Wayward Wellness Coaching

Sometimes the biggest shifts in our lives don’t come from dramatic moments.

...they show up in the quiet, everyday choices we make without even realizing why.

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What We’ll Cover This Week:

• How anxiety quietly disguises itself as “logical” decision making
• Why your nervous system naturally chooses comfort and predictability
• The subtle difference between anxiety-driven decisions and intuitive ones
• The version of yourself your nervous system might be calling back
• A simple nervous system awareness challenge to try this week

Listen to the AUDIO HERE 🎧 — [Weekly Recharge Newsletter AUDIO]

Hey Reader,

This week I kept going back and forth about what I wanted to write about, and nothing really landed. Then during a meditation something popped up that made me stop for a second.

Lately, a lot of my decisions have been coming from anxiety, not intuition.

It was incredibly subtle and evolved over the years.

It looks like completely reasonable decisions. Just masked as "maturing".

Which honestly makes it harder to notice. Because it looks like this:

None of these are huge decisions, but they all have one thing in common:

Every. Single. Time, I override my intuition.

Anxiety is persuasive, and the nervous system loves comfort and predictability.

So when anxiety shows up the brain starts building perfectly logical arguments for choices that feel safer.

But intuition usually asks something different. It asks you to lean into growth, to stay open, to connect - because that’s where the real opportunities live.

Did I mature? Or did I lose a piece of myself to conditioning...

And if I’m being honest, I used to listen to my intuition all the time. Back when I was younger I just called it being adventurous, but the truth is I was just trusting my instincts.

I’d randomly decide to drive 13 hours down to Nashville for the weekend with my violin and busk on the streets for the gas money. Who cares if I hit a little snow along the way and slept in my car at a gas station.

Did I tell anyone I was doing that? Absolutely not. And yes… one time I ran over a nail and had to call my parents for money for a tire and a hotel before heading off to see my sister in Virginia...

At least now I can afford the tire and hotel myself.

But back then I had to be resilient. I had to be resourceful. There wasn’t an option to just spend money to make things easier.

So I trusted my gut. And honestly, some of the best experiences of my life came from those decisions.

Somewhere along the way, though, I was conditioned to believe that version of me was just young and reckless. (Well... I can agree that it was a little reckless...).

But I also convinced myself that being in my thirties meant being more calculated, more controlled, more practical.

But lately my nervous system has been calling that version of me back...

The one who trusted her intuition.

The one who knew that growth doesn’t usually happen in perfectly controlled environments.

The one who understood that connection and opportunity often show up when you stop trying to engineer every possible outcome.

At the end of March I’m going to a conference, and for the first time in a while I’m leaning back into that version of myself. I’m flying in a day early, and I don’t have the hotel figured out yet (for the ONE day... let's not go crazy. The rest of the trip is well planned).

And the *current* old version of Renae would be making plans right now to make sure I would have an answer for Nick on deck for where I'll be staying. Because in order to cure my anxiety, I need to cure his anxiety - therefore I'd make a decision from anxiety (you get the cycle...).

But honestly?

Worst case scenario… I find one that night.

Like I used to.

And if I told you the full story of how I ended up moving to Massachusetts, you’d probably think I was crazy too.

But maybe that’s the point.

Sometimes the version of yourself your nervous system is asking you to become again…

Is someone you’ve already been.

This Week’s Nervous System Challenge

For the next few days, try something simple.

When you’re making a decision, pause and ask yourself one question:

Is this decision coming from intuition… or anxiety?

Anxiety usually pulls you toward comfort, control, and avoidance.

Intuition usually nudges you toward growth, curiosity, and connection.

The trick isn’t forcing anything.

It’s simply noticing.

Because the more you listen to intuition, the quieter anxiety tends to get.

🎧 This Week on the Hustle Rebels Podcast

If this topic resonated, head over to Hustle Rebels to catch the latest episode.

Last week's episode dug into how invisible effort and recognition actually regulate the nervous system more than most people realize... and if you're in leadership, why this is incredibly important for a functioning workplace environment.

Thursday's episode continues the conversation with Steve Bisson, where we talk about invisible injury in high-pressure professions - and the importance of treating it just like a visible injury.

🎧 Listen here: [Invisible Effort, Visible Burnout: The Psychology Behind Wanting Recognition]

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Want to read previous newsletters?

Check em out here: [Read Previous Editions of The Weekly Recharge]

As always, I appreciate you guys and always here if you have questions or even a chat. Share the Weekly Recharge with a friend so they can be regulated just like you.

- Renae

Wayward Wellness Coaching
Hustle Rebels Podcast