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EP.35: You Don’t Need to “Catch Up” – The Power of Starting Right Where You Are

You don’t need to “catch up.” You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

March has a way of making us feel like we should be further along—whether it’s with our goals, our routines, or just life in general. But what if you didn’t need to make up for lost time? What if you could simply start right where you are?

In this episode, we’re talking about the power of beginning again without pressure or guilt. You’ll learn how to let go of the feeling that you’ve fallen behind, shift into a mindset of gentle progress, and trust that every step forward—no matter how small—is enough.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to reset, refocus, and move forward with more ease and clarity, this is it.

Press play, take a deep breath, and let’s begin — right where you are.

Introduction

Hi everyone, welcome back to the Be Still With Bobbi podcast.

It’s a new month, and I don’t know about you, but March has always felt like a breath of fresh air to me. The days are slowly getting longer, the light is shifting, and even though we’re not quite into full spring yet, there’s this undeniable feeling of newness in the air.

Plus, here in Nashville, we tend to start having “teaser weather” around this time. Where a handful of the days in March are warm and sunny and feel like spring has already arrived – it’s one of my favorite things about living here.

But, even with the hope of spring on the horizon, March also tends to be a month where I start to feel a little behind.

Can you relate?

You may start the year with so much energy and hope. Maybe you set some new intentions, made some plans, or even chose a word for the year. But then, life happens. You get sidetracked. A bout of sickness runs through your house. And you wake up in March realizing that February came and went, and suddenly, you’re looking around thinking: Wait… wasn’t I supposed to be further along at this point in the year?

Whether you were hoping to focus on your health, hone in on your time management skills, or even put more intentional growth into a business or side hustle you’re creating. You might now realize you’ve only done a fraction of what you thought you would do.

Only now, March signals the last month of the first quarter, and it’s like a giant reality check that one-fourth of the year is already almost over, and you’re not even close to accomplishing what you’d hoped.

Don’t worry. This is what we’re talking about today. The idea that you are not behind and therefore not in need of catching up.

You can refocus and begin again right where you are, without putting any pressure on yourself or feeling like you’re not far enough along yet. We’re also going to talk about what it actually looks like to start again from where you are instead of where you’d hoped you’d be at this point in the year.

This episode is totally for you if:

You feel like the year is slipping away, and you haven’t quite started the things you wanted to.
You’re carrying guilt for not sticking with the goals you set in January.
You just want a fresh start, but you’re feeling the weight of past expectations.

I want to help you shift your perspective today. Because here’s the truth:

You do not have to have it all figured out by now.
You do not need to “catch up.”
And March? This is the perfect time to reset, but not in the way you think.

Let’s talk about how to start from where you are — without the pressure.

Part 1: Letting Go of the Guilt of “Falling Behind”

First, let’s address the guilt.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought:

I should be further along by now.
I was supposed to be consistent, and I wasn’t, so why even bother?
I always do this—I start strong, and then I lose momentum.

P.S. That last one has my name written all over it.

Here’s what I want you to hear: You have not failed. You are not behind. You are exactly where you’re meant to be.

January and February were not wasted months. They were teachers.

Maybe you needed more rest than you thought.
Maybe something unexpected pulled your attention in a different direction.
Maybe the vision you had wasn’t fully formed yet—and that’s okay.

Let’s stop measuring progress by the calendar and start measuring progress by alignment.

Because the truth is, starting over in March—without guilt—is not about “getting you back on track.” It’s about making sure the track you’re on actually fits where your heart is leading you.

These are the conversations we’re having in our weekly Be Still Collective calls. We’re talking about letting go of the internal (and sometimes external) pressure to make things happen.

Sitting in the stillness with God is all about peace and ease, not pressure and guilt. When you’re walking the path with God – sitting with him or talking to him daily – he is in charge of making sure you get where you hope to go. You’re job is to simply stay in step and follow the divine breadcrumbs.

I know this sounds too simplistic. But hear me out. Living this way truly does eliminate the guilt. On a recent Be Still Collective call, we were talking about closing out our journal sessions each day by asking the question, “God, what is it that you have for me today?”

The purpose of this question is to hone in on what God deems most important for you to accomplish while simultaneously allowing yourself the freedom to let go of everything else. Co-creating with God means you trust him enough to keep you on the track you hope to be on, even when you can’t quite see how the daily tasks he gives will ensure your arrival at the destination.

As we were talking about this topic, one of the members asked a really valid question: “What if God only ever instructs me to do laundry?”

It sounds really funny, even now. But in my experience, God’s instructions are so simple because they have to be.

