98. If You're Trying, You're Trying Too Hard. Start Being.

gentle reminders for when you're overthinking, overwhelmed, and over-doing it.the art of let oneself be (without guilt) is a love letter to the magic that appears when you let go and it is done with the intention of:taking the BEING very seriously and the DOING very unseriously. this is the last episode of season three and the last page of the road less traveled chapter. so much more to come. see you very soon for episode 100. xWATCH THE VIDEO EPISODE HEREFSO COSTA RICA RETREAT 2026: LIMITED 10% OFF EARLY-BIRD SPOTSFSO InstagramPersonal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainIF YOU LOVE FSO, RATE THE PODCAST ON YOUR PREFERRED STREAMING PLATFORM, LEAVE A COMMENT, SHARE THIS EPISODE &STAY CONNECTED:Artist's Way Community Sign-Upfor partnerships or inquiries, please contact:[email protected]:0:00-5:00: the art of intentional living and the radical act of beingness5:00-7:18: the inevitable highs and lows, inhales and exhales, and sitting in between7:18-12:30: potential portals to beingness12:30-14:00: this is your sign to live more fully, freely, and joyfully14:00-18:00: embodying See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations

every day is dress rehearsal for the life you want to live and the person you want to be.if you're trying, you're trying too hard.let this episode remind you of the truth of who you are - stop trying. start being.let go of the story & start LIVING your truth.and start now.xWATCH THE VIDEO EPISODE HEREFSO COSTA RICA RETREAT 2026: LIMITED 10% OFF EARLY-BIRD SPOTSFSO IGPersonal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainIF YOU LOVE FSO, RATE THE PODCAST ON YOUR PREFERRED STREAMING PLATFORM, LEAVE A COMMENT, SHARE THIS EPISODE &STAY CONNECTED:Artist's Way Community Sign-Upfor partnerships or inquiries, please contact:[email protected]: 0:00-4:00: You're Not Special, but You Are Powerful 4:00-8:00: Coming Clean 8:00-10:00: your worth starts right now10:00-12:00: What you want reveals who You Are 12:00-14:00: what is driving you? Fear or love?14:00-16:00: what if I don't believe it?16:00-18:00: the distinct polarities18:00-20:00: don't stare at fear. don't linger. 20:00-21:00: the trap of "trying" and how it keeps us stuck without realizing it21:00-23:00: life is a process of creation, not discovery.23:00: let go of the story & start LIVING your truthSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations

"What aspects of myself do I wish to experience now in the face of this calamity? What aspects of being do I choose to call forth? For all life exists as a tool of your own creation, and all of its events merely present themselves as opposites for you to decide to be who ou are. There are no victims. Only creators" - Neil Walsch, Conversations with GodThought-Daughtering my way through every major challenge and transition in my life and remembering:Everything is an opportunity to deepen your most high truth - especially, your biggest challenges. Layers within them, are blessings.CHAPTERS:0:00-7:00: life update & backstory: where am I... living?7:00-19:00: challenges & hardship are opportunities to go deeper into who we really are19:00-25:00: we are pure creative potential25:00-29:00: you are not a victim!!!29:00-31:00: the misconception of the higher self31:00-35:00: how lucky are we to have a last time?x:WATCH THE VIDEO EPISODE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OKOGbozAagFSO COSTA RICA RETREAT 2026: LIMITED 10% OFF EARLY-BIRD SPOTSFSO IGPersonal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainIF YOU LOVE FSO, RATE THE PODCAST ON YOUR PREFERRED STREAMING PLATFORM, LEAVE A COMMENT, SHARE THIS EPISODE &STAY CONNECTED:Artist's Way Community Sign-Upfor partnerships or inquiries, please contact:[email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations

