Episode 142

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Published on:

24th Oct 2025

Keep Calm and Podcast On: The Truth About Indecision

Have you ever sat in that head-spinning zone of doubt, thinking, “Should I keep going—or call it a day?”

This week, Heather shares her real-time fail forward moment: the hard choice of whether to continue The Choosing Happy Podcast after 340 episodes.

With data showing the podcast is already in the top 50% globally, she unpacks what indecision really teaches us—and how to use it as an unexpected doorway to clarity.

Listen in as she reframes stuckness, inspired by Joe Hudson’s perspective on emotional intelligence: that indecision is not confusion—it’s your inner wisdom waiting for words.

What’s Inside:

  • The hidden gift inside moments of “I don’t know.”
  • How indecision exposes emotional truth, not weakness.
  • The story behind Heather’s near-decision to quit Choosing Happy—and the surprising analytics turning point.
  • Why your body often knows when your passion is calling you back.
  • The simplest reframe to turn hesitation into alignment.
  • Invitation to the Power Pause Weekend: a live experience for finding clarity and rhythm again.

Chapters:

  • 00:17 - Indecision and Consequences
  • 01:25 - The Inner Tug of War
  • 02:42 - Embracing Indecision: An Invitation to Evolve
  • 03:59 - Exploring Doubt and Indecision
  • 04:41 - Embracing Change: The Power of Redirection
  • 05:58 - The Power of Perspective: Leveling Up in Life

Three Core Lessons:

1. Indecision is Intelligence.

That hesitation you hate is often your system saying, “Something needs space to realign.”

2. Doubt Doesn’t Mean Stop – It Means Shift.

Redefine doubt as an energy recalibration—not an ending.

3. Data Is Feedback, Not Identity.

Numbers reflect progress, not your worth.

Heather’s Reflection:

“340 episodes means over 1,000 hours of energy poured out. When I paused long enough to listen, the question wasn’t ‘Is it worth it?’ It became, ‘How can I serve smarter?’ That’s when clarity walked in.”

The Takeaway:

Failure doesn’t always mean dropping the ball—it can be redefining the game.

When you’re stuck, you’re not broken. You’re breaking open.

This Week’s Challenge:

Where are you sitting in indecision right now?

Instead of forcing a move, give yourself 48 hours to pause, breathe, and ask: “What’s the truth I’m not ready to speak yet?”

That single question can turn confusion into clarity.

Call to Action:

Feeling like your mind’s been running ahead of your soul?

Join Heather for The Power Pause Weekend—a two-part online retreat to rest, reset, and rebuild your creative rhythm.

Reserve your space at ChoosingHappy.space/powerpause

How You Can Connect with Heather and Support This Independent Podcast:

Please like, share with someone who may need to hear this today, and/or leave a review and support the podcast. I really appreciate it.

Tired of the same patterns keeping you stuck?

Check out the Pattern Breaker Coaching Program: www.choosinghappy.co.uk/pattern-breaker

Want to dive deeper? Drop me an email: heather@heathervmasters.com

Join the conversation: Community | https://buymeacoffee.com/choosinghappy

Transcript
Speaker A:

Hello and welcome to the Choosing Happy Podcast on this Fail Forward Friday.

Speaker A:

Right then here's something that most of us won't admit.

Speaker A:

Sometimes we don't want to make a decision because we're just too bloody tired of the consequences.

Speaker A:

And this week, I had my own standoff indecision.

Speaker A:

And I mentioned it on Wednesday's episode.

Speaker A:

I looked at the Choosing Happy podcast along with all of the other work that I'm doing.

Speaker A:

Am 340 episodes deep.

Speaker A:

This is the 340th episode and that's three hours of work on average per episode.

Speaker A:

Thousands of words, and I thought, is it still worth it?

Speaker A:

Are people listening?

Speaker A:

Maybe I should stop.

Speaker A:

Maybe I should quit while I'm behind.