We think that in order to accomplish really big and amazing things, we have to have lists and a road map and a million things on our to-do list. But the reality is, when God’s in charge, he only ever gives one thing to do at a time. One, really basic thing at a time.

Just yesterday, I was on a call with my mentor, and he reminded me that this is the purest definition of faith.

If we’re sitting with God on a regular basis and telling him our hopes and dreams, he knows the path that will lead us right to all that we wish for. But too often, we want to take back control of the way forward, thinking control will give us peace of mind. But really, our control is just an illusion. And we’d get there faster if we let God lead.

If you struggle with this, please know you’re not alone. I struggle with this too, and I teach this!

Here are some Journaling Prompts to take into your quiet time around this topic of guilt:

Where in my life have I felt like I’ve “fallen behind”?
Is this actually true, or is this just a story I’m telling myself?
What if I believed I was exactly where I’m meant to be?
Maybe even ask God – am I behind? Or am I still on the right path? Is there anything you’d have me do differently?
And, of course, add this simple question to your daily stillness practice: What do you have for me today, God?

Be sure to follow that last question with a moment of silence. It’s easiest to hear God’s voice in the quiet. Then … and this is the hard part … don’t second-guess the answer you hear in the stillness. Maybe laundry is the only thing that matters that day. And maybe you’re meant to listen to a podcast that sparks an idea while you’re sorting socks. Later, you might learn that had you ignored the prompt to “just” do laundry, you’d have never heard that idea.

I’ve slowly learned to trust God’s process in this way. Over time, when you see how all the dots begin to connect, you realize that God’s way is truly the simplest way, and we need to get out of his way in order to let him show us the way.

Part 2: My hope is that you can start to see March as a gentle reset — not a harsh restart.

One of the biggest reasons we resist starting over is because we assume we have to “make up for lost time.”

But what if we approached this month as a gentle reset instead of a harsh restart?

Because a harsh restart says:

“You have to do this perfectly this time.”
“You already messed up, so now you have to work twice as hard.”
“If you’re not doing everything right away, you’re failing again.”

But a gentle reset says:

“You can ease into this at your own pace.”
“Every small step counts.”
“This is about reconnecting with yourself, not punishing yourself.”

If you were to think about this like a garden …

You don’t just walk outside in early March and expect to see a full bloom of flowers. The ground is just now beginning to soften. The light is just now beginning to shift. And the seeds you plant today might not bloom for a little while, but they will bloom.

And guess what? You can’t rush the process. Standing in front of your flower beds yelling at the flowers for not blooming isn’t going to make them bloom any faster.

But we don’t use this same logic with ourselves. We put ourselves on some imaginary timeline and then berate our lack of progress, which is honestly the worst possible way to reach a goal. No one I know thrives under a blanket of guilt or shame. Yet we use these all the time as tools to try and get ahead.

Something came to mind as I was contemplating the mindset difference between a gentle reset and a harsh restart.

I was reminded of the fitness challenge – 75 Hard. In this challenge, there are a series of “rules” you have to follow in order to reach the completion – things like doing two 45-minute workouts every day, drinking a gallon of water, and eliminating alcohol completely for the duration. It’s 75 days long, and you can’t miss any of the tasks each day, or you have to start all over at the beginning.

I personally have never attempted this challenge for many reasons, but the number one reason is because I’m already hard enough on myself as it is.

The older I get, the more in tune I become with the word “gentle” in almost everything I do. In fact, I’ve even taught my daughters how to recognize when life feels hard, or when the day just feels off, or when they don’t quite feel like themselves. On those days, we have a mantra around here: Be gentle with yourself today.

Grace, compassion, and understanding all start with you. You have to be willing to give yourself a mental break from striving all the time. Harsh words and strict rules aren’t helpful. We’re all just doing the best we can to survive our daily lives and the weight of the world around us without collapsing.

Seriously, take a good look at your life and your week this week. Is it full of joy and happiness? Or is it full of hard and heavy? Where can you trim away the daunting mental energy and make room for gentleness to take over?

Here are some journaling prompts to help you get started:

Where in my life have I been too hard on myself, and how can I offer myself more grace?
If I approached this month with a mindset of gentleness instead of perfection, what would change?
What small, nourishing habits can I introduce that feel good instead of forced?
How can I tell when I need to be gentler with myself? What signs does my mind or body give me?
If I spoke to myself the way I would encourage a dear friend, what would I say about this season of life?
Where in my daily routine can I soften my expectations and create more space for joy?
What would it look like to let go of the pressure to “catch up” and instead trust the natural rhythm of my life?

Part 3: Now, let’s talk about using Stillness & Journaling to create clarity.

