Episode 159: Why I’m Changing My Business (When Nothing Was Broken)

Following the Pull Toward More Aliveness, Creativity, and Impact

A Question I Couldn’t Shake

It started with a simple but uncomfortable question:

Why am I changing something that’s working?

On paper, everything looked good.
A solid therapy practice. Meaningful client work. Flexibility. Stability.

No crisis. No burnout spiral. No dramatic breaking point.

And yet… something in me kept tugging.

Not loudly. Not urgently.
But persistently.

Like a quiet voice sitting in the corner of the room saying:
“Not like this. There’s more you can do here.”

When “Good” Isn’t the Same as “Aligned”

If you’ve ever stayed in something because it was good enough or “fine”… you may relate.

I spent years training and working as a clinical health psychologist. I genuinely loved so much of that work. And even now, I still love many parts of therapy.

But over time, something became clearer:

👉 I wasn’t able to use my full range of gifts
👉 I felt constrained by the container of therapy
👉 I kept thinking… if I could design this from scratch, it would look different

Not because therapy is bad.
But because it wasn’t the whole picture of what I’m here to do.

The Moment That Shifted Everything (the First Time)

This isn’t my first pivot.

Years ago, I left my hospital role after realizing I was spending more and more time doing work that drained me (bariatric evaluations) and less of what energized me.

Nothing was “wrong”… until suddenly it was.

And that’s often how change works:

We tolerate
We rationalize
We adjust

…until something finally pushes us.

This time, though?

There’s no push.

Just a pull.

And that’s a different kind of courage.

Why I’m Moving Toward Coaching, Community, and Retreats

This shift isn’t about leaving something behind.

It’s about moving toward something I can’t ignore anymore.

1. I want to connect people, not just work with them individually

One of my biggest Zone of Genius gifts is bringing incredible humans together.

And in therapy?

That’s not really allowed.

But I’ve seen what happens when people are in the right room together:

✨ Insight deepens
✨ Courage grows
✨ Change accelerates

There’s a kind of magic in community that I can’t replicate one-on-one.

2. I want to create experiences, not just conversations

In therapy, we talk.

In my community and retreats, we:

write
move
create
reflect
experiment
witness each other

It’s not just insight.

It’s embodied change.

And honestly?

That’s where I see the most lasting transformation happen.

3. I want to work in a way that energizes me (not just serves others)

There’s this quiet belief many therapists carry:

“If I’m helping, I should be tired.”

But what if that’s not actually true?

What if the most sustainable, impactful work is mutually energizing?

The more I’ve leaned into creativity and Zone of Genius work, the more I’ve experienced:

✨ Sessions that light me up
✨ Ideas that flow naturally
✨ Work that gives back instead of just taking

That’s the kind of work I want to build around.

The Deeper Why (The One That Brings Tears)

When I really sit with it… this isn’t about business at all.

It’s about this:

I want to raise humans who feel deeply worthy.

Humans who:

trust themselves
feel agency in their lives
know they are held (not alone in everything)
can create, play, and express freely

And here’s the truth I can’t get around:

👉 I can’t teach that if I’m not living it.

This work… this pivot… this discomfort…

It’s me practicing that.

The Trap of “Waiting Until It Makes Sense”

One of the biggest things I see (and have lived):

We wait for clarity.

We wait for certainty.

We wait for the perfect plan.

But this kind of change?

It rarely makes logical sense at first.

It’s more like:

a nudge
a curiosity
a quiet “what if…”

And if we ignore it long enough?

It usually gets louder.

The Shift from Reactive → Proactive Living

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about this:

We are living in a world with constant uncertainty.

And when that happens, our nervous system wants to:

🛑 Pull back
🛑 Play it safe
🛑 Just “get through”

But staying in that mode long-term?

It keeps us stuck.

Thriving requires something different:

👉 Intentional choices
👉 Creative risk
👉 Investing in ourselves (time, energy, resources)

Not recklessly.

But on purpose.

If You’re Feeling the Pull Too…

Maybe your version isn’t a business pivot.

Maybe it’s:

a creative project
a new way of working
a different rhythm of life
a conversation you’ve been avoiding
a part of yourself you’ve been ignoring

Whatever it is…

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

But you do have to start listening.

The Truth Most People Skip

You can’t think your way into alignment.

You have to feel your way there.

That might look like:

moving your body for 3 minutes
putting on a song and letting yourself feel something
writing without editing
sitting in quiet and actually listening inward

Your next step?

It’s not in your head.

It’s in your body.

Want Support Exploring This?

If this episode is hitting something in you…

You don’t have to do it alone.

Inside my world, I support therapists, helpers, and creative humans in:

✨ Reconnecting with their Zone of Genius
✨ Building work that feels aligned and alive
✨ Moving beyond overthinking into action

You can explore current offerings here:
👉 https://drshawnhondorp.com/offers

Or just reach out (my direct email is info@support@drshawnhondorp.com) and tell me what’s been on your mind.

No pressure. Just a conversation.

A Closing Reflection

There’s a version of you that already knows.

Not the strategic one.
Not the analyzing one.

The quieter one.

The one that lights up when you imagine something different.

You don’t have to burn your life down to follow it.

But you do have to stop ignoring it.

🎁 A Gift for You

Uncover Your Zone of Genius
A free guide to help you identify the work and life that actually energizes you:

👉 https://pages.drshawnhondorp.com/zone

💌 Stay Connected

Join my Insider’s community for reflections, resources, and invitations to upcoming experiences:
👉 https://drshawnhondorp.com/contact/

Disclaimer

Disclaimer:
This blog and podcast are for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute medical or mental health advice and are not a substitute for professional consultation or treatment.