP certification, and Jessica opens up about the moments in 21 years of clinical practice where she's felt the pull toward "just one more" credential — including EMDR certification — even when she knew it wasn't what she actually needed. Together they explore the real difference between preparation and permission-seeking, why this pattern is so deeply tied to how women are socialized, and why the research shows this isn't always "just" imposter syndrome — for many women, and especially women of color, the extra proof they're gathering is a rational response to systems that really do demand more of them.
What We Cover
The credential trap as its own specific pattern — distinct from procrastination
Kelly's story with her MBA, the GMAT, and working alongside colleagues with and without advanced degrees
Kelly's PMP certification journey and what she learned about not needing the piece of paper
Reshma Saujani's framing: girls are taught to be perfect, boys are taught to be brave
A KPMG finding that 75% of female executives report experiencing imposter syndrome, often coping by adding more credentials
Jessica on 21 years in clinical practice, the pull toward EMDR certification, and choosing brainspotting instead
The real test: is this new knowledge you don't have, or is it a delay? And who are you imagining will finally give you permission?
A Harvard Business Review perspective pushing back on "just fix your imposter syndrome" — for many women, especially women of color, the extra preparation is a rational response to real bias, not just a mindset issue
Preparation vs. permission-seeking: preparation moves you toward something; permission-seeking keeps you at a safe distance
Brighter Moves
Jessica: Instead of asking "Am I qualified enough?" ask "Am I curious enough? Am I committed enough? Do I care about this enough?" Qualifications get you in the room — commitment keeps you there.
Kelly: Audit one thing you're waiting to finish before you start something else. Ask honestly: is this genuinely necessary, or is it a sophisticated way to stay safe? You don't have to act on the answer — just answer it.
This Week's Freebie
📥 [Grab your free download here] — The One Thing Starter Worksheet: a simple, no-pressure tool to help you name the one thing you've been putting off and take one small step toward it.
Coming Up Next Week
Jessica and Kelly tackle perfectionism — but not in the way you'd expect. Most women who struggle with it don't identify as perfectionists; they identify as someone with "high standards." That reframe is the trap.
Connect With Us
🌐 Website: chasingbrighter.com
📸 Instagram: @chasingbrighter
🎵 TikTok: @chasingbrighter
👍 Facebook: @chasingbrighter
▶️ YouTube: @chasingbrighter
📩 Newsletter signup
credential trap, imposter syndrome, women and imposter syndrome, permission seeking vs preparation, overqualification, professional confidence, women in leadership, KPMG imposter syndrome study, Reshma Saujani, Harvard Business Review imposter syndrome, women of color and bias, MBA, PMP certification, EMDR certification, brainspotting, credentialism, self-doubt at work, career confidence, chasing brighter podcast, feeling qualified, waiting to start, fear of not being enough, workplace bias, systemic bias, procrastination and fear, one thing starter worksheet

