Same Thing, Different Day: When Motivation Hits a Plateau
Jennifer Evans, LMHC, LPC
Brain Coach | Mental Performance Strategist | Helping High-Achieving Professionals Optimize Their Mindset & Rewire Stress for Peak Success
Welcome to this week's transformation journey episode. We are diving into those moments when our drive flatlines and every day feels like a repeat of the last, especially when chasing goals that seem just out of reach. Our mind loves to play tricks on us, reminding us of our low value and limited capacity and reducing our motivation in these moments.
My stage in my transformation journey was after isolating one variable, I still felt so completely lost and helpless. This pulled me back on the hamster wheel where I did a BUNCH of stuff but had no real growth or traction. Remember to scroll through and check out all my posts this week to get the whole story and lessons learned from it. Follow me to keep updated and get exclusive access to deeper insights and support.
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The Plateau Problem
You know that feeling. You've been pushing toward a goal for months, maybe even years. The initial excitement has faded. The quick wins have dried up. Every day feels like you're going through the motions without making real progress.
Same applications. Same rejections. Same doubt creeping in.
This week, I want to share something deeply personal about my own journey through this plateau—a 15-month job search that nearly broke me, and the profound shift that finally broke me free. Check out Instagram and Substack every Thursday for the #TransformationThursday story.
My Remote Work Obsession
For over a year, I was consumed with finding the "perfect" remote role. Not just any remote job—the one that would finally validate my worth, prove my capabilities, and give me the freedom and career satisfaction I'd been chasing.
But month after month, I found myself stuck in the same cycle:
Sound familiar?
Read More: 5 Destructive Feedback Loops Exposed
What I didn't realize was that I wasn't just battling a tough job market. I was wrestling with the same 4 barriers to success that show up in every area of our lives:
The 4 Barriers That Kept Me Stuck
1. Performance Trauma Every "no" felt like confirmation that I wasn't good enough. Past rejections and career disappointments had created a fear of not measuring up that showed up in every interview and application.
2. Self-Sabotage I'd find reasons why I wasn't qualified for great opportunities. Too much experience for some roles, not enough for others. I became an expert at talking myself out of possibilities.
3. Fear-Based Decision Making Instead of moving toward what I wanted, I was constantly trying to avoid what I didn't want. This kept me playing small and missing opportunities that required courage.
4. Scarcity Mindset I operated from the belief that good remote jobs were rare, that I had to compete desperately for limited opportunities, and that I needed to settle for less than what I truly wanted.
These barriers weren't just affecting my job search—they were the same patterns showing up in my relationships, my side projects, and my personal growth.
Learn More: Mastering The Job Search
The Breakthrough: Holding Space for Success
After 15 months of this exhausting cycle, something shifted. Instead of fighting harder, I decided to create space.
I realized I had been approaching my job search like a battle to be won rather than an opportunity to be received.
What "holding space" looked like practically:
READ MORE: Turn Panic Into Power
The Mindful Shift
When I held space for my success instead of fighting for it, something remarkable happened. The performance trauma began to dissolve because I wasn't performing anymore—I was simply showing up as myself.
The self-sabotage quieted because I trusted that the right opportunity would recognize my value.
The fear transformed into curiosity about what was possible.
The scarcity became abundance as I realized there were countless ways to contribute my gifts to the world.
How This Showed Up in Interviews
The difference was immediate and profound. Instead of trying to prove I was worthy of the role, I approached interviews with genuine curiosity about whether we were a mutual fit.
I shared my authentic intentions and values rather than what I thought they wanted to hear.
I asked questions that mattered to me, not just safe questions that made me look engaged.
I brought my whole self to the conversation instead of a carefully curated version.
The result? Three job offers in one month after 15 months of struggle.
Your Plateau Breakthrough
If you're in your own "same thing, different day" cycle right now, consider this:
What if the breakthrough isn't about doing more, but about being more intentional with the space you're creating for success?
Whether you're job searching, building a business, working on relationships, or pursuing any meaningful goal:
This Week's Reflection
Take a moment to identify one area where you feel stuck in "same thing, different day" mode. Instead of pushing harder, ask yourself:
"How can I hold space for success here instead of fighting for it?" Comment Below.
Sometimes the most powerful transformation happens not when we add more effort, but when we create the right conditions for our intentions to unfold naturally.
Your breakthrough might be one mindful shift away.
What resonated most with you this week? I'd love to hear about your own experiences with motivation plateaus and the shifts that helped you break through. Reply and share your story.
Next week: We're exploring "The Power of Presence and Growth" and how Chaos is not only the destroyer but the artist.
Until then, mind your success by minding the space you're creating for it.
With intention,
Jennifer Evans, LMHC, LPC
Mind Your Success Newsletter: Practical wisdom for intentional living and authentic achievement. Forward to a friend who might need this message.
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Resources:
Transformation Journey Workbook: https://www.empoweringwellnesscounselingsolutions.com/signing-up-for-our-listserv
Key Steps To Live A Happier and Healthier Life: Part 2 Emotional Regulation : https://a.co/d/2GwU6FR
Key Steps To Live A Happier and Healthier Life: Part 1 A Life Worth Living: https://a.co/d/izbM5zc
Saying Goodbye To Bad Brain: https://a.co/d/bjsHydE
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