Before you finalise your career goals for 2026, there’s something you need to understand: your brain isn’t showing you all your options.

Your goals don't start with ambition. They start with identity. And when your identity is tightly attached to your current role, company, or industry, your brain predicts your future based on those narrow boundaries—filtering out opportunities that don't match who you think you are.

In this episode, I break down the neuroscience behind why your career goals might be smaller than your actual potential—and how to expand what feels possible before you start planning.

What You’ll Learn:

* Why your brain shows you an “edit” of career options, not a blank canvas

* How your identity acts as the gatekeeper of your career growth (not your skills or performance)

* Why familiar goals feel safer than expansive ones—even when they’re wrong for you

* The real reason ambitious goals can feel threatening to your nervous system

* How to loosen your identity so your brain shows you bigger possibilities

* What to pay attention to before you set your 2026 career goals

If you're interested in finding out more about the Repattern career lab - sign up to my newsletter here to get the details as soon as doors open: https://thepossibilitypattern.substack.com/

Timestamps: 00:00 - 03:09 How we think we set goals03:11 - 05:20 How you brain curates what options you see05:30 - 11:00 How your identity shapes your career 11:13 - 11:58 Why this is more important than ever12:00 - 13:31 Questions to ask yourself

In today’s episode, the tables are turned and our producer Hiwote Getaneh is interviewing host Kiran Yoliswa on her career journey through the stages of The Possibility Pattern. Join us for another conversation where we put together the whole pattern, and share the insights that are applicable no matter which stage you’re in.

As an integrative change coach, I noticed that many of my clients, as well as my friends and family would go through a similar pattern of steps when they were working their way through a big transition.

It’s also the transformation journey I’ve gone through multiple times as I navigated multiple career changes from working in the nonprofit world, to becoming an entrepreneur, working at an investment fund and most recently as a leader at Meta, one of the world’s biggest tech companies. And now - coaching people back into alignment with their true purpose. 

In this conversation we talk about:

* The importance of balancing strategic thinking with intuitive and somatic knowledge as you navigate change

* Why it can take a while to realise that you’re feeling dissatisfied, and what might be causing it

* How getting clear on my values led me to my job at Meta

* Breaking out of the trap of excellence and finding my zone of genius

* Navigating the transition phase of a new beginning and what I would have done differently

* Shadow work, what it is and how it can lead to career breakthroughs

* What it looks like to use your gifts as your guide when you’re feeling lost

* Taking a sabbatical after leaving corporate employment

* How reaching embodiment in one area of life can initiate new transitions

Subscribe to The Possibility Pattern newsletter here to receive the whole framework upfront: https://thepossibilitypattern.substack.com/welcome

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In today’s episode we’re putting the whole pattern together with an interview with Hiwote Geteneh, The Possibility Pattern’s Exec Producer, on her journey from working in public policy to becoming a podcast producer. Her story is filled with insights that no matter what journey you’re on, there is some wisdom here for you. Join us for this conversation that serves as a beautiful illustration of what it looks like to be going through these kinds of transformations and transitions, filled with ideas that you can take away from her story and implement in your journey yourself.

Hiwote Getaneh is an audio producer curious about stories that help us better understand ourselves. She has produced the New York Times show Together Apart with Priya Parker, Where Should We Begin and How’s Work with Esther Perel, and TED’s Far Flung with Saleem Rashemwala. She is also the host and executive producer of an upcoming series on Black Joy. Trained in public policy, Hiwote worked for years as a Senior Research Analyst before veering from the traditional path to explore her research and strategy sensibilities in the media world as a Senior Marketing Strategist for brands like Mic and Afropunk. She is an alumnus of Virginia Tech (BS) and Johns Hopkins University (MPA).

