But did you? Or did you trust her?

So many capable women aren’t ignoring their intuition. They’re obeying their inner critic and calling it intuition. Your Inner Mean Girl sounds protective, certain and fast, which is exactly how we’ve been told intuition should feel.

In this episode, I share the three differences between the two voices: volume, tone and direction. I also give you the Voice Check, three questions to run on any inner warning before you act on it:

1. Is this about me, or about the situation?
2. Is it shouting, or is it stating?
3. If I felt completely safe, would I still hear it?

Your homework: pick one decision you’ve been sitting on and run it through the Voice Check this week.

If you can see the pattern and you’re ready to do something about it, join my free Find Your North masterclass. That’s where we go deeper into trusting your own judgement again.

Register for the Masterclass!

We cover the difference between not knowing and not trusting what you know, the real cost of one more week of waiting, and why the decision to back yourself is not the reward at the end of the journey — it's the first step of it.

Ready to take the next step?
→ Join my free Monthly Masterclass: https://kirstiejohnstoncoaching-workshop.com

→ Work with me privately in True North: https://kirstiejohnston.com/true-north

In this episode, I'm sharing my own story. For years I built a successful corporate career. I managed seven-figure budgets, was the go-to person, and trained others to step into roles I wasn't backing myself to pursue. From the outside, I had it together. On the inside, I was replaying conversations at 3am, borrowing certainty from everyone around me, and quietly waiting for permission to believe in myself.

What I eventually realised was that I had two gaps, not one. I didn't trust my own judgement. And somewhere along the way, I'd lost track of what I actually wanted. It's very hard to trust yourself to go somewhere when you don't know where you're going.

This is episode four of the Self-Trust Series. It isn't the tidy version of my story. It's the real one: the slow build, the uncomfortable middle, and the ordinary moments where I chose to back myself anyway.

In this episode:

• Why external evidence of success doesn't create self-trust
• The hidden cost of "borrowed certainty" on your career and your energy
• What it means to live adjacent to your own life, and how to find your way back
• The four questions that helped me reconnect with what I really want
• How I learned to let a decision stand, even when someone disagreed
• Why the biggest act of self-trust isn't one brave moment, but everything you do before you know how the story ends

If you've built a good life but feel like you've lost yourself somewhere in it, you don't need to blow up your life and start again. You need space to hear yourself again.

Find your True North. It's my private six-week coaching experience to help you cut through the fog, reconnect with what you genuinely want, and walk away with a personalised 90-day roadmap for your next chapter. No call needed, so you can start whenever you're ready.
👉 kirstiejohnston.com/true-north

Not ready yet? Join my free monthly masterclass: https://kirstiejohnstoncoaching-workshop.com

Next episode is the final one in the Self-Trust Series: why you already know more than you think, and why knowing hasn't been enough to make you act.

Connect with me:
Instagram: @kirstiejohnston.coach
Facebook: facebook.com/kirstie.johnston.coach
Website: kirstiejohnston.com

We all know someone who has everything, the perfect job, the ideal partner, a happy family.

They make their success look effortless.

The good news is, you can unlock the secret to manifesting all of your dreams and greatest desires, and learn how to accomplish all of your life's goals.

Join Kirstie in this episode of Thoughts. Action. Success. as she shares how to unlock the secret to manifesting your dreams.

The sad part? Too many of us are not aware that this is happening.

Too many people are trying to be something they're not, and this grinds them down.

They keep pushing forward, but ultimately, they still don't measure up.

Regardless of how hard they try, and regardless of how much effort they put in, they simply aren't happy, nor are they fulfilled.

In this episode of Thoughts. Action. Success Kirstie will share how you can live a more meaningful and contented life by embracing your flaws!

Intricate to the journey of life is discovering what your true talents are and how you can use them in your everyday life. Perhaps you have a knack for communicating difficult concepts or love helping other people work through their problems; or do you get a buzz every time you cook food for the people you love? Exploring what your talents are, and then pursuing them, is a sure-fire way to living an authentic life.

