Recently, I found myself stuck in a cycle of self-doubt that felt impossible to escape. My business wasn't flowing, my goals seemed distant, and I was drowning in negative thinking. Sound familiar?

The Turning Point

I realized I'd stopped doing something crucial – visualizing my perfect day and believing in possibilities. When everything feels like a struggle, it's easy to lose hope. But I discovered a powerful approach to breaking through this mental fog.

My Three-Step Rescue Plan

1. Feel It, But Don't Live There

I gave myself 24 hours to fully experience my frustration. I journaled, talked to friends, and allowed myself to feel everything without judgment. The key? Setting a time limit so I didn't get permanently stuck.

2. Ground Yourself

During a walk with my dog, I started a simple grounding technique. I began naming everything I saw out loud – "tree," "bird," "water." It sounds silly, but it pulled me back to the present moment and broke my spiral of negative thinking.

I'm sitting in my hotel room in Nashville, feeling inspired after an incredible breathwork session today. You know those moments when clarity just hits you? That's what I want to share with you today—a simple but powerful concept that's been transforming both my clients' journeys and my own: checkpoints.

Here's what I've noticed with the high-achieving women in my programs: They show up consistently for weeks (sometimes getting four workouts in, sometimes only two), but they convince themselves they're not making progress because their consistency wasn't "perfect." Sound familiar?

This is exactly why checkpoints are non-negotiable in my fitness programs. We always begin with a strength test on day one—a practice I started years ago when I was falling out of love with working out. My friend Amanda and I would stay late at my gym and test different movements (kind of like an army PT test). We'd stay consistent with our training and then come back to those same tests weeks later to s...

I had one of those weeks. You know the kind—where everything you've been working on falls apart, and you feel like an absolute failure. I was sitting in my office, staring at the remnants of a project that completely flopped despite all my hard work, and I felt that familiar wave of disappointment wash over me.

But instead of spiraling, I stopped. I sat down and reflected on all the other times I've face-planted (sometimes literally) in my life. Like when I tore my ACL on American Ninja Warrior after training for years to get there. Or when I realized my gym wasn't financially sustainable despite the countless late nights I'd put into it.

Each time I thought my world was ending, but each time I got back up—and came back stronger.

That's when I remembered the quote that changed everything for me: "When one door closes, another one opens, but no one talks about the hallway in between." We're all familiar with those hallway moments—when one chapter has ended, but the next hasn't beg...

I'm coming to you today from the middle of what I call an "oh shit moment." You know the feeling—when everything you've been working toward seems to crumble right in front of you. My latest project completely flopped, and if I'm being honest, I feel like I'm failing big time.

But I stopped. I sat myself down and reflected on all the other times in my life when I felt exactly like this. The moments where I face-planted so hard in front of people and wasn't sure if I would ever get back up.

And you know what I realized? I always get back up. Every. Single. Time. Not only that, I always come back 10 times stronger.

The Hallway Between Doors

There's this quote that changed my perspective: "When one door closes, another one opens, but no one talks about the hallway in between."

Right now, I'm in that hallway—the space between an ending and a new beginning. It's dark. I can't see the light ahead, and every step feels like I'm making things harder. But I've learned that the hallway is...

Have you ever caught yourself waiting for someone or something to come along and fix everything? I know I have. But here's the truth I've learned that changed everything for me: nobody is coming to save you. This might sound harsh at first, but it's actually the most liberating realization I've ever had.

The Moment of Truth

I remember sitting in my apartment after another crushing setback, feeling completely defeated. I was waiting for that perfect opportunity, that one person who would recognize my potential, or that lucky break that would catapult me to success. Then it hit me – I was the hero I had been waiting for all along.

This realization didn't come easily. It came after years of setbacks, tears, and wondering "why me?" But once I embraced this truth, everything shifted. I stopped being a passenger in my own life and grabbed the steering wheel.

You Are the Hero of Your Own Journey

Think about your favorite movies or books. The hero always faces challenges – that's what ...

