For as long as I can remember, I’ve measured myself against other people and I didn’t realise how much that was shaping the decisions I was making.

In this episode of Unbusy on Purpose, I’m talking about comparison, self-worth, and the deep need so many of us have for validation from other people.

For a long time, I believed my worth lived in two places: how I looked and how clever I was. If I felt attractive, I felt wanted. If I felt smart, I felt valuable. And if someone gave me a compliment, approval, recognition it meant I could finally relax. And that is no way to create an aligned life.

Living that way shaped a lot of my decisions. It influenced the men I chose, the business decisions I made, and the way I held myself back. It felt like there was this invisible force running my life, constantly whispering that I needed to prove myself.

In this episode, I unpack where that feeling actually comes from and the psychology behind comparison and how our self-image is a blue-print formed from a young age.

I also talk about the work of Maxwell Maltz and insights from his book Psycho-Cybernetics, which explain how the way we see ourselves internally shapes the way we behave and the choices we make in our lives.

In this episode, I share:

• Why comparison is actually a natural psychological response
• How our self-image quietly influences our confidence and behaviour
• Why external validation can feel so addictive
• How childhood experiences can shape the beliefs we carry about ourselves
  
• Practical ways to begin rewiring those beliefs and building real self-trust

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly measuring yourself against other people, or like your worth depends on how others see you, this conversation will help you understand why that happens and how you can begin to change it.

Because your worth was never meant to be something you had to prove.

Lucy xx

Find me on Instagram www.instagram.com/iamlucycarter

Find me on Tik Tok www.tiktok.com/@iamlucycarter

Find me on YouTube    / @lucycarter1111

Watch/listen to this episode on other platforms: https://unbusyonpurpose.riverside.com/

Have you ever sat down to focus… and somehow ended up overwhelmed, distracted, and frustrated with yourself?

In this episode, I'm diving into the neuroscience behind attention, distraction, and overwhelm and why struggling to focus isn’t a personal failure or a lack of discipline. It’s sometimes just biology.

I share how listening to Dr. Andrew Huberman’s podcast helped me finally understand what was happening in my brain on a neurological level, especially during my recent bout of brain fog.

His work gave me language and compassion for my own experience, and helped me see that overwhelm is often a signal from our nervous system, not something to push through harder and I hope with me sharing this, it can help you too.

I explore:

• How attention actually works in the brain
• Why distraction is more likely when we’re stressed or under-stimulated
• What neuroscience says about cognitive load and overwhelm
• Why challenging, focused work can actually reduce distraction 
• Practical, science-backed ways to work with your brain instead of against it.

I also reference a neuroscience study using brain imaging that shows how, when we engage in a challenging task, the brain actively strengthens attention networks and suppresses distractions, explaining why “deep focus” works and multitasking doesn’t.

Referenced study:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4870472/

This episode is for you if you want to:

• Feel calmer and clearer instead of constantly overwhelmed
• Understand your focus struggles without self-judgment
• Learn how to structure your days in a way that supports your nervous system

If focus has felt hard lately, this episode will help you understand why, and give you permission to slow down, simplify, and realign with how your brain is designed to work.

Lucy xx

Find me on Instagram www.instagram.com/iamlucycarter 

Find me on Tik Tok www.tiktok.com/@iamlucycarter

Find me on YouTube    / @lucycarter1111 

Human Design Chart: 

https://ahumandesign.com

Be Present App:

https://www.bepresentapp.com

Anxiety doesn’t always announce itself.
Sometimes it creeps in quietly, even when you thought you had a handle on things.

In this episode of Unbusy On Purpose, I share a recent personal experience where anxiety surfaced unexpectedly when my partner Stephen needed stent surgery. After months of therapy, I genuinely believed I was past this… until my nervous system had other plans.

We explore why anxiety often shows up during times of stress, why it doesn’t mean you’re “back at square one,” and how our bodies respond to perceived threats.

I also share what actually helped calm my nervous system in the moment and why these are signs of healing, not failure.

If anxiety has ever caught you off guard, this episode is a reminder that you haven’t undone your growth. You’re human and your body is doing its best to keep you safe.

Lucy xx

Lucy xx

Find me on Instagram www.instagram.com/iamlucycarter Find me on Tik Tok www.tiktok.com/@iamlucycarter

Find me on YouTube    / @lucycarter1111 

Okay, January… can we all just slow the F down for a sec?

Everywhere you look it’s “new year, new me” and a million resolutions screaming at you. Honestly? My nervous system is already exhausted just thinking about it.

In this episode of Unbusy On Purpose, I’m giving you permission to slow the hell down. Instead of diving headfirst into goals, we’re talking boundaries — with others, yes, but also with ourselves. Because let’s be real: if you don’t set them, someone (or something) will… and that always feels sh#t.

Here’s what I cover:
[02:27] The pressure of January and why it’s not about rushing into goals but taking time to reflect.
[03:01] Why setting new boundaries is the real focus this month.
[04:25] How to decide what from last year deserves your energy — and what doesn’t.
[06:09] Reflecting on where boundaries were crossed and what that taught us.
[10:48] My personal boundary story: speaking up and protecting my self-respect.
[13:23] How to use January to gain clarity on your experiences and boundaries.
[15:25] Wrapping up with how to set the stage for a calmer, clearer, more protected 2026.

If you’re ready to kick off the year with clarity, a little fire in your belly, and your peace fully protected… this episode is for you.

Lucy xx

Find me on Instagram www.instagram.com/iamlucycarter Find me on Tik Tok www.tiktok.com/@iamlucycarter

Find me on YouTube    / @lucycarter1111  

Being ‘busy’ Is Blocking Your Breakthrough: Why constant action is keeping you overwhelmed & overworked.

Are you spinning your wheels in your business, always doing, always hustling… but feeling like nothing’s actually moving forward? This episode dives into the difference between busy action and aligned action, uncovering why constant hustle can keep you stuck, exhausted, and overwhelmed.

I’ll guide you through how slowing down, acting with intention, and focusing on aligned action can create clarity, relief, and real breakthroughs — without burning yourself out. By the end, you’ll have reflections to help you spot where you’re overdoing it and practical steps to get back into alignment with your business and life.

P.S. My Dad makes a sneaky (spiritual) appearance

Takeaways:

• The difference between busy action and aligned action
• The hidden cost of constant action
• How alignment creates relief and sustainable growth

Chapters:
00:00 Understanding Busy Action
05:51 The Pitfalls of Constant Action
12:20 The Importance of Alignment
20:25 Reflection and Invitation

In this episode of 'Unbusy On Purpose' I went a little bit rogue! I had a planned to do a completely different topic but just as I went to record, something told me to trust my intuition and speak from the heart of what I felt needed to be shared with you and not what I thought needed to be shared with you.

I share my personal journey through grief and transformation, emphasizing the importance of healing and self-care. I also discuss the collective energy of how 2025 has been such a HUGE and TRANSFORMATIONAL year for so many people and the necessity of tending to your inner child in those dark, tough moments.

I encourage you to embrace your emotions, take time for yourselves, and initiate positive changes in your lives.

Takeaways

• This year has been a roller coaster for many people.
• Grief can either make you bitter or better.
• It's essential to tend to your own emotional garden.
• Taking time for yourself is crucial for healing.
• We need to nurture our inner child.
• Growth requires patience and self-love.
• Initiating change starts with being present.
• You can't predict the future, so focus on the present.

Lucy xx

Find me on Instagram ⁠@iamlucycarter⁠

Find me on Tik Tok ⁠@iamlucycarter⁠

Find me on YouTube ⁠@lucycarter1111⁠