Do you find that you have trouble falling or staying asleep?

Do you often wonder why you can't stop worrying and why you're always so fearful?

Do you wish you could overcome your anxious thoughts so that you can take control of your life and start to live the life you've always wanted?

Join Kirstie Johnston in this episode of Thoughts. Action. Success. as she shares how to stop the cycle of anxiety, worry and fear so you can regain control of your life.

• What Imposter Syndrome is
• What the symptoms are
• Why if affects people
• Who it affects
• How it affects them

And from there, you’ll have the world eating out of your hands. Are you ready?

I am talking about that voice inside your head that is constantly feeding you negative chatter. She lives in a perpetual state of fear and is always telling you you’re not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, wealthy enough, wise enough, brave enough or successful enough. (Hot tip: don’t listen to her!)

Join me to learn how to master that voice to live your best life.

That you are scared when walking into an unknown place?

That the same situations keep occurring over, and over, and over, and over?

You are not alone.

The problem is that people do not tackle the core of the issue.

They do not understand love and that all of their problems stem from a lack of self-love.

In this episode of Thoughts. Action. Success Kirstie shares with you the tools she has found to be helpful on her journey to finding self-love and those that she shares with her coaching clients.

There is nothing more attractive and sexier than when someone is showing up as her true authentic self.

Way too many women are terrified of showing their vulnerable sides. We’re afraid of anyone thinking we’re not ‘perfect. We think we have to do it all, we have to know all the answers, and that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Eventually, we start to develop a certain ‘toughness’ around the edges in order to cope – we build up a thick skin, we harden our shell, lock off our hearts, and we become distanced from our true inner goddess.

In part 1 she shared with you to get what you really want you need to:

· Identify what you really want

· Set exciting goals

· Create a plan to achieve your goals

Once you have done these 3 things you’ll be so far ahead of the vast majority of people! Now it is time for you to take action to achieve what you really want, and this is by far the hardest thing to do.

Do you recall what she told you about taking action on a daily basis to strengthen your subconscious mind? Not only that but your subconscious will see that you are serious and will help you to get what you want.

You may not realise this, but your subconscious mind is an all-conquering tool that you need on your side to overcome the challenges that lay ahead. It will provide you with much-needed intuition about how to tackle all of your problems.

Your thoughts are responsible for where you are today. Whatever you have or don’t have in your life right now is down to your previous thoughts. So, what do you think that you need to change to get what you really want?

That’s right you need to change your thoughts.

And it is not just about changing your thoughts either – you need to control them if you want success.

Is this easy? No, it isn’t…

It is possible? Yes, it certainly is!

Do you ever wake up feeling constantly tired and stressed? Does life just seem too much?

Sure, I get it. You have lots of work to do. Perhaps you have debt. Maybe you’re tired from shopping and maybe you’ve got a stomachache.

Now think about a true warrior. This is about knowing what you want and going for it. It’s about being tough and it’s about not letting little things get you down.

• It’s about pushing ahead with what you know is right and it’s about carrying responsibility and hardship on your shoulders with dignity and pride.
• It’s about not letting your emotions get the better of you and it’s about not taking the easy answer or the easy route to solve your problems.

Join Kirstie in this episode as she delves deeper into this concept and shares that if we are busy trying to manipulate our feelings because of wanting to feel good, then we miss out on the real contentment that flows from recognising the essential "rightness" of events in life. 

Today, we're tackling the number one dream killer for many people – SELF-DOUBT.

If you have a big dream or goal, experiencing self-doubt is normal. In this episode, I share my experience and 3 Tips to help you overcome the barriers self-doubt creates.

March's theme in my Facebook Group is Harnessing the Power of Self-Doubt. I'm excited to help as many women as possible push aside barriers to living their dreams.

You'll learn how to become aware of when self-doubt is stopping you and how to push it aside.

I'd love to hear what resonates with you and what you plan to implement after listening. Share in the Empowered Women's Mindset Mastery Facebook group.

Live the Dream!

