Sometimes “I don’t know” is the most honest answer you have, and sometimes it’s where the conversation ends.
You tell yourself you don’t know what you want, why the same pattern keeps repeating, or what the next step should be. Not necessarily because there is nothing inside you, but because knowing can feel risky.
Once you name what you want, you may have to face the possibility of failing, disappointing someone, becoming more visible, or realizing that the life you have been tolerating no longer fits.
In this episode, I’m joined again by Safiya for a conversation about clarity, subconscious patterns, and the hidden ways we protect ourselves from change.
We explore the two kinds of clarity that matter when you want something different: understanding where you are right now and identifying where you want to go.
Like finding the “you are here” dot on a map, you need a starting point before you can choose a direction, but that honesty is not always comfortable.
If you spent years reading the room, keeping the peace, being helpful, or paying attention to what everyone else needed, you may be deeply connected to other people’s expectations and disconnected from your own desires.
Even admitting what you want can feel selfish, unsafe, unrealistic, or like a betrayal of the family, faith, or environment you came from.
We also talk about the subconscious filters that shape what feels possible. A belief like “I’m not capable,” “I’ll probably fail,” or “people like me don’t do that” can begin to feel less like a belief and more like an objective fact.
That is part of what makes our own patterns so difficult to see, we’re living inside them.
The way we speak to ourselves feels normal. The role we keep playing feels familiar. The same frustration follows us into a new job, relationship, goal, or year, and we may keep changing the circumstances without recognizing what we are carrying with us.
Clarity does not mean having the entire path mapped out, it may simply mean seeing the next ten feet clearly enough to move.
What You’ll Hear
- Why clarity is the starting point for meaningful change.
- The difference between knowing where you are and knowing where you want to go.
- How “I don’t know” can become a protective strategy that keeps you from making the wrong decision, disappointing someone, failing, or being judged.
- Why focusing on what you do not want can still offer useful information about what is missing or no longer sustainable.
- How childhood roles, family expectations, and learning to keep the peace can disconnect you from your own wants.
- Why admitting what you want may feel uncomfortable, selfish, or unsafe.
- How subconscious beliefs become filters that shape what you believe is possible.
- Why familiar thoughts and patterns can begin to feel like objective truth.
- How to tell the difference between needing more information and facing a deeper subconscious block.
- Why you do not need certainty about the entire journey before taking the first step.
- The three questions that can help you uncover what is keeping you stuck.
- How Spot the Block can help you begin identifying the hidden belief or protective strategy beneath the surface problem.
Resources and Links
- Want help identifying the subconscious pattern beneath the area where you feel stuck? Take your free Spot the Block assessment at spottheblock.app.
- Ready to explore your patterns with deeper, personalized support? Click here to book your Connection Call.
- Apply to be coached on the podcast at shiftyourstorypodcast.com.
- Hang out with me on Instagram and Facebook.
Your Next Steps
Subscribe, rate, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations.
Then spend a little time with the three questions from this episode:
What do I know I don’t want anymore?
What keeps happening even when the people or circumstances change?
What am I afraid might happen if I actually did something different?
Look for the thread connecting your answers. Notice the fear, assumption, feeling, or role that appears more than once.
You don’t have to force yourself into a perfect answer or figure out the entire path today.
You only need enough clarity for the next ten feet.
🎙️ The Shift Your Story Podcast
© 2026 Ally Rose | All Rights Reserved
💌 Contact: [email protected]
✨ Want to be coached on the podcast? Apply here
🫶🏾 Let’s connect:
Instagram | Facebook | Website
Disclaimer:
The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition, nor does it constitute a therapeutic relationship. All views expressed are my own. You should always consult with your own medical, mental health, legal, and financial professionals before making any decisions.