Are you consciously creating your future or simply reacting to whatever life throws your way? I believe that "If you're not living your life by design, you are living your life by default."

This idea, inspired by my close friend Jodie Cook's book "Stop Acting Like You're Going to Live Forever," challenges us to take control of our narrative rather than letting circumstances dictate our path.

What Does Living By Default Mean?

Living by default means you're merely reacting to situations instead of creating them. It's falling into routines, letting others' opinions dictate your choices, and staying stuck in patterns that don't serve you. It's the path of least resistance—and often, least fulfillment.

The Power of Intentional Living

When you live by design, you step into the driver's seat of your life. You create a roadmap, decide how you want to feel, what you want to achieve, and how you'll get there. This doesn't mean everything will go perfectly—setbacks are inevitable—but you'...

Today marks an exciting new chapter in my podcasting journey. I'm thrilled to announce that my podcast, formerly known as "Strong Feels Good," is evolving into something that better captures the essence of my mission. Welcome to "What If It All Goes Right?"

Why the Change?

You might be wondering why I've decided to rebrand a podcast that has been at the heart of so much of my journey. The truth is, while physical strength has always been important to me, my mission has always encompassed something greater. I've realized that what we talk about here goes far beyond just feeling strong.

My goal has always been to help you break through obstacles—those mental, emotional, and physical walls that hold you back—and empower you to live boldly, confidently, and authentically. This podcast is about asking better questions and choosing to see possibilities instead of limitations.

A Perspective That Changed My Life

This shift in perspective has guided me through my own challenges:

When I...

Here’s part 2 of this awesome series! I got some blood work done, and I am sharing my results with YOU. We’re going to go through my lab results with Jonathan Mendoza, a nurse practitioner and chiropractor. If you want to read and follow along, here are my results!. Missed part one? Check it out HERE!

In part 2, we’re doing a deep dive into the state of my liver, my inflamed thyroid and what it means for me, how stress hormones affect your sleep, the importance of a morning routine, and how your emotions play a huge role in what you eat and why. 

I hope this series helps you learn more about what your labs can tell you about your body. Stay tuned for part 3 next week!

RESOURCES:

Visit Jonathan’s Website

—-------------------------------------------

Freebies:

💪🏼 Free Pull-Up Challenge

💪🏼 7 Day Free Trial: Strong Feels Good At-Home Fitness Program

Deals + Steals: 

💪🏼 Get my 7 Day Core Mini Course for only $7

—-------------------------------------------

Let’s Connect!

Clayton Olson is a relationship and performance coach. Clayton left his corporate job in tech sales about 10 years ago, and pursued his natural knack for personal development to fix both himself and get inspired to help others. He got his coaching certification and found his niche in helping those dealing with breakups: both those who did the breaking up and those that were broken up with. After hundreds of conversations, he started seeing patterns, and he’s even branched into helping entrepreneurs deal with the relationship they have with themselves and with their business.

In this episode, we’re going to talk about attachment in relationships, breakups, getting ghosted and why that seems to be more and more common, key questions to ask on the first date, and how we can look inside ourselves to see our own contributions in failed relationships. 

I know I say this a lot, but no matter what bad things are going on in your life, you can use them as an opportunity to grow and beco...

I’m so excited to welcome Jodie Cook on the podcast! Jodie is an amazing entrepreneur who has not only owned and sold an agency, she’s written multiple books (some of which you’ve seen me talk about on instagram), and she’s also an insane powerlifter. This episode will be a game changer for you!

In this episode, we’re going to talk about Jodie’s writing career, her books, her formula for finding the perfect tribe, her entrepreneurial journey, and so much more.

How many of you allow yourselves to wake up in the morning and allow your mood to be dictated by external events? Jodie’s books are all about identifying negative loops and being the hero of your own day by interrupting those loops and pulling yourself out of them. 

If you haven’t gotten Jodie’s books, I highly recommend them. They are truly transformative! Click here to check them out.

Connect with Jodie:

Instagram: @jodie.cook_

Website: jodiecook.com

Preorder Ten Year Career!

—-------------------------------------...