life is happening FOR you, not to you. your access to freedom is right here and now - in the chance and opportunity to trust when your faith is shaken.on this week's episode, i give you background into how this mindset is keeping me steady and strong after finding out i may have to leave my home of three years on a week's notice (stay tuned to find out what happens next week! figuring sh!t out in real time! haha! it's so not funny! but i have to laugh! because what else! is there! to do!! haha!!) xWATCH THE VIDEO EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/Lifni4OshfwFSO COSTA RICA RETREAT 2026: LIMITED 10% OFF EARLY-BIRD SPOTSPersonal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainIF YOU LOVE FSO, RATE THE PODCAST ON YOUR PREFERRED STREAMING PLATFORM, LEAVE A COMMENT, SHARE THIS EPISODE &STAY CONNECTED:FSO IGArtist's Way Community Sign-Upfor partnerships or inquiries, please contact:[email protected]: 0:00-4:30: If You're Forcing: Stop. 4:30- 13:00: Backstory of Being (potentially) Displaced in NYC: 13:00: Resisting vs Surrendering, The RatRace & Hamster Wheel15:00: There is nothing that could take you from your path. it will emerge 19:00: tests of trust come through uncertainty 23:00: the process is the pointSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations

This episode is an ode to reclaiming your creativity and individuality after being flooded and energetically dulled from phone addiction, a noisy world of aesthetics and trends, and overstimulation.In it, I give you a six-step ritual to reclaim spaciousness inside of your own head, to hear your own voice, and to unravel the subtle signal of yourself beneath all of the noise.In a world that demands so much of our attention, where every desire is boxed into a trend or an aesthetic to curate onto a Pinterest board, where we are drowned by stimuli the moment we step into the deep-end of unlocking our phones - individuality and autonomy is no longer a birthright, but a skill. And in a culture of immediacy and urgency, choosing to listen, have patience, and prioritize play is a radical act.This is not performance.This is learning how to breathe again.xWATCH THE VIDEO TO THIS EPISODE HERE! I LOVE YOU!!IF YOU <3 FSO, RATE THE PODCAST ON YOUR PREFERRED STREAMING PLATFORM, LEAVE A COMMENT, SHARE THIS EPISODE &STAY CONNECTED:FSO IGJOIN THE Community! To Support the Show! For Bonus Meditations, Episodes, & Discounted/Free Access to Workshops.Free Grounding & Energy Cleansing Meditation in the FSO Together community <3Personal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainxMentioned in the episode:Artist's Way Community Sign-UpFSO COSTA RICA RETREAT 2026: LIMITED 10% OFF EARLY-BIRD SPOTSTikTok I referenced on Dopamine RecoveryRead the piece I wrote for this episode <3Xfor partnerships or inquiries, please contact:[email protected]:0:00-2:00: Coming Home to Yourself. Even "Good Noise" Is still Noise2:00-10:00: What Inspired this Episode: My Experience with Energetic Density10:00-13:00: Energetic Hygiene: All it Takes13:00-14:00 The Art of Hearing Your Own Voice14:00-17:00: The Unraveling, Creativity Cave, Sensory Reclamation, Boredom As A Portal17:00-19:00: We Have to remember this was always Ours19:00-21:00: How Trends, Labels, and Aesthetics Keep us in a Box21:00-27:00: The Artist's Way is the Spiritual Path27:00-34:00: Dopamine & Scrolling34:00-39:00: Oh My Darling, It was Never That Serious.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations

What if your expression: your voice, your vision, your rebellion was the most direct line to the divine? What if Art was your prayer?In this conversation with my dear friend Etai, we explore the thin veil between art and spirituality and the daily devotion of creativity and leading life with an open heart.We discuss in depth - The Artist's Way, fear, rejection, finding the right audience, living with an open heart, and returning to wholeness through expression.Etai has built an online community of over 400,000 who use his yoga videos to get closer to themselves and their truths. He's built this platform in the last year through a brave spirit of pure authenticity as he finds himself calling other parts of the globe his home and sharing his truth. May his words, voice, and presence inspire your path forward and let you live in your calling. x Etai's IGEtai's LinksEtai's first FSO episodexFSO COSTA RICA RETREAT 2026: LIMITED 10% OFF EARLY-BIRD SPOTSxSTAY CONNECTED:FSO IGJOIN THE Community! To Support the Show! For Bonus Meditations, Episodes, & Discounted/Free Access to Workshops.Free Grounding & Energy Cleansing Meditation in the FSO Together community <3Personal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainxfor partnerships or inquiries, please contact:[email protected]: 00:00-07:40: Discovering Oneself07:40-10:20: One Year of Solo Travel & Spiritual Unfolding Showing Up Online 10:20-14:00: The Sacred Contrast: Collectivism vs. Free Expression14:00-17:00: Showing Up Online, Yoga as a Muse, Building a Digital Devotional17:00-20:00: Living with an Open Heart & True Authentic Freedom20:00-25:00: The Artists Way + Inseparability between Art & Spirituality25:30-35:00: The Company We Keep35:00-40:55 – Yoga as Muse & Art as OfferingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations

