When people say they want to change, they usually mean something very tangible: I want to lose ten pounds. I want to eat healthier. I want to be more fit. They want to feel different in their body. Think differently. Respond differently. Live differently.

So people go and start a new fitness regimen. They work with a nutritionist. They're committed and they keep at it for a while... until it gets hard. And then inexplicably, they slide backwards, often blaming themselves for being undisciplined and unmotivated.

But consider this: what often gets overlooked in that backward slide is the power of our inputs and if they're propelling us forward in our new reality or holding us back.

Every day, we’re taking in information. Inputs. The podcasts we listen to while driving. The shows we binge when we’re tired. The news we check, out of habit. The social media we scroll without thinking. The conversations we have with the same people. None of these feel particularly consequential on their own, but together they form the backdrop of our lives. They shape what feels "normal," what feels familiar, and what feels possible.

If you’re trying to move toward a different version of yourself, it’s worth paying attention to that backdrop. Because your nervous system, your beliefs, and your expectations are quietly being reinforced by what you consistently consume.

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Consider your daily inputs: are they supportive of the Future You you want to become?

Close your eyes and imagine a friend group: you all get together for cocktails and margaritas. Jeannie complains about her husband never doing anything around the house. Claire talks about the neighbor down the way who's just announced their divorce. Michelle always has stories about her evil-crazy mother-in-law.

Now imagine a different friend group: you get together and meet for a brisk walk or a jog. Shelley is explaining her workout and recovery schedule since she's training for her first triathalon. Beth mentions how her legs feel stronger since starting collagen and creatine. Mary's joyful and glowing, having broken a new personal record of 5 unassisted pull-ups at the gym.

Which one feels comfortable?  But: which one feels inspiring? Most of us don’t notice this because these inputs feel neutral. Entertainment is just entertainment. News is just staying informed. Social media is just a break. Conversations are just conversations. But over time, patterns emerge. Some inputs leave you feeling inspired, clearer and more motivated in the direction you’re going. Others leave you comfortable, nostalgic, and/or stuck in the same mental loops.

So when you're wanting change in your life, the question is whether your inputs are pointing you forward. Or not.

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Your future self — the one who's healthier, with glowing skin; the one who feels stronger and is more confident in her body; the one who sleeps better, stresses less and is more at ease with what life brings her way — is living with different inputs. She’s traded serial crime podcasts and Bridgerton for new and different ideas, motivating conversations, and uplifting emotional environments. Her inner world is being reinforced in a way that supports where she’s headed, not where she’s been.

This is especially noticeable with the things we consume when we’re tired or vulnerable. Late at night. At the end of a long day. When we’re overstimulated or depleted. Those moments are powerful because the nervous system is more impressionable. It's so easy to reach for junk TV like The Real Housewives and watch women gossip and tear each other apart... but consider that what you feed your mind has a disproportionate impact on how you feel the next day.  Because it does.

The same is especially true for relationships and conversations. Some connections expand our sense of possibility. Others subtly reinforce old identities and limitations. This doesn’t mean people are bad or wrong. It means every interaction carries an orientation — toward growth, stagnation, fear, hope, or familiarity.

In my journey towards wellness, I've lost a number of friends — friends who remember me as the party girl, the insecure girl, or the one who always wants to know the latest gossip — and they can't seem to let go of that version. The evolved version of me doesn't fit with their idea of who I'm supposed to be in their minds. It saddens me that I'm no longer friends with these people, but it also reminds me of how far I've come and where I'm headed. Some things are meant to stay in the past.

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The truth is, change becomes much harder when your environment keeps pulling you back into patterns you’re trying to outgrow. So if you're truly committed to change, take a look at your inputs. 

Start asking yourself whether the inputs you’re regularly taking in — the podcasts, the shows, the social media influencers, the friends — support the direction you want to move in. Whether they lift you up or keep you comfortable.  Whether they expand your thinking or narrow it. So, observe. Notice. Then, slowly, decide if they're right for you.

When our inputs align with intention, something interesting happens: You notice a change in you. You become more motivated to like your Future You. Old habits lose some of their pull. Growth stops feeling like a constant uphill push. In a way, life gets easier, because you’re no longer feeding your nervous system messages that contradict what you’re trying to build.

If change feels elusive, it’s worth looking beyond sheer willpower and grit, and asking a quieter, more honest question: what am I immersing myself in every day, and where is that leading me?

You can do this. Let's age well naturally, love-

x
Juliana

PS - if you're looking for better inputs and don't know where to turn? GAIA is a platform I've quietly fallen in favor with. They're a channel like Disney+ or HBO, only they're focused on conscious living, wellness and transformation. It's like a channel of goodness, instead of toxicity and overwhelm. If you want to learn more, check them out here, they have a free 7-day trial where you can see if their content is a good fit for you. 

 
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