Emotional Traffic Jams - What's Really Blocking You

I used to commute from New Jersey to New York City. On a good day, it would take 45 minutes. On a bad day? Three hours. And on one particularly painful day, it took me three and a half hours to travel just 32 miles.

Sitting in that car, inching forward at a glacial pace, I’d spiral.

I should’ve left earlier. Why didn’t I take the train? Why didn’t I drive yesterday instead? Why do I even live in such a crowded area?

Eventually, I’d surrender—not to peace, but to misery. I’d go numb. By the time I parked and stepped out, I could barely move my legs.

And yet... that traffic jam taught me something.

That’s exactly what emotional overwhelm feels like.

The Mental Freeway

Imagine your mind as a freeway. Every thought, responsibility, regret, or fear is another car you’re letting onto that road.

• The promotion you didn’t get? That’s one car.

• Listening to your friend vent about their partner? Another car.

• Your bank account balance? Car.

• That book you’ve been meaning to write? Yep—add it to the freeway.

• Your inner critic whispering you’re not enough or you’re behind? That’s a whole convoy.

It’s no wonder we get stuck. Just like real traffic, if you flood the highway with too many cars, everything slows down—sometimes to a dead stop.

The Exit Strategy

Here’s the thing: not every car needs to be on your road.

Next time you find yourself looping on a negative thought—or worrying about something from the past or future that’s totally out of your control—try this:

Visualize it as a car. Then picture it taking the next exit.

Seriously. That thought?
→ Off the freeway.
That person’s drama that’s not your responsibility?
→ Exit ramp.
That guilt you’ve been dragging from something you can’t change?
→ Gone.

You’ll never eliminate traffic completely—but you can control what gets to ride with you.

What Cars Do You Want on Your Road?

Not every thought deserves your energy. Choose which cars you let on your mental freeway.

• Your kids’ happiness? Green light.

• Taking care of your mental and physical health? Let it through.

• Moments of joy, creativity, connection? That’s the good traffic.

Everything else? Let it take the bus.

If your inner freeway is too jammed to see the exits, coaching can help you clear the road.

Take the free Core Emotional Needs Assessment or book a free session and let’s start clearing space for the things that matter.

Why I Was Terrified Of Social Media - And How I Overcame It

For years, I was terrified of social media. I was afraid to post a picture or share a positive message with someone I cared about. I told myself I just didn’t like it, but the truth was, I was afraid of being judged.

When I started my coaching business, I knew I couldn’t let fear hold me back. I told myself, "There’s no failure, only learning." So, I built a website, created business cards, joined networking groups, and started working with clients. I was testing every avenue to grow my business.

But as I observed other successful coaches, one thing became clear: they all had a strong social media presence. If I wanted to reach my goals, I’d have to embrace this too.

Studying mindset and learning neuro-linguistic programming helped me look at things differently. But even with these tools, I still felt frozen. What if nobody watched my videos? As a television producer, that felt humiliating. What if people used it to make fun of me behind my back? What if the people I worked with in TV saw it and it impacted my career?

I was playing a game of “what if?”—but never considering the positive side of the question. What if people did find value in what I was sharing? What if I could help others through my journey?

I dug deeper and realized the root of my fear: What if I’m not good enough? It’s a limiting belief that holds many of us back, lurking quietly in our subconscious.

I used the tools I’d learned to identify this belief—and remove it.

Then, I posted that first video. I wrote my first blog. I went on my first podcast. And something amazing happened: I loved it! My friends reached out to encourage me. Strangers contacted me, telling me how helpful my content was. I had discovered that creating content, something I’ve loved since I was five, could be part of growing my business.

The more I posted, the more I wanted to post. Two months ago, I never would have dreamed of writing this blog, being so vulnerable with so many people. But I know many of you feel the same way, because so many of my small business clients face the same fear and avoid social media.

So, I want to share three things I tell them:

1. Action leads to more action. When you take action, it frees you to be fearless in other areas of your life as well.

2. Nobody really cares. Everyone is focused on their own lives—they don’t even notice what you’re doing.

3. The people who love you will always love you. There are people who won’t like you—that’s okay. Focus on the ones who do.

To everyone who has reached out with kind words of encouragement—thank you! Your support is “Action Fuel” for me.

If you’re holding back because of fear of judgment, I urge you to run toward the very thing you’re afraid of. Break free from that fear and don’t waste another second holding yourself back.