Case Study:
When Beth started letting go of the knots and building her path instead.
When Beth first started my group coaching programme in September 2024, she felt like she was tangled up in knots - knots she didn’t know how to untie.
Her days were draining, her weeks felt empty, and every decision carried a weight it couldn’t bear.
"I thought I had to find the path forward,” Beth said. “Like there was this perfect answer out there, and I just needed to get it right. But I couldn’t. I kept tying myself up in knots, putting so much pressure on every decision.”
And yet, when she started the programme, Beth couldn’t face setting big goals. She didn’t trust herself to follow through. So, she started small. Tiny.
Her first steps?
Run once a week.
Rewrite just three behaviour statements for her job applications.
Say yes to one thing that felt social - even if it was small.
"The goals felt silly at first. Like they were too small to make a difference. But small felt safe. Small felt doable."
Small Steps Change Everything
The first time Beth laced up her trainers and went for a run, it didn’t feel life-changing. But it felt like something.
One run turned into another. Then she ran a little further. And one day, she ran a 5k.
"It gave me momentum," Beth said. “I was doing something that made me proud of myself again.”
The same thing happened with her job applications. She rewrote her behaviour statements—just three of them. That’s it. But that small step led to two job offers.
"I couldn’t believe it," she admitted. “It feels mad now, but I think that’s the point. I set small goals that I could actually do, and once I did them, it started shifting everything else.”
Beth’s small actions became the building blocks of something bigger—something she’d been too scared to believe was possible.
Letting Go of the Pressure
Here’s what Beth didn’t realise at first: She wasn’t just stuck. She was holding herself there.
The pressure to fix everything now.
The perfectionism that told her this has to be right.
The fear of failing again, of setting goals and not seeing results.
Through coaching, Beth started asking different questions:
“What if I just solve one thing at a time?”
“What if I don’t need to force everything right now?”
And slowly, those knots started to loosen.
"I stopped trying to ‘solve’ everything,” she reflected. “I realised life isn’t a problem to fix. I don’t need to find the path forward—I’m already on it. I just need to take one step at a time and let things unfold.”
The Moment It All Felt Right
Beth’s proudest moment came the day she moved into her own flat. She’d secured a new job, bought herself a car, and brought her beloved cats home.
"I sat there that first night, and it hit me. I didn’t feel stressed. I didn’t feel pressured. I felt calm. Like I’d done this—step by step, in a way that worked for me.”
For so long, Beth thought she needed a perfect plan to build a happy life. But her transformation came when she let go of the pressure and just started moving.
The runs didn’t have to be long—they just had to happen.
The job statements didn’t have to be perfect—they just had to be better.
The decisions didn’t have to solve everything—they just had to move her forward.
"I realised I don’t have to compare myself to anyone else’s timeline. I’m building my life, and I’m doing it my way. That’s enough.”
What About the Hard Days?
Beth didn’t get here without doubt or setbacks. She still had days where she felt overwhelmed or afraid.
But coaching gave her tools to handle those moments differently:
Instead of spiralling into panic, she paused.
Instead of overthinking everything at once, she tackled one thing at a time.
"The biggest shift for me? I’m so much more rational now. I used to feel like every bad thing was the end of the world. Now I remind myself: ‘It’s okay. It’ll sort itself out."
Beth also found comfort in knowing she wasn’t alone. Being part of a group where others were tackling their own challenges helped her see her struggles in a new light.
"When I heard other people’s stories, I realised—maybe I’ll be fine, too. I stopped being so hard on myself.”
Is Beth’s Life Perfect Now?
No. And it doesn’t need to be.
Beth still has challenges. But she’s calm now. Intentional. Proud of herself.
She’s still running, still showing up, still building her path in a way that feels right for her. And she’s enjoying the small things that add up to a joyful life.
In fact, in early 2025, she’s pursuing her final Reflexology certificate, so she can start her own side hustle. And she already has an offer to deliver it at a local spa!
"Progress doesn’t have to look big or perfect. It’s the small steps that change everything. You just have to take them."
What About You?
If you’re where Beth was—tied up in knots, overwhelmed by the pressure to fix everything—I want to ask you the same question I asked her:
What’s one tiny, safe goal you could set this week?
One thing that feels so small it’s almost silly—but that you can actually do.
One step that doesn’t have to solve everything but could help you start moving.
Because here’s what Beth proved: Small steps build momentum. Momentum builds belief. And belief changes everything.
Beth’s story didn’t start with big, flashy goals. It started with one run. One job statement. One small step forward.
Where could your first step take you?