I know I say this often, but I’ll say it again (and again and again): If you’re feeling unclear about what’s next, the best possible thing you can do is get quiet.

And March is the perfect time for this.

Of course, I get that sitting still isn’t easy and often we need to give our brain an activity to do in the quiet, so here are some simple strategies to help you in your approach:

First, Pause Before You Plan

Most of us have been conditioned to believe that clarity comes from making a plan, taking action, and figuring it out as we go. But what if real clarity comes before we ever start moving?

Imagine standing in front of a foggy mirror after a hot shower. You can see a vague outline of yourself, but everything is blurred. Now, you have two choices: You can frantically wipe at the fog, creating smudges and streaks that distort your reflection even more, or you can pause, let the air settle, and allow the clarity to come naturally.

This is what stillness does. Instead of rushing into action and making decisions based on external noise, you allow space for clarity to come to you. You sit with your thoughts, your emotions, and your desires without immediately trying to fix or force them into a set plan.

Before making your next move—whether it’s setting a goal, shifting your work, making a big decision, or simply figuring out what you want this month to look like — pause first. Let the fog settle. Sit in stillness, even if it’s just for five minutes. Take a deep breath. And give yourself permission to listen before you leap.

Second, Use Your Journal as a Mirror

We often assume that we need answers before we can start journaling, but in reality, journaling is where the answers show up.

Think of your journal like a mirror. If you’ve ever tried on a new outfit in a dressing room, you know the mirror doesn’t judge you—it simply reflects back what’s already there. If something doesn’t fit, you don’t get mad at the mirror. You don’t throw the dress away because it doesn’t look the way you imagined. You just adjust. Maybe you try something different. Maybe you realize you actually love the way something looks, even if it isn’t what you expected.

Your journal works the same way. When you write freely—without pressure, without judgment—you start to see yourself more clearly. You start to notice the patterns of your thoughts, the dreams you keep coming back to, and the emotions that need your attention.

But if you only glance at yourself quickly—only journaling when you’re in crisis or when you feel like you have something profound to say—you miss out on the deeper clarity that comes with consistency. Just like checking your reflection throughout the day helps you adjust as needed, regular journaling helps you refine your thoughts, acknowledge your emotions, and get honest with yourself.

So, instead of waiting until you have everything figured out before you pick up your pen, just write. Let your journal reflect what’s already inside of you. You don’t have to know the answers—just start with what you know today.

And Third, Ask God for Guidance

How often do we treat prayer and stillness as a last resort? We exhaust every option, weigh all possible scenarios, spiral in indecision—and only then do we finally sit down and ask God for guidance.

But imagine if, instead of waiting until we’re overwhelmed, we made stillness our first step.

Think about the way a GPS works. You don’t get in your car, start driving, and then randomly check your GPS later to see if you’re heading the right way. You check it before you start moving. You set your destination first so that every turn you take is intentional.

Asking God for guidance is like setting your spiritual GPS. It’s an act of surrender, of saying, “I don’t have to figure this all out on my own.” It doesn’t mean you won’t have to make decisions, take action, or trust the process, but it does mean you’re not doing it blindly.

Stillness isn’t passive. It’s not about waiting for every answer to be handed to you. It’s about creating space for wisdom to rise up. It’s about being open to divine nudges, unexpected signs, and the quiet certainty that comes when you stop forcing clarity and start receiving it instead.

So, before you spiral into overthinking, pause. Instead of turning to Google, social media, or the opinions of others, sit with God first. Ask Him to guide your next step. Even if you don’t hear a clear answer immediately, trust that clarity will come.

Often, the reason we struggle to start fresh isn’t because we don’t know what to do—it’s because we’re filling the space where clarity could come with busyness instead of being.

Learning how to just be with our thoughts opens the gates of possibility. Don’t avoid it. Step into it.

Here are some Journaling Prompts for Cultivating Clarity:

If I paused before making my next big decision, what might I hear in the silence?
(Write down any thoughts, emotions, or gut feelings that come up when you sit in stillness.)
What patterns keep showing up in my journaling or thoughts? What might they be trying to tell me?
(Are there recurring dreams, desires, frustrations, or questions that keep surfacing?)
Where in my life am I acting out of obligation instead of intention?
(Are there areas where I’m making decisions just because I “should” rather than because they align with my heart and purpose?)
If I stopped overthinking and simply asked God for guidance, what would I pray about today?
(Write your prayer as if you were sitting across from Him over coffee, sharing your heart.)
Where do I feel rushed or pressured to figure things out? How would it feel to release that urgency?
(What would change if I trusted that clarity will come in its own time?)
If I could wake up tomorrow with complete clarity about one thing, what would it be?
(Name the one area where you’re craving direction the most right now.)
How can I make stillness a daily habit—even in small ways?
(List a few simple, practical ways you can incorporate stillness into your routine – is it as simple as turning off the radio on your drive to work? Or taking 5 minutes at the end of your day to jot down whatever you’re grateful for? Don’t overcomplicate it.)

