Let’s Go Again!
Overwhelm, in motion.
Growing up, I had this recurring dream. I was stuck between an endless cement wall and the ocean. A monstrous, midnight-blue wave loomed over me. Cold. Massive. Unsurvivable. Fifty stories high. Crashing toward me. But right before it swallowed me whole, I’d jolt awake, drenched in sweat, heart pounding, relieved it was just a dream.
Looking back, I think it started after a very questionable father-daughter bonding experience. My dad—always up for an adventure—dragged me onto a raft in the ocean waves of Malibu. Not even five minutes in, a massive wave flipped us over, sent me tumbling underwater, and had me gulping about six gallons of saltwater with a side of sand. I finally washed up on shore, gasping.
My dad? Grinning ear to ear. “Let’s go again!”
Not exactly the thrill I’d signed up for.
I hadn’t had that dream in decades. Then, a few weeks ago, it came back. Same cement wall. Same looming tidal wave.
And honestly? It made sense.
I was facing more pressure than I had in years—huge deadlines, major projects that could shape my future, and my inner critic was working overtime, flooding my brain with doubt and doom. I kept pushing through—because that’s what we do, right? Keep grinding. Hustle harder. Just get it done.
Except… it wasn’t working.
The harder I pushed, the more tangled my brain got. I was missing something, but I couldn’t see what. Then, in a coaching session, my coach asked me one simple question that changed everything:
“What would be possible if you laid your core values on top of this overwhelm?”
And just like that, boom. Perspective shift. I grabbed my headphones, put on some music, and let my brain breathe. And wouldn’t you know it—the song that popped up first? A favorite. Mick Jagger’s unmistakable voice cut through the chaos:
“You can’t always get what you want… but if you try sometimes, you just might find… you get what you need.”
The timing was almost eerie. That song has played a million times before, but in that moment, it was the reminder I desperately needed.
(P.S. If you haven’t heard it in a while, here’s an awesome live version of this classic.)
The Power of a Good Question
Until that moment, I hadn’t realized I was fighting against myself. I was drowning in stress because I had abandoned the very things that fuel me—creativity, passion, and connection.
I wasn’t thinking—I was ticking boxes. I wasn’t connecting—I was just pushing. I wasn’t working with my strengths—I was forcing myself into a system that wasn’t built for me.
That’s the thing about overwhelm: when we’re stuck in it, we don’t need more advice. We need clarity. We need the right questions.
That one question flipped my perspective in a way that no piece of advice ever could. And it reminded me—this is exactly why I love coaching.
The 5 Coaching Questions That Change Everything
The best leaders (and problem-solvers) aren’t the ones with all the answers. They’re the ones who ask the right questions. Here are five of my favorites—ones that help cut through the noise, shift conversations, and bring real clarity:
1️⃣ What’s getting in your way?
2️⃣ What outcome would make the biggest difference for you?
3️⃣ What options have you considered so far?
4️⃣ What support do you need to move forward?
5️⃣ What’s your next step?
These aren’t just nice questions. They’re clarity generators. They take people from spinning in circles to seeing exactly where to go next. I put together a free guide that breaks them down—how to use them, why they work, and simple ways to reframe them in real conversations.
Because leadership (and life) isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about knowing what to ask.
If you want to go even deeper—if you’re ready to lead with clarity, confidence, and momentum—let’s talk. No pressure, no sales pitch—just a conversation to see what’s possible.
Your Turn
What’s one question that’s changed your perspective? Drop it in the comments or message me — I’d love to hear it.
