<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Innershift.coach]]></title><description><![CDATA[I help people gain clarity, regulate overwhelm, and make confident decisions during times of change and transition.
]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 23:20:30 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.lesley-allen.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Why You Keep Procrastinating.....Even When You Really Want to Move Forward]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why do I procrastinate when I know exactly what I need to do? It is a question many capable, intelligent and hardworking people ask themselves. They can manage difficult situations, meet other people’s needs and perform well under pressure, yet when it comes to one particular task, decision or change, they feel completely stuck. Procrastination is often blamed on laziness, poor discipline or a lack of motivation. But the reasons are usually more complex. Fear, perfectionism, overwhelm,...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/why-you-keep-procrastinating-even-when-you-really-want-to-move-forward</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a708eb797fde8a3b3e90891</guid><pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:17:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_d2341d2b1dec4275a18e2581db3bd5b2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why You No Longer Know What You Want]]></title><description><![CDATA[Someone asks what you want, and you cannot answer. You know what needs to be done, you know what other people expect from you and you may know what would be sensible, practical or responsible. But when it comes to identifying what you genuinely want for yourself, your mind goes blank. You may have reached a stage in life where, on paper, things look reasonably settled. You have fulfilled responsibilities, built a career, supported other people and made decisions based on what needed to happen...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/why-you-no-longer-know-what-you-want</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a66104b1f684d97f844f808</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 14:09:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_8f0b90f6710b4c54b3554d58af577059~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Cost of Being the Strong One: When Everyone Relies on You but No One Sees You]]></title><description><![CDATA[You are the person everyone turns to. You organise, solve, support and keep things moving. At work, you are dependable. At home, you are the one who remembers what needs to be done. When something goes wrong, people assume you will know how to handle it. From the outside, you appear strong and in control. But beneath that strength, you may feel exhausted, overlooked or quietly resentful. You may wonder when your needs became less important than everyone else’s, or why the people closest to...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/the-cost-of-being-the-strong-one-when-everyone-relies-on-you-but-no-one-sees-you</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a65102b532301fe59fc9117</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 19:55:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_27dfe7c5deff4ad1ae1e9a2cf1c140b6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fear of Visibility: Why Being Seen Can Feel Unsafe Even When You Want Success]]></title><description><![CDATA[You want to grow your business, share your ideas, apply for the promotion, speak up in meetings, publish your work or finally put yourself forward. You know you need to be more visible. And yet, every time you try, something happens. You procrastinate. You overthink what you are going to say. You rewrite the post ten times and still do not publish it. You decide you need another qualification, a better website or more confidence first. Or perhaps you do become visible, but immediately feel...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/fear-of-visibility-why-being-seen-can-feel-unsafe-even-when-you-want-success</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4e0a0b702e1094e85ac9ca</guid><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:20:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_f6184a91ead14c1996422975d6855ddf~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Self-Sabotage: Why We Get in Our Own Way (And How to Break the Pattern)]]></title><description><![CDATA["Why do I keep getting in my own way?" I hear this oftrn from clients. They know what they want. They've set the goal. They've made the plan. But......just as they begin making progress, something changes. They procrastinate. They overthink. They lose momentum. They talk themselves out of opportunities or convince themselves they're "not quite ready.".....If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. It doesn't mean you're lazy, unmotivated or lacking willpower. It may just simply mean your...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/self-sabotage-why-we-get-in-our-own-way-and-how-to-break-the-pattern</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a46cc571552bc1779802084</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:00:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/08a851_292b3dabcfea4aeda665ee67c45fbca5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[People Pleasing: Why It's So Hard to Say No (And How to Break Free]]></title><description><![CDATA[Have you ever found yourself saying "yes" when every part of you wanted to say "no"? Perhaps you agree to help even when you're exhausted, avoid difficult conversations to keep the peace, or worry endlessly about disappointing other people. You know you're putting everyone else's needs before your own, yet somehow you keep doing it. If that sounds familiar, you're far from alone. People pleasing is often mistaken for kindness, generosity or simply having a caring nature. But beneath the...