It’s an early morning, and the streets of Salem, Oregon, are alive with possibility. You’ve been thinking about making a change for a while now. Maybe you’ve tried going it alone, cycling through workout apps or running programs, only to feel stuck or unsure if you're doing it right. You’re not alone.

When you feel the urge to stop, it’s essential to pause and ask yourself: Is this because I’m truly exhausted, or am I just uncomfortable with the challenge? The answer isn’t always obvious. In the same way that a money changer becomes adept at spotting counterfeit coins, we too must train ourselves to recognize the subtle differences between feelings—the desire to quit versus the need to rest. This isn’t something we’re born knowing; it’s a skill we develop through experience

Time after time I have been caught off guard by a client that is making tons of progress, I am witnessing it, and they’re telling me they are frustrated by the progress they aren’t seeing. Mind-blowing.

However, over time I have understood better- we are looking at very different pieces of the puzzle.

As a coach, I am looking for a pattern of compounding behaviors and markers of sustainable growth. As a client they are looking at a specific measurement, sometimes a subjective one, sometimes an objective one.

Here’s the problem: Success (or failure) is a lagging indicator.

As the calendar flips to a new year, it’s natural to reflect on goals, past achievements, and the challenges we’ve faced. For many, this process stirs up a mix of excitement and apprehension, especially if previous efforts to improve fitness, health, or overall well-being didn’t go as planned. But what if part of the secret to better outcomes lies not just in what you do, but in how you think?