@Cindy Callander This is such an important catch. The "fine-ish" loop is one of the hardest to spot because it doesn't look like a problem from the outside. You're productive. You're functional. You're getting things done. But inside? You're exhausted. Because you've turned your entire life into a performance... even rest. Here's what's really happening: When everything becomes a checkbox (including relaxation), you're not actually being. You're just doing. And that constant state of rushing, even when there's nothing to rush toward? That's your nervous system stuck in overdrive. It's been running on urgency for so long that calm feels unsafe. So even when you sit down to relax, your brain goes: "Okay, checked the box. What's next?" But here's the cost: You never actually land. You never feel satisfied. You never let yourself just be without needing to prove productivity or check something off. And that's exhausting. Here's what I want you to practice: You said you'll interrupt the thought with a cup of tea. That's a good start. But here's the deeper work: when you sit down with that tea, can you just drink it? Without multitasking? Without planning the next thing? Can you let the tea be the only thing you're doing for 5 minutes? Because that's the practice. Not adding more tasks to manage your stress. But learning to actually stop without feeling like you're wasting time. Ask yourself: What am I afraid will happen if I slow down and don't rush toward the next thing? What belief is driving this need to constantly prove I'm being productive? That's the rewiring work.

@Karen Corlis This right here? This is the difference. You had a weekend spiral. One bad decision with sleep triggered the loop, and everything felt like it fell apart. But here's what's different this time: You didn't disappear. You didn't restart Monday. You didn't say "I'll try again next month." You came back. You did Day 6 (even though it was late). You completed Day 7. You flipped the script. That's not the old identity. That's recovery speed. <--- THIS IS SO IMPORTANT And that recovery speed is the actual skill we're building here—not perfection, not a streak of "good days," but the ability to get back in motion even when you stumble. Now let's talk about your flip: "I am a woman who walks in confidence, not because of my size, but because I am building a stronger future." This is powerful. Because you just separated your worth from your body. You made confidence about who you're becoming, not what you look like. That's the identity shift. That's the rewiring. Here's what I want you to see: That weekend spiral? It gave you data. It showed you exactly what happens when sleep gets deprioritized --> it doesn't just affect your energy, it affects your entire loop. So now you know: sleep isn't optional. It's foundational. When you protect your sleep, you protect your ability to show up like her. You said it yourself: "Even with the setback, doing this work is helping build a stronger tomorrow." Exactly. Because the setback didn't derail you. It deepened your awareness.

Hey Kim, I’ve carried this over to the group so Erik could teach and share his answer with everyone❤️

Here is Erik's reply (tried to tag you there in the group)

@Patti Mroczek You nailed it! Naming it as a seasonal loop is huge. That pattern of urgency → escape → guilt is one of the oldest for high achievers. The difference now is you’re catching it in real time and choosing the harder, better rep. That’s how the loop finally breaks.

@Patti Mroczek you can do it!

@Patti Mroczek thank you for reminding everyone. I will pin the thread

@Krista Jacobson-Smith Love this approach. Curiosity over criticism is the real upgrade. You’re leading with awareness instead of judgment, and that’s exactly how regulation replaces reaction.

@Jenn Waronek got you added.

@Jenn Waronek yes. You had hard close and it should show up on your calendar.