This week’s Dare Thursday is a little different — mostly because Michelle is recording while full of lurgy and zero illusions of having her life together. Instead of a neatly structured pep talk, you’re getting a raw brain dump on presence, pressure, and why your future goals are sometimes ruining your mood in the present.

In this episode, Michelle unpacks:

From planning next year’s guests to imagining your finances in 12 months, the mental time travel never ends. And honestly? It’s exhausting. Especially when it stops you from appreciating the good stuff that’s already happening.

Yes, goals matter. But obsessing over them? That’s the fast lane to anxiety. Michelle reflects on how she hit goals she never planned for — and missed goals she thought mattered — and what that actually teaches you about focus and flexibility.

She's been experimenting with catching herself mid-spiral and asking simple grounding questions:

• Am I okay right now?
• Do I have what I need today?
• Are the kids fine?
• Has anything genuinely gone wrong?

Turns out, checking in with the present lowers anxiety much faster than a five-year plan ever has.

If your inner child wants to flip a table every time you impose a strict goal on yourself… yeah, you’re not alone. Michelle breaks down why some brains reject pressure — and how reframing your “must do’s” into playful experiments might actually get you results.

One of the best mindset flips of the episode: failure as a game. Once the pressure disappeared, the success exploded.

Catch yourself every single time you start spiralling about the future or beating yourself up for not being “further along.”

Pause.

Ask: “Is today actually okay?”

If the answer is yes — drop the panic. You’re still on the path, even if it’s wiggly.

Michelle has officially launched Dare Club — the free online community for women who want:

• more connection
• more courage
• more accountability
• more ‘holy crap, I’m actually doing the thing’ moments

You can join for free, with optional paid tiers coming packed with value. Connect over podcast guests, your own dares, and real-life meetups as the community grows.

Join via Michelle’s Instagram bio or at shewhodareswins.com → Dare Club.

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