We become so busy "getting our lives together" that we forget that we've achieved some of our childhood dreams. Let this episode allow you to remember. You are right on time. This episode is an ode to LIVING and restoring your inner vision. FSO COSTA RICA RETREAT 2026: LIMITED 10% OFF EARLY-BIRD SPOTS Book 15 if you want to talk with me about the retreat or the RLT Program (a few spots left for this next round + scholarships!)Instagram DM's are open rn!! @figuringshiiitoutInsight Timer 40 Days of Transformation with DavidJixSTAY CONNECTED:JOIN THE Community! To Support the Show! For Bonus Meditations, Episodes, & Discounted/Free Access to Workshops.Free Grounding & Energy Cleansing Meditation in the FSO Together community <3Personal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainxfor partnerships or inquiries, please contact:[email protected]: 0:00-6:00: But, where is your joy?6:00:-8:00: Forgetting we've achieved our childhood dreams8:00-9:30: The Lower Self / Higher Self & Pendulum Swing of Shadow + Light9:30-12:00: Raising Your Baseline, Sitting with the Self in 40 days of Silent Meditation12:00-16:00: Transformation is a process that is not linear16:00-19:00: Vision without Strategy is just a To-Do List19:00-23:00: The Proverbial "mountain," Sometimes It's Easier When You're Farther Away23:00-27:00: How Would You Act If It was All Working out?27:00-30:00: When You're Ready to Change, YOU WILL30:00-37:00: Costa Rica, Artist's Way Circle37:00-43:00: Create What You Wish Existed43:00-44:00: If I'm still here I have a 100% Survival Rate!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations

no one relates to art that has all the answers - your power comes from all of the things you do not know, but have the courage to try and understand./If you <3 FSO, rate it 5 stars on your preferred streaming platform, leave a comment, and share with a friend <3Road Less Travelers Program:BOOK TIME TO CHAT ABOUT THE NEXT ROUND OF THE ROAD LESS TRAVELERS PROGRAM STARTING IN JULY! Or DM ME "invite" with your email on IG: @figuringshiiitout 2026 RETREAT ANNOUNCEMENT COMING THIS WEEK! Sign up for updates here.STAY CONNECTED:JOIN THE Community! To Support the Show! For Bonus Meditations, Episodes, & Discounted/Free Access to Workshops.Free Grounding & Energy Cleansing Meditation in the FSO Together community <3Personal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainStan-Store (With Workshop Playbacks + Resources for Purchase to support the Show!)If you liked this episode, you may also like this one:43 - Speak Your Truth & Protect your Peace: The Energy of Alignment of Alignment & InfluenceCHAPTERS:0:00-3:00: We're Always Figuring Sh!T Out3:00-4:30: The GIFT of Imposter Syndrome & Uncertainty4:30-6:00: You are Exactly Where You're Meant to Be6:00-11:00: The Void & Gestation, The beauty of In Betweenness, Becoming11:00-14:00: You Are Already Whole14:00-18:00: What is Freedom?18:00-21:00: Seeking, Lack, & How You Know It's Time to Take a Step Back21:00-23:00: We are Not Meant to Walk this Path AloneSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations

