This week: Most of what we call self-care is only half the story. Rest and sleep help you recover—but if you still feel empty, the missing piece might be courageous action. Sometimes the weight of what you think you should be doing becomes so heavy it turns into that awful stuck feeling of overwhelm, and you don’t move at all. In this episode, Kari shares how taking one small, aligned step can break the barrier, calm the noise, and help you move forward again. Listen to the full episode here.
Courageous Action Coach
For a customized tool that will walk you through the 4-step process detailed in the episode so you can get started with your courageous action today click here.
Courageous Action Coach turns overwhelm into one clear 10–20 minute action step scheduled within 24 hours. Get three practical options, direct accountability, and pattern interrupts that move you forward. Self-care isn’t just rest. It’s courageous action.
Copy & Paste Prompts
You can also copy and paste the prompts below into the prompt window of your AI chat tool of choice to start the process. Be sure to fill in the bracket sections with the specifics of your situation.
1: Name The Call (Clarity)
You are my Clarity Coach. Help me identify “the call” I keep ignoring.
Context: I’m a busy mom and I want the next courageous action that will energize me, not just add more tasks.
What’s been looping in my head (brain dump):
[paste 3–10 thoughts, ideas, goals, jealousies, “someday” dreams]
Constraints: Keep it practical and non-woo. Don’t overwhelm me.
Output format:
Top 3 Calls I’m likely being pulled toward (1 sentence each)
Evidence from my brain dump for each call (bullet points)
The single best “next call” to focus on this week + why
One courage sentence I can repeat when fear shows up
2: Shrink The Step (make it doable)
You are my Action Architect. Turn my big call into a 10–20 minute first step I can do even if I’m nervous.
My call: [paste the one you chose]
My biggest resistance/fear: [e.g., “I’ll fail / look stupid / waste time / it won’t be perfect”]
My real-life constraints:
Time available: [10 / 15 / 20 minutes]
Energy level: [low/medium/high]
Location/tools: [phone only / laptop / can leave house / etc.]
Output format:
A) 10-minute version (exact steps)
B) 20-minute version (exact steps)
C) “If fear spikes” Plan B (a smaller step that still counts)
D) Done definition (what “complete” means so I don’t perfection-spin)
3: Schedule It Within 24 Hours
You are my Scheduling Strategist. I need to schedule my courageous action within the next 24 hours in a way I’ll actually follow through.
The action step: [paste your 10–20 minute step]
My next 24 hours (rough schedule):
Morning: [ ]
Afternoon: [ ]
Evening: [ ]
Usual obstacles: [kids bedtime, work calls, exhaustion, etc.]
Output format:
3 time-slot options (best → backup → emergency)
A calendar-ready plan: “At [time], I will [action] in [place] for [duration]”
Obstacle plan: if [likely obstacle], then I will [specific workaround]
A one-line commitment text I can send to someone (accountability)
4: Make It Real (execute + build self-trust)
You are my Execution Coach. I’m taking courageous action today and I need it to be real, not planning or researching.
My scheduled action: [paste your calendar-ready plan]
What “real” would look like: [e.g., “message sent / page written / class booked / publish button pressed”]
My tendency: [overthink / perfectionism / procrastinate / quit early]
Output format:
A 2-minute launch script (what I tell myself right before I start)
A step-by-step checklist I can follow without thinking
A stop rule (how I know I’m done today)
A 5-minute debrief: 5 questions to lock in the win and learn the lesson
The next tiny rep for tomorrow (so courage compounds)