In our conversation we talk about:

* How she got started in public policy and how she knew it wasn’t for her

* Why she stayed even though her intuition knew she was on the wrong path

* What led her to creating her first podcast and how that took her from dissatisfied to transitioned

* How you want to be seen can hold you back from what you enjoy doing

* Her transition into the media industry and leveraging transferable skills

* How shooting her shot finally landed her a full time job as a podcast producer

* The importance of aligned action and letting go of perfectionism

* How she identified her strengths and started aligning her projects to her strengths

* How getting to embodied as a producer led her into another transition to become an entrepreneur

Where to connect with Hiwote:

* Instagram @hiwote.getaneh

* Depth & Candor website

The final stage! By the time you’ve reached this stage, you’re feeling fully identified with your transition. Your transformation is fully integrated and the changes you’ve made are deeply ingrained in your behaviour, your mindset, and lifestyle. So what’s next? This episode is all about how to think about how you can continue to evolve and expand.

Subscribe to The Possibility Pattern newsletter here to receive the whole framework upfront: https://thepossibilitypattern.substack.com/welcome 

Show notes

In this episode we’re talking about:

* Why this is the best time to start thinking more disruptively

* Finding new ways to express your gifts and interests

* How to use your experience and insight to inspire others who are earlier in their journey than you

* Why reaching this stage might trigger you into transformation journeys in other areas of your life

* A recap of the whole journey altogether so that you can see where you are now and what’s to come

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Feel like your transformation has fallen into place and you’re settling down into your new path, but starting to wonder…what do I do now? This episode is all about what to focus on once you reach a place of stability after your transition, and how to stay strategic about your inflection points.

Subscribe to The Possibility Pattern newsletter here to receive the whole framework upfront: https://thepossibilitypattern.substack.com/welcome 

Show notes

In this episode we’re talking about:

* Leveraging your stability for other areas of your life

* Evaluating and iterating your roles and responsibilities compared to your strengths

* The importance of tiny adjustments to increase alignment

* Finding the balance between enjoying this phase, and staying strategic about your inflection points

Further Resources

* From The Possibility Pattern

* Alignment Needs Space

* What’s Belonging Got To Do With It?

* Mentioned in the episode

* Lynell Green - Executive Coach

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Have you finally made the leap and your dream came true? Maybe you’re starting that new job, or quitting your job to go full time on your side hustle. Whatever you’ve been working your way towards has come through and you’re on the other side.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to adjust to the reality of your wishes coming true, the importance of nervous system regulation, and how to integrate this levelling up to help you make the most of this stage.

Subscribe to The Possibility Pattern newsletter here to receive the whole framework upfront: https://thepossibilitypattern.substack.com/welcome 

Shownotes:

We talk about:

* What to expect on the other side of finally getting the change you wanted

* Why your nervous system needs some time to adjust after making a big change

* What I learned from my newbie era at Meta and how I did things differently in my next transition

* How to use your strengths to identify some early wins in your new situation

* Why setting up your support system is crucial to navigating your transition successfully

* Why this is the perfect time to prioritise your nervous system regulation habits

Further resources:

* Nervous system regulation

* Break the cycle - Dr Mariel Buque

* How to regulate your nervous system: try these 13 techniques - Calm

* The Anatomy of Anxiety - Dr Ellen Vora

* Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle - Emily & Amelia Nagoski

* If you’re not sure what your strengths are - listen back to the Lost episode where we go through this in detail

Hang out with me at Instagram.com/kiranyoliswa 

You know you’ve hit this stage when you’re feeling clear about your new direction, courageous enough to go after it, and you’re consistently taking action towards it. This episode is all about how to get into this state over and over until you’ve built up enough momentum to make the leap into your desired transition.

Subscribe to The Possibility Pattern newsletter here to receive the whole framework upfront: https://thepossibilitypattern.substack.com/welcome 

Shownotes

In this episode we:

* Talk about how to get out of feeling doubt and into a more courageous state

* Kickstart reprogramming your neural pathways during the episode with a guided visualisation to help you tap into the physical and emotional state you need to take your aligned actions

* Unpack the mechanism through which we can shift and engrain more empowering mental and emotional habits

* Explore why taking action can slide you back into intimidated, and how that builds your momentum towards a tipping point

Further Resources:

* Hebb’s Law ("neurons that fire together wire together) - Science Direct

* Hebb’s Theory - Study Smarter

* The Science of Habit - Healthline

* How to Start New Habits That Actually Stick - James Clear

Hang out with me at Instagram.com/kiranyoliswa 

Feeling overwhelmed with doubt about the path you want to take? This episode is all about what happens when you hit the ‘intimidated’ part of The Possibility Pattern and explores using pattern interrupts to reframe thoughts and emotions to create alternative pathways for change. Delve into real-life examples of how to reshape thought patterns and emotional responses, paving the way for lasting transformation. This episode offers a roadmap to reprogramming limiting beliefs and fostering a more empowered self-image.

