How do I trust myself to sign up for another program?
You’ve bought the courses. Started the books. Signed up for free workshops. Maybe you have replay links gathering dust in your inbox. (Same.)
So when you see another program, even one that feels aligned, you hesitate. That hesitation makes total sense. And it’s important to listen to.
But there’s more to the story. Starting with the culture and fact that many programs don’t do us justice.
As consumers and creators, we can do better by ourselves and each other.
In this piece, I’m digging into the culture of overconsumption, offering thoughts on what it means to seek out programs that center integration, and sharing some of the questions I use to practice discernment in my own buying process.
A tendency towards overconsumption
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to learn more. Or with dreaming big.
However, when we’re feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, and under-resourced, and we still feel pressure to buy more? That’s when overconsumption becomes a problem.
It’s not solely on us.
We’re surrounded by programs marketed as the thing that will change everything, often using urgency or FOMO to get us to act fast. It’s easy to feel like you’re just one program away from your business taking off, or from finally feeling like you know enough.
This even extends into the personal development and self-help space.
A lot of creators, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not, reinforce this pattern by constantly encouraging people to sign up for more, without offering space to pause, integrate, or trust what’s already unfolding.
This is how capitalism trains us to keep going, keep buying, and never feel like we’ve done enough.
I’ve contributed to this dynamic before. It’s what I was taught, as it’s the default script in this industry. I’m actively doing my best to unlearn it.
When shame takes over
After months or years of feeling the quiet weight of half-finished logins, unopened workbooks, and ‘yet another thing we didn’t follow through on’… Eventually, we turn that disappointment inward.
We start to tell ourselves: Maybe I’m just not someone who finishes things.
That heavy shame sticks and says: “Don’t try again, you’ll fail again,” “You’re not disciplined enough,” “You’ll waste your money.”
That’s painful.
If you’ve ever told yourself, “I’m not buying another program until I finish all of the ones I already have,” you’re not wrong for wanting to be discerning.
The question I’d be curious to ask is: How much of that is punishment? Shame? A lack of self-trust?
I know for me, I said it because I didn’t trust myself, and I never made it back through those old programs that didn’t serve me in the present.
What to look for: Programs that prioritize completion and integration
A lot of programs were built to sell, not to help people finish.
If you’ve struggled to complete something, it might be that the program didn’t honor your pace, your capacity, or your lived experience. That doesn’t make you the problem.
Here’s how I’ve tried to design the Holistic Time Practitioner Certification to prioritize follow-through. And I’d love to hear how you’re navigating it in your own programs or as a consumer:
Digestible training. Each live session includes 30 minutes max of focused teaching, followed by practice, integration, and conversation. Spread over 12 weeks.
Biweekly integration space. Every other week, students get support, can ask questions, and keep working with the material in a non-urgent way.
Asynchronous community. I host a WhatsApp group for students to be able to ask questions at any time.
Gentle deadline. There’s a 3-month window for students to watch any missed sessions and receive their certification. This soft deadline has helped past students finish!
Lifetime access. Students will still have lifetime access to go back and revisit any of the resources.
We assume life will happen. We build in breaks and talk about and support folks who feel like they’re falling behind. We don’t pretend consistency is real or push rigid, unrealistic expectations.
Follow Through is part of the curriculum. The program itself includes a liberating practice where students will learn how to gently follow through themselves.
Early momentum. I prioritize quick results and transformation so folks feel the impact, which makes continuing feel energizing.
Honors different learning styles. We ask students what their learning style is and honor them. We provide video, audio, worksheets, co-working, etc.
This is the kind of space I wish more programs and courses created: one that trusts the learner, builds in integration, and doesn’t punish people for being human.
How to know if you’re ready to say yes
Discernment is about checking in with your body, your energy, and your season of life. Learning how to discern, not from shame, but from trust, is a practice.
When I’m looking at a program, I want to…
feel curious, not panicked.
connected to the teacher and the material of the program.
read the program details and feel something light up.
know the transformation is realistic and possible for me.
If I feel a quiet yes, and the tangible support is there, I move forward from trust. If not, I give myself permission to let it go.
Questions to reflect on when deciding to invest
What happens in my body when I’m deciding whether to invest?
What am I afraid will happen if I say yes? If I say no?
Who am I trying to become through this program? Is that aligned with my values?
Does this offer build in integration, support, and space?
What would supportive follow-through, not perfect, but resourced, look like for me?
If you're a coach, space holder, or program creator…
Your clients are likely navigating the same patterns of overconsumption, shame, and fear of “falling behind.” They want to believe they’ll follow through, and they want to feel supported along the way.
This is why we need more business models and programs that prioritize completion, not just conversion.
That’s a big part of what we’ll discuss in the business portion of the certification. Because liberatory time work doesn’t stop at your calendar. It’s also how we design our programs, price our offers, and build in care for our people.
Become a certified Holistic Time Practitioner
Whether or not this is your season to join us, I hope you give yourself and your clients the gift of moving toward self-trust. There are lots of ideas that you can implement right now from this post.