Part 4: A Fresh Start Without the Pressure

Here’s my invitation for you this month:

Instead of seeing March as a deadline to “get your act together” or to regroup and force yourself back into whatever resolutions you made in January, what if you saw it as a doorway into something much lighter?

What if you didn’t have to sprint into this month? What if you didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, not even yourself?

What if, instead, you simply allowed yourself to begin—gently, intentionally, and in alignment with where you are today?

After all, if you live in a really cold climate, you know that spring is an unfolding. You don’t go to bed with mountains of snow on the ground and wake up to fresh flowers and green grass. The earth needs time to thaw. The snow needs time to melt. There’s no rush.

And if nature isn’t in a rush, maybe we should take note.

As you look at the rest of March, I want you to think about your calendar as a guideline, not a pressure cooker.

We’ve turned the calendar into something it was never meant to be.

Originally, it was just a way to mark time—to help us know where we are in the seasons, to remind us of important moments, and to give us something to look forward to.

But now? The calendar has become its own relentless to-do list.

January is filled with pressure to start strong, set resolutions, and become a whole new person overnight.
February tells us we’re supposed to feel wildly in love, buy flowers and gifts, and embrace Valentine’s Day—even if our reality looks completely different.
March through May brings the chaos of spring—school deadlines, sports schedules, teacher gifts, end-of-year parties, and graduations.
Summer arrives with the expectation that it must be epic—vacations, BBQs, road trips, family reunions, and pool days where we’re just trying to relax. We’re so busy trying to make every single moment count that we often miss the moment itself.
Fall ushers in a rapid sprint toward the holidays—Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, where the pressure mounts all over again: perfect gifts, perfect gatherings, and perfect end-of-year achievements.
And if you run a business or have a demanding job? You’re constantly looking at life in quarters—Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4—racing to meet goals, hit benchmarks, and conquer year-end deadlines.

We’ve lost the ability to simply be in our lives because we are constantly anticipating what’s next.

But what if we didn’t do that? There are no actual rules that say we have to live our lives at breakneck speed and ignore what our bodies and mind crave most – peace and ease.

What if we stopped seeing the year as a series of obligations to check off and instead moved through it in a more fluid, intentional way?

I want you to think about reclaiming the present for yourself instead of chasing the next milestone

So many of us live for the next big thing.

The vacation we have planned in July.
The weekend getaway we’ve been dreaming about.
The new year, when we’ll “finally get serious.”
The summer, when we’ll “have more time.”
The fall, when the kids are back in school, and we’ll “get back on track.”

We convince ourselves that joy and fulfillment are waiting somewhere else—on some future date, in some future season where everything will magically fall into place.

But what if this moment—this month, this week, this day, this hour—is worth enjoying too?

What if you didn’t have to wait for the “right time” to feel excited about your life?

What if you could build a life you love right now—without waiting for a big milestone to tell you it’s time to start living?

March can be the perfect time to shift into this way of thinking. It’s a month that sits quietly between the high-energy start of the year and the fast-paced seasons that follow. It’s a natural pause—a time to breathe, reset, and decide how you want to move forward.

So, instead of making March another month of pressure—another time to measure yourself against expectations—what if you made it a month of possibility?

What if you allowed yourself to take a breath and begin again, not from a place of hustle but from a place of ease, clarity, and joy?

A fresh start doesn’t mean you erase everything that came before it.

It means you take what you’ve learned, you release what’s no longer serving you, and you step forward with openness instead of pressure.

I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty dreamy to me. So, let’s begin. Together.

Closing Thought & Journaling Invitation

As we wrap up today, here’s a final journaling question:

What if you don’t need to “catch up”? What if you just needed to trust that where you are today is exactly where you’re meant to be?

Let that sit for a minute.

I hope you’ve found this episode and the reframing of the month of March helpful. If it resonated with you, I’d love for you to share it with a friend or leave a review on your favorite podcast app. Let’s spread the message that starting over doesn’t have to be heavy—it can be light and life-giving.That’s it for today’s episode. Until next week, take a deep breath, trust the process, and remember—every fresh start begins with a single, intentional step. May you step into this week with gentleness, curiosity, and a heart that’s open to possibility.

Bye for now.