Love,

Kirstie

From the time we were born, many of us have been educated to be a version of ourselves that please others. Whether it comes from the way you were raised or how you were taught in school, we often learn to put a mask on and be an actor in our life.

Unfortunately, that behaviour will not lead you to be happy and live a fulfilling life. You can discover the best version of yourself and transform your life so that you are no longer an actor in your life. Choose to live the life that was made for you.

With commitment, vulnerability, and curiosity, you will be able to be the best version of yourself and put away the mask that you’ve been wearing for much too long. Are you ready to claim your power?

Are there things in your life, small or large, that you'd like to achieve but don't feel you have enough motivation, confidence or skills? Perhaps you believe achieving them will help you become healthier, happier, more satisfied, inspired or fulfilled.

Are you passionate about living your most powerful life? Is there something incredible you've thought of which, if achieved would leave a legacy behind you, something you could look back on and be really proud of?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then you will want to listen to this episode of Thoughts. Action. Success where Kirstie shares how to consciously craft the life you want through goal setting.

In this episode of Thoughts. Action. Success., Kirstie Johnston unpacks the hidden paradox of the high-achieving woman: the stronger you appear on paper, the more fragile your confidence can feel internally.

If you’re the woman everyone relies on…
If your resume is stacked but your mind is restless…
If you overthink decisions you’re more than qualified to make…

This conversation is for you.

Inside this episode, we explore:

• Why evidence of success doesn’t automatically create self-trust
• The addiction to external validation that keeps high performers stuck
• The nervous system’s role in self-doubt and why leadership can feel “unsafe”
• The three archetypes of self-distrust: The Poller, The Over-Preparer, and The Shape-Shifter
• How to distinguish anxiety from intuition
• Practical steps to begin installing real, embodied self-authority

This isn’t about beginners. This is about capable women who are exhausted from over-preparing, over-performing, and over-working just to feel secure.

You are not broken.
You are patterned.

And patterns can be rewired.

If you’re ready to stop outsourcing your authority and start leading from calm self-trust, take the quiz https://bit.ly/LeadHerQuiz

Awareness doesn’t create change.
Installation does.

Let’s dive in.

But why is it that so few people succeed, and far too many continue living unhappy and mediocre lives, their dreams all but forgotten?

Do you feel the same way? Do you think it’s practically impossible for you to achieve what you’ve longed for all your life? Do you think you don’t have what it takes to succeed?

We’ve all had “off” days – days where we just want to snuggle in bed, binge-watch our favourite Netflix shows and do nothing else.

And there’s really nothing with this picture, we all deserve a break from time to time.

However, it becomes wrong when it’s all you ever want to do – when the breaks become the norm and work becomes the exception.

When you can’t get yourself out of your rut, when you find yourself procrastinating, and you can’t muster the energy to do what you know you should be doing, then you need help.

Join Kirstie Johnston as she shares the hidden secrets to motivation and achieving personal power.

Kirstie talks about how our relationship with money is a reflection of all other areas of your life. And how it is a great barometer for how you're going as a whole. She  shares that if you have a scarcity mentality regarding your finances, you'll more likely have that same mentality in other areas of your life too, like your health and love.

These are:

• Psychological tools that work on your mindset and beliefs

• Physical tools that work through a process called biofeedback

• Exercises that can help facilitate mental and emotionalbreakthroughs.

And then how consistency is the glue that makes all the other tools work.

Kirstie talks about how your time, energy and space are very precious, so be careful who you give them to. And with those people, you do choose to give your energy to, give like your life depends on it – give love with your whole heart and don’t hold back an inch. Because remember what you put out you get back. And if you want more love in your life you must first be love and give more love.

When it comes to being you, authenticity is something that we often struggle with. It is too easy to be caught up by who you think you should be, who others want you to be and attempts to be a conglomeration of those you admire and even envy.

In this episode join Kirstie as she shares the answer to the question - Who are you really - and how do you work it out when there are so many factors that influence the answer? How do you cut through the opinions and expectations of others, the falsehood of materialism and Western aspirations of ownership and status to work out the authentic you? How do you become brave enough to look deeply inside to discover your "self", warts and all?