Speaker A:

I opened my analytics today half expecting them to prove my point, and they didn't.

Speaker A:

It turns out this little indie podcast of mine is already in the top 50% of all podcasts in the world, and it's inching towards the top 25% with just a bit of more effort, care, and promotion.

Speaker A:

So there it was, the data saying, keep going.

Speaker A:

And a very human Heather whispering, but I'm tired.

Speaker A:

The inner tug of war.

Speaker A:

That's my fail forward moment.

Speaker A:

So stay tuned to find out more on today's Choosing Happy Podcast.

Speaker A:

For weeks, maybe months, I've been dancing between quit and pause and then.

Speaker A:

And underneath that indecision wasn't lack of direction.

Speaker A:

It was self doubt, the sense that maybe if something wasn't exploding in numbers, it wasn't meaningful.

Speaker A:

And podcasts are particularly difficult to get feedback on.

Speaker A:

So does it sound familiar?

Speaker A:

That quiet fear that you're putting your heart into, something that no one's really noticing?

Speaker A:

And yet there's also the gut pull that says, this matters.

Speaker A:

This is what you should be doing.

Speaker A:

So I sat right in that messy middle and decided to follow Joe Hudson's beautiful Truth.

Speaker A:

Indecision isn't confusion.

Speaker A:

It's wisdom that hasn't found its words yet.

Speaker A:

It wasn't time to quit.

Speaker A:

It was time to take time out and to listen.

Speaker A:

And here's what indecision really offered me.

Speaker A:

Perspective.

Speaker A:

When I slowed down enough to sit with the tension, I realized this pause wasn't about failure.

Speaker A:

It was an invitation to evolve.

Speaker A:

The podcast didn't need killing.

Speaker A:

It needed maturing.

Speaker A:

It needed a smarter structure, more focus, and a version of me that trusted quiet growth as much as spikes and stats.

Speaker A:

I didn't fail by doubting.

Speaker A:

I failed forward by using that doubt to get strategic.

Speaker A:

Now, instead of abandoning it, I'm giving Choosing Happy a new rhythm.

Speaker A:

Smarter leaner and far more valuable for you and for me.

Speaker A:

So if you're stuck between choices, pause.

Speaker A:

The discomfort of indecision is your nervous system saying, wait until your honesty catches up.

Speaker A:

Clarity rarely comes from more thinking.

Speaker A:

It comes from emotional honesty.

Speaker A:

And once you tell yourself the truth, whether it's I'm afraid, I'm tired or I'm avoiding, the next step appears on its own.

Speaker A:

So here's some lessons from my little exploration with doubt and indecision.

Speaker A:

Lesson 1 Indecision indeed.

Speaker A:

Intelligence.

Speaker A:

Your body knows when something's out of rhythm.

Speaker A:

Your unconscious mind's trying to bring something to your attention.

Speaker A:

That hesitation is feedback, not failure.

Speaker A:

Lesson 2 Doubt doesn't mean stop.

Speaker A:

It means shift, redirect, refine, re, energize.

Speaker A:

The thing that wore you out can become the thing that wakes you up, that shows you a different way, a better way.

Speaker A:

Lesson 3 Data is information, not identity.

Speaker A:

And this is so important.

Speaker A:

Use the analytics as a mirror, not a verdict.

Speaker A:

They show you progress, not your worth.

Speaker A:

And in a world that is overloaded with information, stats can be misleading.

Speaker A:

They don't necessarily mean stop.

Speaker A:

They often mean reposition yourself.

Speaker A:

So here's your permission slip for this Fail Forward Friday if you've been sitting in indecision at work in a relationship on a dream, don't rush to label it confusion or failure.

Speaker A:

It might just be alignment finding its language.

Speaker A:

And if you're craving space to heal yourself again, join me for the Power Pause weekend.

Speaker A:

Two calm, inspiring sessions where we recalibrate your energy, rewrite your self, talk and help clarity find you.

Speaker A:

It's the reset from when life feels loud and decisions feel impossible.