In this week's Superwoman Diaries, Jessica shares how she's been using ChatGPT as an unexpected style consultant on her weight loss journey. What started as a simple question — "how do I dress this changing body?" — turned into a full-blown "Jessica Style Playbook," complete with a closet audit, body-shape analysis, and outfit ratings. Kelly and Jessica dig into why understanding why something works on your body (not just that it does) is so much more useful than generic style rules, and how tools like this can replace — or at least prep you for — a stylist consultation.
What We Talk About
Jessica's "love affair" with using ChatGPT to analyze her body type, closet, and outfit photos
Building a personalized "Jessica Style Playbook": color schemes, silhouettes, and a closet audit
Discovering her body shape ("soft apple" with athletic shoulders) and what that means for fit
Why a higher neckline, higher waistband, and structured double-fabric tops work better for her frame
Getting outfit ratings and specific feedback (down to the neckline) from AI
Comparing the AI experience to in-person stylists at Aritzia and Evereve
How sizing inconsistency between brands complicates in-store shopping
Kelly's take on Evereve's Trendsend box service and why in-store pickup gets you more options
How bodies and style needs shift as we age — more structure, higher waistlines, more intentional fit
Jessica's new favorite: a double-fabric Lululemon workout top she can't stop buying in every color
Why feeling good in your clothes is directly tied to confidence
Mentioned in This Episode
ChatGPT — the AI tool Jessica used to build her style playbook
Lululemon — for the double-fabric workout top Jessica is now obsessed with
Aritzia — clothing store Jessica visited for a button-down shirt
Evereve — stylist-supported clothing store, including their Trendsend box service
This Month's Freebie
The One Thing Starter Worksheet — a simple, no-pressure tool to help you name the one thing you've been putting off and take one step toward it.
Get it, plus more free resources and the blog, at chasingbrighter.com.
ChatGPT styling, AI personal stylist, weight loss journey, body confidence, dressing for your body type, soft apple body shape, capsule wardrobe, closet audit, wardrobe playbook, athletic shoulders, high waistband, structured tops, aging and style, Lululemon workout tops, Aritzia review, Evereve Trendsend, stylist vs AI, outfit confidence, sisters podcast, midlife style, Chasing Brighter

In this episode, they unpack why "I'm not ready yet" sounds responsible but is usually just fear in disguise, why readiness is a decision instead of a feeling, and how the question "Am I ready?" is a lot less useful than "Am I willing?" Jessica shares how she's built almost everything in her life — from her private practice to both podcasts — by starting before she felt ready, and Kelly gets honest about the goals she's been quietly putting off.
What We Cover
The difference between fear and being unready — and why we so often confuse the two
Why perfectionism convinces us that "exactly right" and "not at all" are the only two options
The idea that starters, even imperfect ones, tend to outpace people who wait to feel ready
Why "I'm not ready" can be less about capability and more about belonging or perfectionism
Reframing the question from "Am I ready?" to "Am I willing?"
The myth of the perfect starting point, and why the conditions we're waiting for rarely arrive on their own
Brighter Moves
Kelly's move: Write down one thing you've been saying "not yet" to. You don't need to fix it or plan it — just name it.
Jessica's move: Ask yourself, "What would I do this week if I knew being scared was allowed?" Not comfortable, not certain — just allowed.
Free Download of the Month: Just One Thing
This month's freebie is the Just One Thing starter worksheet — a simple, no-pressure tool to help you name one thing you've been putting off and take one real step toward it.
 
📥 [Grab your free download here] Connect With Us
🌐 Website: chasingbrighter.com
📸 Instagram: @chasingbrighter
🎵 TikTok: @chasingbrighter
👍 Facebook: @chasingbrighter
▶️ YouTube: @chasingbrighter
📩 Newsletter signup
Coming Up Next Week
Why do we keep adding credentials, experience, and proof before we let ourselves begin? Why does no amount of qualifying ever feel like enough — and who set that bar in the first place? Join us next week as we dig in.
becoming not arriving, season 6, starting before you're ready, fear vs readiness, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, self-sabotage, women and perfectionism, personal growth, starting a business, overthinking, procrastination, willingness vs readiness, Just One Thing worksheet, Chasing Brighter podcast
 

Last season, we dug into the gap between who women think they're supposed to be and who they actually are — the expectations, the perfectionism, the invisible rules about what a "good life" looks like. But figuring out who you are was never the finish line.
Season 6 picks up where that left off: the messy middle. What happens when you know who you are and have to actually start living that way? This season, Jessica and Kelly explore starting before you feel ready, letting friendships change without needing a villain, saying no without over-explaining yourself, and changing even when the people around you liked the old version of you better.
Because maybe the goal was never arriving. Maybe it's becoming — and that's a life that's actually yours.
Season 6 of Chasing Brighter premieres September 3rd. Come become with us.
🌐 Website: chasingbrighter.com📷 Instagram: @chasingbrighter▶️ YouTube: @chasingbrighter📘 Facebook: @chasingbrighter🎵 TikTok: @chasingbrighter
 
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