Hi Reader,
⏱️ 5-minute main read | Inside THE WEEKLY CHANGE REQUEST:
The Confession: I hosted my first book club—and I'm not doing another one right now.
The Lemon Squeeze🍊: What happens when something is successful... but you know you're complete with it?
The Podcast 🎙️: The one sentence from Jack McFen that changed how I'm thinking about self-trust.
The Project Manager 📋: What keeping commitments has taught me about trusting my own word.
The Yogi 🧘♀️: My real-life Warrior II moment—and staying with myself when a decision feels uncomfortable.
Microdose of Courage 💊: Keep one small promise to yourself—even if someone you love doesn't like it.
Sponsor Support 🤑: Those clicks can help support The FitZen Project without you buying anything.
Also inside: New solo episodes, trusted FitZen favorites, FitZen Philanthropies, and a quick listener feedback request.
THE CONFESSION
I did something last week that I’m really proud of.
I finished hosting my first book club.
A BOOK CLUB THAT I LED?!?
If you know me, you know how big that is. I’ve been an avid reader my entire life, and there was something really special about creating a space where we could read something meaningful together, talk about it, challenge each other—and then finish the whole thing by sitting down with the actual author.
And I did it.
We read Wake Up to Die Again by Scott Lackey, and I don’t think I realized when I chose the book just how much it was going to challenge me.
Not just as the person hosting the book club, but as the person hosting this podcast and writing these emails. And even as the person building this community.
It made me look at how I’m showing up here and I realized there’s more space I’m capable of taking up. It's not that I need to do more— for the love of all things holy, I actually think I need to do less—but I can go deeper with what I’m already doing.
Scott talked about what can happen when we’re willing to sit with our scars instead of hiding them. When we’re willing to show what we’ve lived through, it gives other people permission to look at their own lives a little differently—and maybe take action on the things that actually matter.
That landed.
And it’s a big part of why you’re going to notice The FitZen Project changing.
But here’s the other thing I learned from hosting this book club:
I don’t want to host another one right now.
And that feels important to say because many of you reading this are authors I’ve had the privilege of hosting on the podcast—and your stories are absolutely incredible.
Believe you me, I want people to take notice of what you have to say. Some of the minds I've gotten to witness through these conversations are incredible—and then I get to pick up your books and experience your message in an entirely different way.
I want more of that.
I want to keep reading your books. I want to recommend the ones that move me. I want to bring authors onto the podcast and use this community to point people toward work I believe deserves their attention.
I just don’t need to host a meeting around every book I love. And THAT is my lesson.
Something can matter to me without becoming another commitment on my calendar.
This book club was successful. I loved it. I’m so glad I did it.
And it can also be complete.
THE LEMON SQUEEZE 🍊:
Here’s what I’m squeezing this week:
How many times have you turned something you loved into something you had to maintain?
It went well, so you should do it again.
People liked it, so you should keep offering it.
You’re good at it, so obviously you should find room for it.
But what if successful doesn’t automatically mean continue?
That’s my squeeze.
I hosted the book club. I loved it. I kept the commitment I made to myself.
And now I get to make another decision:
Do I actually want more of this—or do I feel like I’m supposed to want more just because it worked?
Turns out, trusting myself isn’t only about following through.
Sometimes it’s trusting myself enough to know when I’m complete.
THE PODCAST 🎙️:
And then, because timing has a sense of humor, I sat down with Jack McFen of Average Jacks.
We started talking about success—what it means when you stop measuring it by money, titles, comparison, or what everybody else seems to be doing.
And Jack said something that connected directly to what I was experiencing:
When you stop breaking promises to yourself, you start trusting yourself more.
Well, there it is.
Maybe trusting myself enough to say the book club was successful AND I’m complete with it didn't come out of nowhere. It came from all the little commitments I’ve made to myself—and actually kept.
This conversation goes into success, people-pleasing, external validation, relationships, and what happens when you stop trusting your own decisions because someone you love isn't happy with them.
🎧 Successful at Everything—So Why Are You Losing Yourself in Your Relationship?
→ LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE
THE PROJECT MANAGER 📋
Alongside Jack's podcast, I started thinking about how this shows up in my career. Naturally, my PM brain landed on commitment management—because trust is built in the follow-through, not the promise. The book club gave me another little piece of evidence that when I tell myself I’m going to do something, I can count on myself to do it.
