Cognitive Dissonance — The Mental Discomfort That Happens When You’re Growing
Before I became a coach, I used to set goals—and the moment things got uncomfortable, I’d panic.
I’d make the discomfort mean I was doing something wrong.
That maybe I wasn’t meant to have that goal.
That maybe success was for other people, not me.
What I didn’t know then was that the discomfort had a name: cognitive dissonance.
🧠 What Is Cognitive Dissonance?
Cognitive dissonance is the mental tension you feel when you’re holding two contradictory beliefs at the same time.
It sounds like:
“I want to build a successful business…”
and
“I’m not sure I’m capable of doing it.”
It’s that uncomfortable tug-of-war between the version of you who’s growing—and the version of you who’s scared to let go of old beliefs.
This mental discomfort doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means you’re evolving.
💥 Why It Feels So Hard
Your brain doesn’t like change. It wants to protect you by keeping you in the familiar—even if the familiar is exhausting or unfulfilling.
So when you start setting bigger goals, your brain goes into resistance mode.
It creates stories like:
“Maybe I’m not ready.”
“This is too hard.”
“What if I fail?”
That’s not evidence you can’t do it.
That’s your old identity fighting for survival.
Every time you hit this internal friction, it’s not a sign to stop.
It’s a sign you’re crossing into growth.
🌉 How to Work Through Cognitive Dissonance
I teach my clients to move through this discomfort using bridge thoughts—stepping stones that take you from disbelief to possibility.
Instead of jumping from “I can’t” to “I can,”
start with thoughts like:
“It’s possible that I can.”
“I’m open to believing this could work.”
“Someone like me has done this before.”
Bridge thoughts calm your nervous system, help your brain adapt, and make growth feel safer and more sustainable.
If you’ve been spinning between wanting more and doubting yourself, it’s time to find out what’s really creating that mental tug-of-war.
Take my free quiz: “What’s Blocking Your Business and Income?”
You’ll uncover whether your discomfort comes from emotional overload, fear of failure, or hidden overworking patterns—and how to move forward with clarity and confidence.
💼 The Tangible Impact of Working Through Cognitive Dissonance
When you stop resisting discomfort and start understanding it, everything changes.
My clients experience:
💰 More income: because they stop quitting halfway through their breakthroughs.
⚡️ Faster progress: because they stop confusing discomfort with danger.
💖 Peace and confidence: because they learn to trust themselves in uncertainty.
The moment you stop running from discomfort is the moment you start accelerating results.
💎 3 Awareness Questions
What thoughts feel most uncomfortable when I imagine achieving my next goal?
How do I usually react when I feel that mental tension—avoid, overwork, or quit?
What if this discomfort meant growth, not failure?
⚡️ 3 Quick Wins
Name It: When the discomfort rises, say, “This is cognitive dissonance—nothing’s gone wrong.”
Bridge It: Replace “I can’t” with “I’m learning how.”
Anchor It: End your day by writing one sentence that starts with, “Today, I stretched into a new version of me by…”
✨ Ready to Grow Without Quitting on Yourself?
Growth isn’t supposed to feel comfortable—it’s supposed to feel like stretching.
When you learn to work with cognitive dissonance instead of fighting it, your goals stop feeling impossible and start feeling inevitable.
Take my free quiz: “What’s Blocking Your Business and Income?”
You’ll discover the real reason growth feels uncomfortable—and how to make success feel safe, grounded, and sustainable.
Or schedule a consultation to learn how to move through discomfort with ease—and create the results you’ve been dreaming of, without burning out.