Growth and achievement require change – they go hand in hand. While change is what everyone seeks as they embark on a journey of self-growth and improvement, so many of us seem to stumble when change comes along. Why is it that when you’re actively seeking to change your life, you find yourself defensive, aggressive and falling back into old habits? How do you go about breaking down those defences to ensure you can continue to grow throughout life and achieve the goals you set for yourself?

‘I thought I could, I thought I could.” – from The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.

It’s well known that humans are creatures of habit. Habitual thoughts are the precursors that drive emotions, so if you want to change aspects of your life that are not working for you, you need to start by changing the thoughts behind them. In this episode of Thoughts. Action. Success I am going to share with you what I have discovered from five specialists who have helped me move on from unhelpful thinking to become the person I was meant to be.

You can get what you really want in your life if you know how to go about it the right way. Most people have no idea what they really want in their life and as a result, they let life control them and end up being bitterly disappointed.

The first thing that you need to accept is that getting what you want is going to take time and effort. Most people don’t know what they really want because they cannot be bothered to think about it deeply. They would sooner waste their time on social media or watching TV.

These days we are surrounded by motivational messages telling us to go after what we really want. So why do so many people fail to do this?

But one thing we all have in common is that we can all invest 10 seconds if it means dealing with stress much better.

So what exactly am I talking about?

Well, it's a technique that I will share with you about how ten seconds can make all of the difference...

It's all about some actionable information that will help you deal with the stress that everyday life throws your way.

In this episode of The Self-Trust Series, I walk you through the five patterns I see constantly in high-achieving women — habits that look like strengths from the outside, but underneath are strategies for avoiding the discomfort of uncertainty. By the end, you'll recognise yourself in at least one of them. Probably more.

We cover:

Pattern 1 — Overthinking: why it looks like being thorough, and why it never delivers the certainty it promises

Pattern 2 — Perfectionism: the difference between high standards and fear of being seen as not enough

Pattern 3 — People-pleasing: the one-question test that separates generosity from self-abandonment

Pattern 4 — Reassurance-seeking: the "collaborative" habit that's really borrowing other people's certainty

Pattern 5 — Visibility avoidance: fear dressed as modesty, and its quiet lifetime cost

Plus: the common thread — why all five patterns share one root, and why that's good news

Download the free 5 Patterns Checklist: https://kirstiejohnston.com/free-resource — walk through each pattern with tick-box prompts and find the one that's running the show for you.

Then come tell me: DM me your pattern number — 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 — on Instagram @kirstiejohnston.coach. I read every message.

Next episode: the full LEAD framework — the exact process I use inside LEAD Her to rebuild self-trust from the inside out.

Fear of public speaking? Scared of heights? Whatever it may be you need to listen to this episode.

You will discover:

• What you need to know about fear
• What are the disadvantages of fear
• Why you should conquer your fear
• 10 techniques to conquer your fear

and much, much more!

As a person just like you who has struggled with getting empowered for love, I have searched high and low to find the best strategies to fix this problem and I am fully qualified and equipped to help you put an end to your frustration with trying to wade through all the info you need to know to be a success!

Life is incomplete without love. Love can make your world go round. Without love, you will never be happy.  Love teaches you to understand how to value people, the environment and other things that surround you.

And all of this up till now is just the beginning!

Are you ready?

If that landed — even slightly, even in a way you'd rather not admit — this episode is for you.

In the first episode of the Self-Trust Series, Kirstie Johnston breaks open the distinction that changes everything: you don't have a confidence problem. You have a self-trust problem. And they are not the same thing.

