Becoming In the Middle

You're Not a Tree: If You Don't Like Where You Are, Move

Have you ever realized that you know what to do—but somewhere along the way, you stopped doing it?

In this episode, I share a personal realization I've had over the past few months. I've been feeling more depressed and disconnected than usual, and as I reflected on what might be contributing to that, I recognized something important: I had slowly moved away from principles I had once learned and practiced.

I've studied the laws and principles of creationfor the past several years—principles that helped me understand my agency, my ability to influence my life, and my role in consciously creating what comes next. And lately, I've realized I need to return to them.

So rather than simply trying to push through how I've been feeling, I'm choosing to move.

That becomes the principle at the heart of this episode:

If you don't like where you are, move. You're not a tree.

Sometimes we assume we're stuck because of our circumstances, our past, other people, or the season of life we're in. But we often have more agency than we realize. Moving doesn't necessarily mean making a huge, dramatic change. Sometimes it's as simple as recognizing what isn't working and doing something different.

I share a funny example involving my husband and a pair of earplugs that perfectly illustrates this principle: if something isn't working, you don't have to simply tolerate it, or rely on external forces to change. You can move.

This episode also marks a transition for the podcast. I'm wrapping up Season 2 and taking some time to revisit and practice these creation principles in my own life. When I return for Season 3, we'll dive deeper into what it means to consciously create a life that is aligned with who we are and who God is inviting us to become.

Maybe you're feeling stuck somewhere in your own life right now. Maybe you've been tolerating something you don't actually have to tolerate. Or maybe you simply need permission to make a move.

You're not a tree.

If you don't like where you are, move.

A question to consider: Where in your life are you unhappy with where you are—and what is one small move you could make?

If you're facing a challenge, transition, difficult relationship, or uncomfortable emotion, I'd love to walk with you through it. Reach out to me and let's talk through it together. No strings, no offers, I just want to help.

[email protected] Instagram: aliciahowardbecoming

Principle: Change & Relief Start by Telling the Truth.

What if the first step toward creating change in your life isn't figuring out what to do—but telling the truth?

Sometimes we believe the truth about our lives comes from somewhere outside of us. We look to circumstances, other people's expectations, past experiences, cultural messages, or even the things we believe we should be doing to tell us what is true.

But what if telling the truth doesn't take away your choices—it gives them back to you?

In this episode, I explore the principle that change and relief begin by telling the truth. Through several real-life examples, we look at the ways we can confuse external circumstances with truth and how doing so can leave us feeling stuck, powerless, or trapped.

When we are willing to honestly acknowledge what is happening, what we want, what we don't want, what we believe, and what is actually within our control, something changes. We return to agency. And agency is where change becomes possible.

This isn't about forcing ourselves to change or finding the "right" answer. It's about getting honest enough to see the choices that are already available to us.

If you've been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, resentful, or unsure how to move forward, this episode may give you a different place to begin:

Tell the truth. Then notice where your agency returns.

If you're facing a challenge, transition, difficult relationship, or uncomfortable emotion, I'd love to hear about it. Share your struggle with me, and I'll create a future episode exploring a principle that may help you navigate what you're experiencing. My hope is that these conversations help us all become more aware of what life is inviting us to learn. And if you've listened to a previous episode and found yourself wondering, "But how do I actually apply that principle?" send me your question. In future Q&A episodes, I'll answer your questions and dive deeper into the practical side of living these principles—because understanding a principle is one thing, but learning to apply it in real life is where transformation begins. [email protected] Instagram: aliciahowardbecoming

Principle: Our stories are worth the effort to rewrite.

The stories we tell ourselves don't just explain our experiences—they shape how we live them. The challenge is that changing those stories isn't easy. They often feel true because we've repeated them for so long. But when a story is creating resentment, exhaustion, fear, or limitation, it's worth asking whether it's the only story available.

In this episode, I share the story of a former client who was deeply overwhelmed as a caregiver. The story she believed about her role and responsibilities left her emotionally drained, out of balance, and increasingly resentful. As we explored a different perspective, nothing about her circumstances changed overnight—but the story she lived by did. And that changed everything.

I also share three reminders that have helped me whenever I'm working to rewrite a story:

Changing the stories we live by isn't a quick fix. It requires honesty, courage, and a willingness to question beliefs that have become part of our identity. But as our stories become more aligned with truth, they create new possibilities for how we see ourselves, others, and God.

Reflection Question: What story in your life might be worth the effort to rewrite?

I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Invite Christ to Author Your Story

If you're facing a challenge, transition, difficult relationship, or uncomfortable emotion, I'd love to hear about it. Share your struggle with me, and I'll create a future episode exploring a principle that may help you navigate what you're experiencing. My hope is that these conversations help us all become more aware of what life is inviting us to learn. And if you've listened to a previous episode and found yourself wondering, "But how do I actually apply that principle?" send me your question. In future Q&A episodes, I'll answer your questions and dive deeper into the practical side of living these principles—because understanding a principle is one thing, but learning to apply it in real life is where transformation begins. [email protected] Instagram: aliciahowardbecoming

Principle: The stories we believe shape our reality.

Every experience we have becomes an invitation to interpret and make meaning. But the meaning we assign to our experiences often becomes a story—and those stories influence the way we see ourselves, our circumstances, and what we believe is possible.

In this episode, I explore how the stories we create from our past experiences can continue shaping our present reality. Sometimes those stories help us move forward with confidence and faith. Other times, they create limitations, fear, or beliefs that keep us from seeing ourselves and our lives clearly.

I share a personal experience where I recognized that the story I had created about a past event was shaping how I viewed myself. As I examined that story and allowed myself to see the experience differently, I discovered a new perspective and a greater sense of freedom.

