Today Kristen Boss pulls back the curtain on a common struggle so many high-achievers face which is being addicted to the idea of transformation rather than the actual process of it.

If you’re someone who constantly finds themselves buying planners, signing up for new programs, and telling yourself, “This time will be different” only to fizzle out days later? This episode is a must-listen. Kristen introduces the concept of the “Hope Hustler”: someone hooked on the emotional high of fresh starts but who struggles to stay committed when the novelty wears off.

She breaks down the psychology behind this pattern, the nervous system’s role in resistance, and how our obsession with speed and excitement keeps us from real transformation. Kristen also outlines a better way forward — one that prioritizes sustainability, nervous system regulation, and a grounded approach to growth.

• Why dopamine and novelty trick us into starting but not finishing
• How being a “Hope Hustler” erodes self-trust over time
• The four nervous system stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) and how they show up in goal-setting
• Why tolerating boredom is essential for long-term success
• The true cost of chasing intensity over intentionality
• How to build a relationship with process, not just outcomes

If you’re a Hope Hustler, you need to be at the 3-Day Success Rewire Challenge happening December 8-10th!

0:00 – Welcome + Quick Event Announcement

2:00 – The dopamine hit of fresh starts

5:30 – Who is a Hope Hustler?

8:00 – Why desire isn’t the problem — resistance is

13:00 – How our stress responses sabotage progress

19:00 – The cost of false starts and eroded self-trust

25:00 – How to break the Hope Hustler cycle

29:00 – Redefining success: continuity over intensity

32:00 – Final thoughts + How to join the Success Rewire

If this episode resonated with you, leave a quick review or share it on Instagram and tag @thekristenboss—she just might repost you! ❤️

For more resources and to connect with Kristen, visit: www.kristenboss.com

Kristen Boss opens up about the difficult realities of 2025 and how she's navigating grief, loss, and uncertainty with intentional gratitude. As Thanksgiving approaches, Kristen invites listeners into a compassionate, honest conversation about finding meaning in hardship without resorting to toxic positivity.

She shares personal stories from her own challenging year and instead of glossing over the pain, Kristen explores how to extract lessons, build resilience, and reclaim agency even when life feels brutally hard.

If you're feeling weary, stuck, or overwhelmed heading into the holidays, this episode will feel like a deep breath and a warm hug. Kristen reminds us that we don’t have to wait for life to get better—we get to decide how we show up in the midst of it.

• Kristen’s deeply personal reflection on a difficult year
• Why she rejects toxic positivity and honors emotional honesty
• How to find gratitude without bypassing grief or pain
• Reframing hardship as a chance to build resilience and self-compassion
• Why waiting for external circumstances to change creates powerlessness
• Tangible advice for reclaiming agency and creating change in your life
• Holiday survival tips for navigating tricky family dynamics with grace

Register for the 3-Day Success Rewire happening December 8–10 12pm CT each day. Join this event BEFORE you buy the pretty planner for 2026. This reset designed to help you become the consistent, empowered version of yourself in 2026—without relying on another planner or resolution.

0:00 — Welcome + Thanksgiving reflections

1:20 — A hard year and why this episode had to be different

3:30 — Kristen’s personal stories: grief, health scares, and life transitions

6:40 — Resilience through adversity

9:20 — The myth of January 1st as a magical reset

11:00 — How to be the agent of change in your own life

13:00 — Holiday mindset hacks and boundary tips

14:30 — Final encouragement and sign-off

If this episode resonated with you, leave a quick review or share it on Instagram and tag @thekristenboss—she just might repost you! ❤️

For more resources and to connect with Kristen, visit: www.kristenboss.com

This week Kristen Boss dives deep into a sneaky and self-sabotaging pattern that shows up in goal-setting—guilt-driven goals. As the end of the year approaches, many people fall into the trap of using shame and guilt to set overcompensating goals, only to end up feeling burned out, unmotivated, and even more disconnected from themselves.

Kristen breaks down how guilt-fueled goals are rooted in shame rather than genuine desire, and why they often lead to failure, burnout, and eroded self-trust. She challenges listeners to shift their goal-setting framework from punishment to purpose, offering tangible questions and mindset shifts to help you set kinder, self-honoring goals that actually stick.

Plus, Kristen shares personal anecdotes, coaching insights from inside her Sonara Signature membership, and offers a sneak peek into her upcoming 3-Day Challenge: The Success Rewire—designed to help you radically shift how you approach goals in 2026.

• Guilt-driven goals are reactionary and come from shame, not purpose.
• These goals often ignore your current season, bandwidth, and values.
• Guilt only creates short-term compliance—not sustainable change.
• Self-compassion and values-based goals create lasting motivation.
• Small, kind, consistent goals build self-trust and long-term success.

• Is this goal coming from shame or desire?
• Would I still want this goal if no one was watching?
• Does this goal feel kind and aligned with my current season of life?

🌟 The Success Rewire — Kristen’s new 3-day event to help you set meaningful goals that align with your values and create lasting results. Just $9 to join!

📅 Dates: December 8–10 | Replay available | Get your ticket here.

00:00 – Welcome + intro to guilt-driven goals

01:54 – Year-end urgency and the guilt trap

04:34 – Upcoming 3-day event: The Success Rewire

06:18 – Real-life coaching example of a guilt-driven goal

09:11 – How shame hijacks your objectivity

14:56 – Guilt goals vs. kind, values-based goals

22:36 – How your nervous system reacts to shame

25:23 – The hidden cost: eroded self-trust

29:33 – Turning guilt into sustainable change

32:00 – Anchoring goals in identity and self-love

35:32 – The slow and sustainable path

37:53 – Kristen’s personal reflections on failure and resilience