Sometimes the exact thing you want - more leadership, more impact, a bigger decision, a new season - can make you feel anxious, exhausted, frozen, or unusually triggered.

That doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It often means you’re in identity lag and your nervous system is activated.

In this episode, I break down why growth can feel heavy even when you’re ready, how to tell the difference between intuition and stress responses, and what to do so you can keep moving without self-betrayal.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “I feel scared, so it’s not aligned” is often a misread

• What identity lag is (and why it can make you tired)

• The difference between fear, avoidance, and a stress response

• Why strategy works when identity is stable (and backfires when it’s not)

• The 3 supports that create real identity integration:

  1. regulation

  2. mirroring

  3. spacious, embodied decisions

If growth is making you tired, edgy, emotional, or frozen—nothing is wrong with you. Your body is prioritizing safety during change. And with the right support, you can stabilize into who you’re becoming.

Work with me (in the right size of support)

Intuitive Leader Retreat (March 3–5, 2026 | Lincoln City, Oregon)
A small, embodied container for nervous system regulation, identity integration, and real-time mirroring.
➡️ https://www.brendawinkle.com/retreat2026 

The Elixir ($77 on-demand)
14 short, powerful tools (3–6 minutes each) for real-time emotional + nervous system regulation.
➡️ https://www.brendawinkle.com/elixir 

Ongoing community: The Spiritual CEO membership
Weekly support to lead your life + business with steadiness, ethics, and connection.
➡️ https://www.skool.com/thespiritualceo/about 

Free: Download the Energy Audit
➡️ https://www.brendawinkle.com/audit 

Keywords: nervous system regulation, identity shift, identity lag, somatic coaching, emotional regulation, freeze response, overthinking, people pleasing, intuitive leadership, spiritual entrepreneur, embodied decision making