Episode Details

Personal transformation does not fit neatly into a 90-day program. In this conversation, Catherine and Brenda explore why meaningful growth often takes years or decades, and why that timeline is both natural and necessary.

They reflect on what sustains the process when change feels slow: forgiving who we were, showing compassion for how long it takes, and facing reality without judgment. Many of the most difficult patterns are not entirely our own, but are carried through family lineage. Even so, they become ours to transform.

While breakthroughs can happen quickly, lasting transformation requires practice and the steady development of new skills. What keeps many people stuck is self-judgment and wishing things were different rather than working with what is.

They also examine the habit of projecting today’s awareness onto past versions of ourselves, shaming who we were for not knowing better. This retroactive perfectionism creates shame instead of honoring the growth already made. The shift comes when we move from a perfection mindset to a practice mindset, treating life as a series of learning opportunities instead of tests.

Transformation is possible, but it happens one step at a time, often with wobbles along the way. Like learning to ride a bike, growth requires falling, adjusting, and building the muscle memory for a new way of being.

Episode Highlights
• The gap between instant gratification and the reality that growth takes years
• How inherited family patterns become ours to transform
• The difference between sudden breakthroughs and gradual skill-building
• How judgment and perfectionism keep us stuck in shame
• Accepting reality as it is before change can occur
• Why loving former versions of ourselves supports growth
• Moving from a perfection mindset to a practice mindset
• Viewing challenges as learning opportunities rather than pass/fail tests

We would love to know what landed for you in this episode. What are you working on that might be taking a day, a week, a decade or maybe even a lifetime. Please tell us, rate, review and share this episode with someone you love.

Support the show

Please rate, share, review, and follow for more. Thanks in advance. These actions help more people find the show and it's such a generous way to support our work. 

Click the links below to inquire about 1:1 support.

Book with Brenda 

Book with Catherine 

Email Us:
desireasmedicine@gmail.com
goddessbrenda24@gmail.com
catherine@catherinenavarro.com

Connect on Instagram: 
@desireasmedicinepodcast
@Brenda_Fredericks
@CoachCatherineN