If you're a high-achieving woman who second-guesses decisions you're more than qualified to make, overthinks emails you've already sent, polls three people before trusting your own instincts, or finds yourself performing certainty while privately swimming in doubt — Kirstie names exactly what's happening, why it's so common among capable women, and what it's quietly costing you.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why confidence and self-trust are entirely different things — and why fixing the wrong one keeps you stuck
• The portrait of the high-achieving woman who looks like she has it all together but can't find the off switch in her own head
• The four root causes of self-trust erosion: Good Girl Conditioning, the Achievement Trap, the Validation Loop, and Perfectionism
• Why perfectionism isn't a standard — it's an anxiety management strategy
• The four-step framework for rebuilding self-trust from the inside out
• This week's one practical takeaway: how to start tracking your "polling moments" — and why noticing is more powerful than it sounds

This is Episode 1 of a five-part series going deep on the single greatest block between the capable, driven woman and the life and leadership she actually wants.

This week's action: Start tracking your polling moments — the times you already know the answer but reach for someone else's opinion before you'll trust it. You don't have to change the behaviour yet. Just notice.

Ready to understand your specific self-doubt pattern? Take the free Lead Her Quiz — find out whether you're a Poller, an Over-Preparer, or a Shapeshifter. Link in show notes.

"The woman you want to be — the one who makes decisions without the endless loop of second-guessing — she's not a different version of you. She is you, with a different relationship to yourself."

Connect with Kirstie:InstagramLead Her Quiz

(When You’re Capable, Experienced, and Still Overthinking)

You’re capable.
You’ve achieved a lot.
So why does self-doubt still have a say in your decisions?

If you’ve ever found yourself overthinking choices you’re more than qualified to make, questioning your instincts, or feeling unsettled despite outward success — this episode is for you.

In this conversation, we go beyond surface-level “confidence tips” and explore what’s really happening beneath self-doubt for high-achieving women.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• why self-doubt often gets louder as you grow, not quieter

• why confidence doesn’t come from achievement, insight, or positive thinking

• how your inner critic (or “Mean Girl”) isn’t the enemy — just outdated

• the hidden cost of letting self-doubt lead your life

• what actually changes when you move from self-improvement to self-leadership

This episode is an invitation to stop fixing yourself — and start leading yourself.

Because self-doubt isn’t a flaw.
It’s a leadership issue.
And leadership can be learned.

If this episode resonated, please follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with a woman who needs to hear this message.

Thoughts create actions.
Actions create success.
But leadership starts within.

— Kirstie

Today's quote is from George Lucas: Always remember your focus determines your reality.

Take a moment today to listen and be inspired as you start your week. It'll help you understand the significant role focus plays in crafting your dream life. 
 
Dream Big - and have a lovely week 💛

Kirstie

Just imagine you are reading a book. The very first page of the book will set the impression on how the book is going to be.

If the first page of the book is written poorly, you can bet the rest of the book will boring and not worth your time reading.

Similarly, that’s just how your day will going to be.

If you have a hectic morning, unplanned, and feeling all grumpy...

... the rest of your day will be this way and it will be hard to get it fixed.

Which is why it’s so important for you to conquer your morning right.

And today...

It’s All Going To Change when you listen to this episode of Thoughts. Action.Success

You’ll learn:

• The mental and physical toll of overthinking and how it impacts your well-being

• Practical tools to interrupt the cycle of overthinking, including journaling and mindfulness techniques

• How Kirstie's signature Rise Method helps women move from self-doubt to unstoppable confidence, breaking the cycle of overthinking for good

If you're ready to stop the mental treadmill and start living with clarity and confidence, this episode is for you. Tune in and discover how to unlock your power and take inspired action toward the life you truly deserve.

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with a friend who needs to hear this message. You’ve got this, gorgeous—keep rising!

Join me as we bust the biggest myths about confidence, uncover what authentic self-belief looks like, and explore practical steps to help you:
✅ Identify and celebrate your unique strengths.
✅ Take small, courageous actions to step out of your comfort zone.
✅ Shift your focus from perfection to progress.

If self-doubt has been holding you back, this episode is your invitation to start rewriting the narrative.

And if you’re ready to take your confidence to the next level, don’t miss my 6-week coaching program designed to help midlife women like you silence their inner critic, rebuild their self-belief, and create bold transformation.

🎧 Tune in now and take the first step toward reclaiming your power!