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/people-pleasing-why-it-s-so-hard-to-say-no-and-how-to-break-free</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a43d9048d7b2cb7d3b78a10</guid><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:08:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_1d87a942bd704ddfafaaff3f786d1f32~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Success Inhibition: Why Some People Fear Success More Than Failure]]></title><description><![CDATA["I know I can do it... so why do I keep getting in my own way?" It's a question I hear surprisingly often. Many of the people I work with are intelligent, capable professionals. They have the qualifications, the experience and the ability to succeed. Yet, just as they're about to take the next step.....launch the business, apply for the promotion, increase their fees or speak on stage.....they hesitate. They procrastinate. They overthink. They suddenly become exhausted. Or they convince...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/success-inhibition-why-some-people-fear-success-more-than-failure</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4012f1ad71d3b6876b68dd</guid><pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 18:31:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/08a851_cfb0545f47df451480be32e1775b8b91~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Successful People Feel Stuck Despite Having a Good Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[Over the years, I've noticed a recurring theme in both coaching and therapy sessions. Many of the people I work with aren't struggling because their lives are falling apart, it is quite the opposite. They often have successful careers, loving families and lives that look good from the outside. Yet they feel restless, stuck or disconnected from themselves. This article explores why that happens and what it might mean for the next chapter of your life." I should be happy. So why do I feel this...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/why-successful-people-feel-stuck-despite-having-a-good-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3984455eed21a75aa49c39</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:09:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_496875484c4978535f546b~mv2_d_6943_4634_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Neuroplasticity and Midlife Change: Why You're Not Stuck Being the Person You've Always Been]]></title><description><![CDATA[Have you ever found yourself thinking: "This can't be all there is." Perhaps you've built a successful career, raised a family, achieved many of the things you once wanted, yet still feel restless, unfulfilled or disconnected from yourself. Or maybe you've reached a point where you're questioning old roles, relationships, habits or beliefs and wondering who you are becoming now. If so, you're not alone. Many people reach a stage in life where they feel stuck between who they have been and who...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/neuroplasticity-and-midlife-change-why-you-re-not-stuck-being-the-person-you-ve-always-been</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a37c3f2a8977cb11dd82ee3</guid><pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 11:23:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/08a851_3ce0f6f3a3d349fa8c9372ff2fb0a02a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Is Imposter Syndrome? How Neuroscience Can Help You Finally Feel Good Enough]]></title><description><![CDATA[Have you ever achieved something significant, only to wonder when everyone will realise you don't really know what you're doing? Perhaps you've been promoted, started a successful business, qualified in your profession or receive regular praise from others. Yet inside, a quiet voice whispers: "I've just been lucky." "Soon they'll find out I'm not as capable as they think." "I'm not good enough." If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Millions of successful people experience imposter...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/what-causes-imposter-syndrome-why-successful-people-still-doubt-themselves</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a2d6484418318a8f7e42c4c</guid><pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 14:17:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/08a851_61af1d9a1a4c4b55912b81da03b82e2a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Quiet Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Life ........And What To Do Next]]></title><description><![CDATA[You might not be in crisis.....Nothing is “wrong” on paper. But something doesn’t feel right anymore. You feel it in small moments.....its a A lack of excitement....A sense of restlessness....A quiet question in the background:....“Is this it?” This is one of the most common reasons people come to work with me. Not because everything has fallen apart.....But because something inside them is ready to change. The Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Life This isn’t always dramatic. In fact, it’s often...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/the-quiet-signs-you-ve-outgrown-your-life-and-what-to-do-next</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69eb8509e5d3a4f23fbfb0c9</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:46:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_9d7756f910b347239ea872bc7bd8fec3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Midlife Transition: Why Life Feels Different After 40 .......And What To Do About It]]></title><description><![CDATA[When life starts to feel different — but you can’t explain why At some point, often in your 40s or beyond, something shifts. It’s not always dramatic. But you may notice: you think differently about your life things that once mattered don’t feel the same you start questioning your direction You might find yourself wondering: “Is this really how I want things to be? and  “What do I actually want now?” This is often the beginning of a midlife transition. What a midlife transition really is...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/midlife-transition-why-life-feels-different-after-40-and-what-to-do-about-it</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc1bc9bec251fc0ba8259a</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:58:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_d2f2bc6e58364fa4939d10b87bc2fc32~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Stop Overthinking and Start Moving Forward]]></title><description><![CDATA[When your mind won’t switch off Overthinking isn’t just “thinking too much.” It’s when your mind keeps going round the same loops: analysing second-guessing trying to work things out You might feel like you should  be able to make a decision…but instead, you feel stuck in your own head. And the more you think, the less clear things become. Why overthinking happens Overthinking is not a weakness. It’s your mind trying to protect you, get things “right”and avoid mistakes The problem is, it...