Speaker A:

And you can find all the details at choosinghappy Space Forward slash powerpause.

Speaker A:

So no, I'm not quitting choosing Happy again and choosing smarter.

Speaker A:

And maybe that's the deeper message here.

Speaker A:

When you think something's ending, it might just be levelling up.

Speaker A:

Until next time, pause, listen and keep Choosing Happy thank you so much for taking the time to listen to this week's episode.

Speaker A:

If you enjoyed it or think it would be valuable to others, please do share.

Speaker A:

And if you really enjoyed it, please leave me a review.

Speaker A:

It really helps the podcast.

Speaker A:

All of the links are in the show notes and I look forward to seeing you next week on the Choosing Happy podcast.

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About the Podcast

Choosing Happy
"For entrepreneurs who are tired of toxic positivity and ready for real transformation
Ready to break free from old patterns and choose joy in a noisy, demanding world?
You’re in the right place.

The Choosing Happy Podcast is where techies, entrepreneurs, transformational practitioners and creative souls come to reclaim happiness, shake up their mindset, and unlock more meaningful wins—no toxic positivity, just real stories, honest wisdom, and practical tools.

Hosted by Heather V Masters, certified trainer, coach, NLP master practitioner, and ex-corporate burnout survivor turned joy champion, every episode blends bold myth-busting, brutally honest moments, and uplifting insights.
Here, you’ll hear everyday tales about messing up, getting back up, and finding clarity in chaos.
This isn’t polished perfection—it’s raw, relatable, and relentlessly positive.

Whether you’re stuck in a rut, ready for a pattern break, or craving authenticity in your business and life, you’ll find strategies, experiments, and support to help you thrive.
Expect weekly bite-sized wisdom, longer deep-dives, and monthly guests who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo.

What You’ll Get:
Real stories & hard-won lessons: The truth behind success—failures, pivots, and tiny happy experiments.

Mindset shifts for real life: Ditching the fluff and finding joy in the messy bits.

Actionable tools: Live tests, wins jars, A–B experiments, reframes you’ll actually use.

A vibrant, supportive community: Share your wins, get inspired, and rediscover what makes you happy.

Join us and choose happy—one honest conversation at a time.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at www.choosinghappypodcast.com.
Connect with Heather, join the community, and let’s thrive together!

Coaching: Email heather@heathervmasters.com for personalised support.

Newsletter: Get weekly tips at https://www.choosinghappy.online/realhappynews.

Support Us
Love the podcast? Like, share, and subscribe! Support us at www.buymeacoffee.com/heatherv or www.choosinghappypodcast.com/support.
Disclaimer
Content is for informational purposes only, not medical advice. Techniques may evoke strong emotions; engage at your discretion. If facing trauma or mental health challenges, consult a professional. Heather V Masters isn’t liable for outcomes from applying this content. See full disclaimer for details.
© 2025 Heather V Masters. All rights reserved.
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About your host

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Heather Masters

Hello, I’m Heather V Masters—your host of the Choosing Happy Podcast and a passionate guide for techies, entrepreneurs, and creatives ready to thrive!

As a certified Master coach, NLP trainer/ Master Practitioner, and hypnotist, I bring a unique blend of tools to help you break free from limiting patterns and choose happiness every day.
My journey began with corporate burnout, where I discovered the power of mindset shifts to transform my life. That spark led me to build thriving communities like the Creative Writing Tips Club and launch this podcast, where I share the strategies that helped me—and can help you—create a life you love. From NLP techniques to heartfelt stories, I’m here to empower you with actionable insights and a warm, authentic vibe.

When I’m not podcasting, you’ll find me coaching clients, writing, or sipping a cuppa while dreaming up new ways to inspire joy. Let’s choose happy together—join me on this journey!

Connect with Heather
Email: heather@heathervmasters.com

Community: www.choosinghappy.co.uk/community

Newsletter: https://www.heathervmasters.com/sundaynewsletter