By the end of January, many of us hit a quiet wall.

The adrenaline of getting through Christmas has worn off.

The promise of “new year motivation” has faded.

The days are still dark, cold, and heavy.

And suddenly… the pushing doesn’t work anymore.

In this episode of the Choosing Happy Podcast, Heather explores what happens when survival — the very thing that once kept you going — begins to feel exhausting, flat, or strangely empty.

If you’ve been:

1. Still achieving, but feeling emotionally thin
2. Questioning why your usual motivation has disappeared
3. Judging yourself for not “coping better”
4. Feeling unsettled by slowing down, even when life is flowing

You’re not failing.

You may simply be reaching the end of survival as your default setting.

1. Why January is such a psychologically challenging month (especially in the Northern Hemisphere)
2. How pushing can quietly stop working without anything being “wrong”
3. Why peace can feel like loss when you’re used to effort and struggle
4. The fear many strong women carry: “If I slow down, will I lose momentum?”
5. Why flow can feel uncomfortable when your identity was built on resilience
6. How to stop mislabelling rest and softness as failure

This isn’t an episode about fixing yourself or forcing motivation.

It’s about reinterpreting what’s happening, with kindness and honesty — and giving yourself permission to rest, soften, and let momentum take a new shape.

1. 00:08 - Reflecting on January
2. 01:49 - The Struggle of January
3. 03:06 - Understanding Emotional Energy in January
4. 06:20 - Understanding the Calm After the Storm
5. 07:26 - Recognizing New Patterns in Healing
6. 08:24 - Embracing a New Perspective

Instead of asking “What’s wrong with me?”, try asking:

“What’s actually working right now?”

Sometimes noticing — without fixing — is the most powerful thing you can do.

If this episode resonated, share it with someone who’s being hard on themselves for being human.

Tag @ChoosingHappyPodcast and let Heather know what landed for you.

And remember:

You’re not behind.

You’re not broken.

You’re just listening to yourself more honestly.

Until next time —

Keep choosing happy.

Not by pushing harder…

but by listening more kindly.

Ready to explore more?

1. Website: choosinghappy.space