6 months ago, I got off the hamster wheel, quit my corporate job, & traveled to Bali for Yoga Teacher Training.I went through the highs and lows of choosing a yoga teacher training, learned the hard lessons of first-time solo transatlantic travel, and lived to tell the tale.In this episode, I share about everything I gathered in my journey to Bali, how I chose a Yoga Teacher Training, what YTT was like, and what I learned from doing yoga in the jungle of Ubud for 3 weeks.We cover the questions you should ask before choosing a YTT, the trade-offs of affordability and community, what it's actually like traveling to Bali, and what my experience was like at House of Om.Touching on the transformation that happens within, the cultural complexities of Bali, and the spiritual truths that emerge when you step away from the familiar, this episode is a 101 guide for anyone thinking about buying that one-way ticket.For more on the depth of my experience and to hear my journal entries and awakenings while there, watch my recent video on Youtube: Diaries of a Corporate Drop-Out.xSUPPORT THE SHOW BY LEAVING A COMMENT ON THIS EPISODE, RATING IT 5 STARS ON YOUR PREFERRED STREAMING PLATFORM, FOLLOWING, & SHARING WITH A FRIEND <3xBOOK TIME TO CHAT ABOUT THE ROAD LESS TRAVELERS PROGRAM! Or DM ME "invite" with your email on IG: @figuringshiiitout (&Follow the IG to stay tuned on official launch and for other FSO news! )2026 RETREAT ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON! Sign up for updates here.STAY CONNECTED:MY NEWSLETTER (scroll to the end of the page to join!)JOIN THE Community! For Bonus Meditations, Episodes, & Discounted/Free Access to Workshops.Free Grounding & Energy Cleansing Meditation in the FSO Together community <3Personal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainStan-Store (With Workshop Playbacks + Resources for Purchase to support the Show!)If you liked this episode, you may also like these!64 - How Trauma & Pain Are Stored in Our Body & How to Heal with Movement (Samten Kriya Episode)60 - How A Self-Discovery Journey Led me From Working In Tech to Doing YTT in Bali 59 - Taking the Leap /Resources:Choosing a YTTHouse of Om:House of Om: MelatiSamten Kriya Visitng Bali:Indonesia Visa Regulations Official Link to Apply for a Visa (Website isn't Great)Recommendations mentioned:Sanur: Nice Beach / Calm / on West CoastUbud: YTT's & Spiritual Center of BaliUluwatu: Beach/Cliftown in the South - favorite part of Bali/CHAPTERS:0:00-3:00: Introduction3:00-9:00 Why I decided on YTT & My Journey9:00-11:30: Choosing a YTT: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself11:30-13:15: Intentions13:15-16:00: Class / Group Size16:00-19:00: House of Om: Affordability & Experience19:00-20:00: Be Prepared for Emotional Catharsis22:00-24:00: Teachers & Kriya Yoga, Schedule & trade-Offs24:00-25:00: Emotional Processing25:00-27:00: Choosing a Training: Summary27:00-30:00: All About Bali30:00-34:00: Gentrification, Westernization: Paying Respect34:00-40:00: Flights, Visas, Police, Female Solo Traveling40:00-44:00: Finances & Cost, Justifying the Investment44:00-48:00: What YTT Gave MeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations

my reflections on the journey to the other side of the world seen through the eyes of my through journal entries.watch the video, told in visuals and story here: https://youtu.be/9R2bAm2ds_4for this week, here is my heart.NEXT WEEK, there is an episode all about the actual logistics of YTT and I give you my comprehensive guide to navigating choosing a yoga teacher training and going to Bali.xBe sure to FOLLOW the podcast to stay up to date <3SUPPORT THE SHOW BY LEAVING A COMMENT ON THIS EPISODE, RATING IT 5 STARS ON YOUR PREFERRED STREAMING PLATFORM, FOLLOWING, & SHARING WITH A FRIEND <3xStay Connected:BOOK TIME TO CHAT ABOUT THE ROAD LESS TRAVELERS PROGRAM! (All about HOW to do this type of thing)Or DM ME "invite" with your email on:IG: @figuringshiiitout (&Follow the IG to stay tuned on official launch and for other FSO news! )2026 RETREAT ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON! Sign up for updates here.STAY CONNECTED:MY NEWSLETTER (scroll to the end of the page to join!)JOIN THE Community! For Bonus Meditations, Episodes, & Discounted/Free Access to Workshops.Free Grounding & Energy Cleansing Meditation in the FSO Together community <3Personal Instagram: @vanessaafontanaTikTok: butterflyfountainStan-Store (With Workshop Playbacks + Resources for Purchase to support the Show!)xIf you liked this episode, you may also like these!64 - How Trauma & Pain Are Stored in Our Body & How to Heal with Movement (Samten Kriya Episode)60 - How A Self-Discovery Journey Led me From Working In Tech to Doing YTT in Bali 59 - Taking the LeapSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/figuring-sh-t-out/donations