Change: The Signs We Ignore (And Why They Keep Coming Back) (Part 2 of 4)

Why awareness comes long before action.

Bueller? Bueller? You’re physically present, but mentally somewhere else entirely. Sound familiar?

We’ve all been there, sitting in meetings we used to look forward to, doing work that once energized us, showing up but not really showing up. It’s not dramatic. There’s no rebellion. Just a quiet absence that nobody else notices, but you can’t shake.

Here’s what most people miss: the signs that something needs to change rarely show up as catastrophes. They’re subtler than that. Sometimes they’re negative; dread replacing excitement, the “I have to” overtaking the “I get to,” that persistent feeling that something’s just… off. Like a blister that wasn’t there before, signaling either your environment changed or you did.

But what about the positive signals? The ones we’re even better at ignoring? The curiosity that won’t quit. The restless thoughts about what else might be possible. The excitement is pulling you toward something different, something bigger. The conversation you keep replaying in your mind weeks later, though you’re not sure why.

These signs—positive and negative—are breadcrumbs. They keep coming back not to torment you, but to guide you.

So why do we ignore them? Because awareness is uncomfortable. Because ponds are cozy, even when they’re starting to feel stagnant. Because recognizing a signal doesn’t mean you have to act on it immediately—but it does mean you can’t pretend you don’t see it anymore.

If you want to be an ocean, you have to leave the pond. But first, you have to notice you’ve been living in one.

This episode explores the difference between signals that say “fix this” and those that say “expand this.” We examine why we’re so skilled at deflecting joy and curiosity, what those conversations you can’t forget are really telling you, and why awareness—simply paying attention—is the first and most important step.

What signals have you been ignoring? And more importantly: what are they trying to tell you?

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Follow Kristin Johnson on her website, KristinJohnsonSpeaks.com