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/how-to-stop-overthinking-and-start-moving-forward</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc17eb7ec0d59a4b4d5a3f</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:46:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/599d5afdcec7458e9a131b2189cfd232.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Life ........And What To Do Next]]></title><description><![CDATA[You can’t always explain it — but you can feel it There’s a point where life doesn’t feel wrong…but it no longer feels right either. You might look around and think: “This should be enough” “Why don’t I feel happier?” “Is this it?” Nothing is obviously broken.But something feels misaligned. This is often the first sign that you’ve outgrown parts of your life. What it means to “outgrow” your life Outgrowing your life doesn’t mean you’ve made the wrong choices. It means you’ve changed. The...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/signs-you-ve-outgrown-your-life-and-what-to-do-next</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc13d674e31f6acd0e0fa1</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:29:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_2fbf1b5480b14545afd527b8cf6df9ea~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why You Feel Stuck in Life (Even When Everything Looks Fine)]]></title><description><![CDATA[You’re not unhappy… but something isn’t right There’s a particular kind of feeling that’s hard to explain. On the surface, your life may look fine.Work, relationships, responsibilities — everything is in place. And yet, underneath that… something feels off. You might feel: flat or disconnected restless, but unsure why stuck, without a clear reason unsure what direction to take next It’s not dramatic......It’s not a crisis. But it’s persistent. And it doesn’t go away by ignoring it. Why this...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/why-you-feel-stuck-in-life-even-when-everything-looks-fine</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bc0f85bec251fc0ba7ffed</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:17:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_e6aa9cb018534a5a9061497945bc89a9~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Midlife Reinvention: Why Change Doesn’t Mean Starting Over]]></title><description><![CDATA[Midlife reinvention often begins when life no longer feels aligned with who you have become, even though everything appears successful on the outside. Many people hesitate to make changes in midlife because they believe reinvention means starting again from scratch. Starting over can feel exhausting. It can also feel risky, especially for people who have spent years building careers, responsibilities and stable lives. But meaningful reinvention rarely begins with abandoning everything that...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/reinvention-is-not-starting-over</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aee011c674490e6e1ff2a9</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:01:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_7606cbbdba9b4c9d8eac371114ec09d6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[7 Quiet Signals That Life Is Ready to Change]]></title><description><![CDATA[Life transitions often begin quietly, with subtle signals that something in life is ready to change even before we fully understand why. When people imagine life change, they often picture dramatic events. A crisis.A breakdown.A sudden realisation that everything must change. In reality, transitions often begin much more quietly. Many people arrive at a point of reflection not because something has collapsed, but because something subtle has shifted. They may struggle to explain it clearly....]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/the-quiet-signals-that-life-is-ready-to-change</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aedae74e256e650aa313ca</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:57:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2f23c6430960475791d003b18cf4d41a.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Achievement Is No Longer Enough: The Midlife “What Now?” Moment]]></title><description><![CDATA[Many successful professionals experience a midlife transition when achievement alone no longer provides the same sense of meaning or direction. Many people spend the first half of life pursuing clear goals. Education leads to career development.Work  brings financial stability.Responsibilities grow. Achievements accumulate. These goals give life structure and direction. They provide motivation and a sense of progress. But at some point, often in midlife, something begins to shift. The goals...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/when-achievement-is-no-longer-enough</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69aed45d7eb34e89d6fe7c17</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:25:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_55e4d1d237d64165a9c61bc435e9660a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Do I Feel Stuck in Midlife...Even Though My Life Looks Fine?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Feeling stuck in midlife is a common experience when life still appears stable but internally something no longer feels aligned. You ’ve built a stable life. You worked hard. You  made responsible decisions. You  achieved things you once hoped for. From the outside, everything may appear fine. So why does something feel slightly off? Why does there seem to be a quiet restlessness beneath the surface? This experience is more common than people realise. Many people reach midlife and begin to...]]></description><link>https://www.lesley-allen.com/post/why-do-i-feel-stuck-in-midlife-even-though-my-life-looks-fine</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a55fe6a1cf5821abc66f0c</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:31:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b2a693c57cc3477dbcb9e6db566e0a8a.jpg/v1/fit/w_470,h_360,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lesley Allen</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>