If you are experiencing hard times in your life, it is very important that you become familiar with the term “law of attraction,” or LOA. The law of attraction states that you are basically responsible for all the circumstances of your life, whether good or bad. You draw everything into your life that exists. You have the power to create positive circumstances in your life, you just have to know how to harness the power of the law of attraction.

In this episode, I will share with you exactly what you need to do to finally be a success with LOA!

They feel like they want to make a more significant difference in the world, but don't know where to start.

Too many of us walk through our lives, feeling numb and desperate for a deeper connection but don't know how to get it.

More and more people are searching for their true calling and purpose in life, but suffer tremendous inner turmoil while they do it.

They continue to work at a job that they hate and continue down a path that doesn't make them happy.

Unfortunately, we are so focused on the careers that we dislike, that our passions and purpose is getting pushed aside and forgotten about.

Are you living your true purpose?

Join Kirstie Johnston on this episode of Thoughts. Action. Success where she shares how to awaken your true calling in life and finally do the work that you love to do.

In today’s episode of Thoughts. Action. Success., we are dismantling that belief.

Host Kirstie dives into the science of survival strategies and why your brain isn’t designed for happiness—it’s designed for safety. If you are a high-achiever who feels like your success is built on anxiety and perfectionism, this episode is your permission slip to stop "fixing" yourself and start understanding your patterns.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Flaw vs. The Pattern: Why your "weaknesses" were actually survival strategies that worked.

• The High-Achiever Paradox: Why society rewards your trauma responses (and how it leads to burnout).

• Midlife Unmasking: Why these patterns feel louder and heavier as we get older.

• The Software Update: How to move from being "run" by your patterns to leading with awareness.

Stop asking "What's wrong with me?" and start asking "Where did I learn this?"

✨ TAKE THE QUIZ: Who is really leading your life? Identify your survival archetype—The Perfectionist, The Protector, or The Martyr—and learn how to step back into the driver's seat.

Join me in this episode as I share everything you need to know to be a success and achieve your goal of getting your relationships to a successful place.

Self-confidence comes from within. Outside stimulation may help but it would all still boil down to knowing yourself and using that knowledge to gain confidence.

To get self-confidence, you must realise that your limitations must not limit you and your attributes must not destroy you. Instead, use all these factors to develop a personality that would be productive for you and all those that surround you.

Everything has to start somewhere. Unless you start revamping your self-confidence, you will have to agonise endlessly with the very thing you are fearful of – low self-confidence.

Living with gratitude is one of the major keys to living a happy and prosperous life.

Gratitude is one of the greatest virtues you can possess in your life and something that you can easily learn.

Having a lack of gratitude in your life can make it more challenging to make it through difficult situations and has left you feeling a void in your life that you can’t seem to fill.

In this episode of Thoughts. Action. Success Kirstie shares with you a step-by-step plan to achieving greatness using the power of gratitude.

Some people squeeze toothpaste from the bottom of the tube, whereas others squeeze it from the top.

Some people like the toilet roll to go on the holder with the paper hanging down from the front, whereas others like it to hang from the back.

Some people like to eat their Oreo cookies by taking a big bite, whereas others like to pry the bikkies apart and scoop out the insides.

So who is right?

We go through life doing our best to reach our dreams and our goals. We think that once we’ve achieved success, we’ll finally be happy and at peace with the world. This may be true. However, the simple fact is that not everyone’s going to end up successful. Only a small minority will reach the pinnacle of wealth and power. Most of us are going to get stuck living mediocre lives.

So, the question is, does that mean a small percentage of people are going to live happy lives? Are the rich, powerful and successful the only ones with the right to be happy?

The answer is, fortunately, no. You need neither money nor power to have a happy and fulfilling life. After all, happiness is a state of mind.

You can have all the money in the world and still be unhappy. On the other side of the coin, you may not have many worldly possessions but still, live a very happy life.

In this show, I am going to share with you that your happiness is not dependent on money, career, or status in life. It starts with you.

With these simple tips, you’ll set healthy boundaries and take back your life in no time!