And funny enough, that evidence makes it a whole lot easier to trust myself when the next answer is no.
But what happens when we take that same idea into our relationships—where keeping a commitment to ourselves might mean disappointing someone we love? That’s what I’m breaking down in this week’s 5-minute Project Management mini.
→ LISTEN TO THE PM MINI
THE YOGI 🧘♀️
And this was my Warrior II moment: the book club went well, so part of me immediately felt like I should keep going. Instead of reacting to that discomfort by putting another meeting on my calendar, I stayed with it long enough to ask myself, Do I actually want to do this again right now?
No. And I can stay right here with that answer.
Because yoga has taught me that discomfort doesn’t always mean something is wrong. But what happens when that discomfort isn’t coming from your shaking legs in Warrior II—it’s coming from someone you love being unhappy with a decision you made? That’s what I’m taking off the mat in this week’s 5-minute Yoga mini.
→ LISTEN TO THE YOGA MINI
MICRODOSE OF COURAGE 💊
Keep one small promise to yourself—even if someone you love doesn't like it.
Nothing massive. Pick something small enough that you can actually follow through, and then keep your word to yourself.
And if their reaction makes you want to change your mind, give yourself a Warrior II moment: stay, breathe, and ask, Do I actually want to change my decision—or do I just want this discomfort to go away?
Every kept promise is another little piece of evidence:
I can trust myself.
With all the gratitude,
Rachel
Alignment is the new hustle.
You are your most important project.
Want to support FitZen without spending a dime?
If something in the sponsored ad below catches your eye, checking it out is one more way to support The FitZen Project. No purchase necessary—and very appreciated. 💰
P.S. If any of these messages hit, and you want to see how the FitZen Project can personally help you to your next level, below is my calendar- let's talk.
✨ FITZEN FAVORITES | Humans & Brands I Trust ✨
I only share what I genuinely use, believe in, and would recommend to my mom/ best friend.
When you use my links, you’re supporting The FitZen Project — and I’m deeply grateful.
🟣 Rage Create – The planners, affirmation cards, and habit trackers that actually keep me focused. The “Spank Your To-Do List” pad? Elite. Structure + manifestation = unstoppable momentum. Get 20% off using code FITZEN.
🌿 Lotus and Luna – Ethical, hand-made, feel-good pieces that align with the grounded, earthy FitZen vibe. Sustainable + stylish? Yes. Get 20% off using code FITZEN.
🧘♀️ Liforme Yoga Mat – The only mat I practice on. The grip is unreal. It literally holds you while you build strength and stability. Get 20% off using code FITZEN.
🥂 TÖST- Non- Alcoholic Sparkling Beverages and this link gets you 10% off. TÖST is a dry, all-natural, alcohol-free sparkling beverage crafted with white tea, cranberry, and ginger—perfect for elevated, non-alcoholic celebrations anytime.
🌬 Breathwork with Tabatha DeBruyn – My 9D Breathwork session shifted 30 years of stored trauma in two hours. I’m not exaggerating. This is powerful, safe, guided release work for when you’re ready to let go of what your body has been carrying. If you want real transformation — this is it.
Thank you for supporting the brands and practitioners who support this community.
✨ FITZEN Philanthropies ✨
🐎 Hooves of Hope- Hooves of Hope Equestrian Center serves individuals from more than thirteen counties across Kentucky, providing equine-assisted activities and therapies that help children and adults with diverse needs build essential life skills in a safe and caring environment.
🩺🫀🫁American Lung Association- Do Good, Feel Great! I'm climb stairs in the Fight For Air Climb to support people with lung disease who are fighting for every breath.
Being in the business of YOU means being intentional about what you consume — including what you buy, who you work with, and how you heal.
Check out my recent solo episodes... they will get you thinking...
Self-Leadership Starts Where Victimhood Ends
|
|
|
Stop Outsourcing Your Life: How to Trust Yourself and Make Better Decisions
|
|
|
Intuition Made Simple: How to Trust Yourself Without Overthinking
|
|
|
"Your solo episodes are my favorite. So you and so real."
Soul · Mark
|