We'll explore:

• How our experiences become stories that influence our beliefs and choices.

• Why the stories we tell ourselves often feel like truth, even when they may not be complete.

• How changing the story we attach to an experience can change the way we move forward.

• How the Spirit can guide us toward seeing things "as they really are" and help us replace limiting narratives with truth.

The goal isn't to rewrite our past or ignore difficult experiences. It's to become more intentional about the meaning we carry forward from them.

Reflection Question:

What story have I created from my experiences, and is it helping me see things as they really are?

As we become more aware of the stories shaping our reality, we create space to choose truth, receive guidance, and become more aligned with who we were created to be.

If you're facing a challenge, transition, difficult relationship, or uncomfortable emotion, I'd love to hear about it. Share your struggle with me, and I'll create a future episode exploring a principle that may help you navigate what you're experiencing. My hope is that these conversations help us all become more aware of what life is inviting us to learn. And if you've listened to a previous episode and found yourself wondering, "But how do I actually apply that principle?" send me your question. In future Q&A episodes, I'll answer your questions and dive deeper into the practical side of living these principles—because understanding a principle is one thing, but learning to apply it in real life is where transformation begins. [email protected] Instagram: aliciahowardbecoming

Principle: Clarity precedes action

Have you ever had something sitting on your to-do list for days—or even weeks—without actually getting it done?

I've been noticing this in my own life lately. I realized I often put a project on my list and then wonder why I keep procrastinating. There is a hidden gap between intention and action.

In this episode, I explore the idea that sometimes procrastination isn't about a lack of motivation or discipline. Sometimes we simply haven't created enough clarity to know what our next action is.

I'll share the difference between a project list and an action list, and how identifying the next specific step can remove the decision-making friction that keeps us stuck.

If you've been struggling to start a project, keep putting something off, or wondering why your to-do list isn't helping you take action, this episode invites you to look at procrastination through a different lens—and consider whether what you really need isn't more motivation, but more clarity.

Share your success stories about applying the principles I share or questions you'd like me to address in future episodes. Email me at [email protected]

In this first-ever Q&A episode of Becoming in the Middle, I'm answering a question that came in after last week's conversation about using curiosity to transform negative emotions into opportunities for growth.

Talking about principles is one thing. Learning how to actually live them is another.

In this episode, I unpack what it looks like to practice curiosity in everyday life, share the mistakes I made when I first began applying this principle, and offer practical ways you can begin using it the next time you feel frustrated, discouraged, anxious, angry, or overwhelmed.

If you've ever wondered, "What do I actually do when I'm in the middle of a hard emotion?" this episode is for you.

This is also the beginning of something new! From time to time, I'll be releasing Q&A episodes like this one to answer your questions and dive deeper into the practical application of the principles we explore together.

If you're facing a challenge, transition, difficult relationship, or uncomfortable emotion, I'd love to hear about it. Share your struggle with me, and I'll create a future episode exploring a principle that may help you navigate what you're experiencing. My hope is that these conversations help us all become more aware of what life is inviting us to learn.

And if you've listened to a previous episode and found yourself wondering, "But how do I actually apply that principle?" send me your question. In future Q&A episodes, I'll answer your questions and dive deeper into the practical side of living these principles—because understanding a principle is one thing, but learning to apply it in real life is where transformation begins.

[email protected]

Instagram: aliciahowardbecoming

Principle: Curiosity is the bridge between discomfort and growth.

We spend a lot of energy trying to get rid of uncomfortable emotions. We distract ourselves, numb them, explain them away, or search for the fastest way to feel better.

But what if those emotions aren't just problems to solve? What if they're clues pointing us toward our next opportunity for growth?

In this episode, I explore how approaching discomfort with curiosity can transform frustration, fear, disappointment, envy, and other difficult emotions into opportunities for greater awareness. Rather than asking, "How do I make this feeling go away?" we can begin asking, "What might this emotion be inviting me to learn?"

When we see life as a curriculum, even our hardest emotions can become teachers—helping us become more intentional, more self-aware, and more aligned with who we're created to be.

Principle: Where we put our attention determines the life we create.

In this episode, I explore a simple but powerful idea: complaining isn't the problem—it's a signal.

It reveals where your attention has been resting.

Most of us don't realize how often we rehearse what's wrong, especially in quiet, internal ways. But where our attention goes, our experience of life follows.

Complaining can feel relieving in the moment, but it doesn't create change. It keeps our attention fixed on what we can't control, which limits our ability to see solutions or possibilities.

In this conversation, I explore the difference between noticing a problem and staying stuck in it, and how shifting our attention can completely change our experience of the same circumstances.

This isn't about forcing positivity or ignoring what's hard. It's about learning to notice where your attention is going—and choosing to direct it more intentionally.

Because when attention shifts, perception shifts. And when perception shifts, new possibilities begin to show up.

For a while I've wondered why I keep showing up to this podcast when I don't have a business to promote or offers to sell.

In this episode, I share the realization that changed everything. I explore why I believe our greatest work is becoming who we were created to be, how ordinary experiences can teach us profound principles, and why learning to see our lives differently may be the beginning of real transformation.

If you've ever questioned your purpose or wondered whether what you're creating really matters, I hope this conversation invites you to see your own journey with fresh eyes.

Follow me over on Substack for more of my thoughts.

In this episode, I walk through three simple but powerful principles that helped me regain momentum when fear, doubt, and hesitation showed up. These principles are not about forcing change, but about learning how to move with greater awareness, trust, and intention when life is calling you forward.

This episode is for anyone in a transition season—career change, identity shift, relationships, personal growth, or simply feeling the tension of "something needs to change, but I don't know how."

Get more info on the group experience I talked about here: Return & Rise