In this episode, Andrew and Catherine open up about what it really means to “not feel ready.” Whether it’s rollerblading again as an adult, starting a business, or making a major life change, the truth is: you may never feel fully ready—and that’s okay. This episode is here to help you take that first step anyway.

• Why waiting to feel ready might be holding you back
• How to reframe fear as a signal, not a stop sign
• Real client stories about starting before you felt “ready”
• What neuroscience says about creating a new version of yourself
• The difference between being avoidant and being aware
• Why coaching, accountability, and micro-moves create momentum

1. Do it badly: Anything worth doing well is worth doing horribly at first
2. Create space to be a beginner again
3. Focus on joy, not outcomes
4. Take the first step, not the full staircase (MLK Jr.)
5. Try new things without monetizing them
6. Ask: What could I do today that’s just for me?

• Book: Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza
• https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13562982-breaking-the-habit-of-being-yourself
• Quote Reference: Rumi – “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.”
• https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/106298-as-you-start-to-walk-on-the-way-the
• Quote Reference: Martin Luther King Jr. – “You don’t have to see the whole staircase…”
• https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/948-you-don-t-have-to-see-the-whole-staircase-just-take
• Audible Free Trial (for the books mentioned):
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NB86OYE?tag=5yy-20

Catherine – Getting book ideas from her vibrant Instagram community

Andrew – Watching the Winnipeg Jets win in overtime and feel alive again

Website → https://fiveyearyou.com

Instagram → https://instagram.com/fiveyearyou

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Hosts: Andrew Dewar & Catherine Collins

Feeling anxious about the world, your future, or just stuck in a funk? You’re not alone—and you’re not broken. In this heartening episode of Five Year You, Andrew and Catherine share how to reconnect with hope during uncertain times, using mindset shifts, body-based tools, and small acts of kindness that actually work.

Whether you’re struggling with job loss, burnout, or just the general heaviness of the news cycle, this episode offers realistic and uplifting ways to find hope—even when it feels out of reach.

• How to shift out of fear and panic into possibility
• The power of perspective: finding silver linings in everyday struggles
• What to do when your nervous system is overloaded
• How movement, music, and even Super Mario Bros. can rewire your mood
• Using gratitude and future-self journaling to build internal hope
• How being the hope for someone else can lift your own spirits
• Simple ways to interrupt negative thought patterns
• Why your coping skills matter more than ever

1. Change your input: Unfollow negative news and seek out uplifting content.
2. Move your body: Go for a walk, dance, or play Tetris (yes, really—it’s backed by neuroscience).
3. Future journal: Write a note from your future self, imagining life going right.
4. Give to others: Deliver a meal, send a note, or join a volunteer group like Lasagna Love.
5. Use a “feel better” checklist: Check sleep, hydration, food, sunlight, and laughter.
6. Play and laugh: Watch a silly show, listen to happy music, or revisit childhood joy.
7. Practice gratitude: Even old cars with broken locks can become part of your healing story.
8. Accept your feelings: Hope doesn’t mean you ignore what’s hard—it means you believe in what comes next.

• Lasagna Love Volunteer & Request a Meal

Hosts: Andrew Dewar & Catherine Collins

Let’s talk about the real side of healing—the hard, messy, emotional parts that no one puts in a quote card. In this heartfelt episode, Andrew opens up about his return to EMDR therapy, and both hosts explore what it actually feels like to face emotional growth head-on.

Whether you're just beginning your healing journey or you're knee-deep in the “garbage removal” phase, this episode will remind you that you're not alone—and it’s okay to feel all the feelings.

Book your coaching call here: https://fiveyearyou.com/call

👇 Scroll for tools, inspiration, and resources to support your journey.

• What EMDR therapy is and why it’s helpful
• Why healing feels worse before it feels better
• The “emotional garbage” metaphor and why it’s spot-on
• How to support someone going through a dark day
• Self-care vs. avoidance: knowing the difference
• Building your “coping skill fanny pack”
• How to recognize your healing patterns over time
• Why we need to normalize therapy and mental health check-ins

🧠 What Is EMDR Therapy? - EMDR Institute

📱 Opal App – Mindful Screen Time

🎧 Try Audible Free – Process & Reflect on the Go

🍳 Our Favorite Instant Pot

“Healing isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it’s crying in the shower or just making it through the day.”

“You can’t outsource your healing—you have to take out your own emotional trash.”

“Your batting average for surviving hard days is 100% so far.”

Andrew: A joyful and productive week spent together with Catherine.

Catherine: Sunshine, blooming tulips, and walks in the spring air after a long Chicago winter.

• Book a therapy session—before you’re in crisis.
• Identify your coping tools (music, walks, calling a friend).
• Create a post-therapy buffer zone—no PTA meetings right after deep work.
• Tell someone you trust if you’re struggling.
• Repeat this mantra: “I am allowed to heal at my own pace.”

🌐 Website: https://fiveyearyou.com

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/fiveyearyou

📧 Email: hello@fiveyearyou.com

We are not licensed therapists. This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. Please reach out to a mental health professional for personal guidance. Some links are affiliate links—we may earn a small commission.

💬 Have you had a moment when healing didn’t feel pretty—but you came out stronger?

Share it in the comments. Your story might help someone else.

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