Shownotes

In this episode we talk about:

What happens after you’ve picked a path

Why it’s natural for fear to start coming up in this stage, and how to work through it to get yourself to take action

How to identify and interrupt your existing habitual patterns

The importance of practising how to shift out of activated states by practising nervous system regulation

Further Resources:

Science behind creating and changing neural pathways

The Source by Dr Tara Swart

How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of The Brain - Lisa Feldman Barrett

Keeping The Brain in Mind by Melissa Tiers

Deconditioning: How to Create Pattern Interrupts and Learn New Behaviours - Chopra

How neuroplasticity works - Very Well Mind

The Science of Habit - Healthline

State Dependent Memory - How it Works and Examples - Very Well Mind

Examples of how to use state dependent learning - Psychology Today

Nervous system regulation

Break the cycle - Dr Mariel Buque

How to regulate your nervous system: try these 13 techniques - Calm

The Anatomy of Anxiety - Dr Ellen Vora

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle - Emily & Amelia Nagoski

Shadow work

What is shadow work - MindBodyGreen

What is shadow work and how do you it - The Cut

Feeling torn between your options and not sure which path to choose? In this episode, Kiran Yoliswa shares The Possibility Pattern framework, providing actionable insights to help you navigate your career dilemmas. Discover how to make confident decisions and unlock new opportunities.

Shownotes

In this episode, we explore what to do when you’re choosing between multiple choices and are feeling afraid about making the wrong move.

We talk about:

Why feeling conflicted is a natural part of the journey of discovering your strengths

The anxiety having options can create - and the privilege of having options

An evaluation framework to help you align your choices with your values and navigate conflicting desires

A deep dive into a real-life example of a client's career dilemma

How to use visualization to aid decision-making with a follow along example

Subscribe to The Possibility Pattern newsletter here to receive the whole framework upfront: https://thepossibilitypattern.substack.com/welcome 

Further resources

Posts related to the ‘Conflicted’ stage on The Possibility Pattern

Flirting with life

Two approaches to getting started

Choosing your future self

Values

How to Pick a Career (That Actually Fits You)

Hang out with me at Instagram.com/kiranyoliswa 

Feeling lost in your career and not sure what to do next? In this episode, Kiran Yoliswa shares her Possibility Pattern framework, providing actionable insights to help you find direction. Discover how to realign your career and unlock new opportunities, even when you’re feeling uncertain.

Shownotes

In this episode, we explore what to do when you have no idea what your next move should be.

We talk about:

Why deciding that you’re ready for change, might be making you feel lost

The first thing you need to do before taking any immediate action

Why so many of us ignore our true gifts - and why embracing them is the key to avoiding burnout

How to find your sense of direction, and avoid the trap of excellence

What often happens after you’ve levelled up out of feeling lost

A client story that can inspire and spark a tiny transformation for you

Subscribe to The Possibility Pattern newsletter here to receive the whole framework upfront: https://thepossibilitypattern.substack.com/welcome 

Further resources

Posts related to the ‘Lost’ stage on The Possibility Pattern

Start with what, not why

Do you know why you work?

A letter from my future self

Don’t call me if you’re dissatisfied

Strengths: 

Love + Work - Marcus Buckingham 

Go Put Your Strengths to Work

My favourite strengths assessment quiz (and I’ve done them all)

Zone of Genius 

The Big Leap - Guy Hendricks

Finding Flow for Every Employee - Sana Labs

Builder and Visionary Archetypes 

Ones and Twos - Ben Horowitz (although he calls them ‘ones and twos’ instead of builder and visionary, this is the closest explanation of the skills and characteristics of both)

Hang out with me at Instagram.com/kiranyoliswa