Change: How to Recognize When It’s Time for a Change (Part 1 of 4)

The signals we notice before we’re ready to act

Have you ever felt something shift—just slightly off-rhythm—but kept pushing forward anyway? That subtle discomfort when what once felt rewarding now feels routine? When the song that used to energize you starts playing a little flat?

Change rarely announces itself with fanfare. Instead, it whispers. It taps you on the shoulder through small signals: work that no longer fulfills, environments that feel misaligned, or the persistent sense that something needs to shift even when you can’t quite name what.

But here’s the challenge: if you’re naturally tenacious, those whispers are easy to ignore. We’re trained to hold on tightly, to master through persistence. Yet sometimes the answer isn’t doing more. It’s noticing more.

What if the discomfort you’re experiencing isn’t a problem to solve, but a signal to honor? What if recognizing when it’s time to pivot is just as important as the grit that got you here in the first place? In this episode, we explore the uncomfortable space between recognizing something’s off and actually making a change. We examine why tenacious people struggle most in this moment, why January (or any new beginning) tests our resolve, and how to distinguish between temporary difficulty and a genuine call for transformation.

The question isn’t whether you’re resilient enough to change—it’s whether you’re paying attention to the signs telling you it’s time.

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Follow Kristin Johnson on her website, KristinJohnsonSpeaks.com