
239. Journal With Me: When Your Life Looks Nothing Like You Expected
From Beyond Awareness: Closing the Gap Between Knowing and Doing by Samantha Hawley | Inspired by Brene Brown, Glennon Doyle, Marie Forleo, Hillary Kerr, Mel Robbins
April 30, 2026 · 11 min · Season 4 · Episode 239
About this episode
This episode guides listeners through a journaling practice to process life expectations versus reality.
You thought your life would look different by now. Different relationships. Different pace. Different version of you. And instead, you’re here. Trying to make sense of a reality you didn’t plan for, while part of you keeps going back to how it was supposed to be. This is where you either stay stuck in comparison… or gently start meeting your life as it is. This journaling practice walks you through both. The version of life you expected and the one you’re actually living. What it feels like. What you’re making it mean. And how to begin moving forward without forcing yourself to rush past anything. If life hasn’t gone the way you thought it would, this gives you a way to process it and start finding your footing again. Journal Prompts What did you expect your life to look like right now? Think about relationships, finances, health, hobbies, goals, or anything else that comes up What does your life actually look like right now? In those same areas and anything you didn’t expect How does your current life feel compared to what you imagined? What are you making that mean about you and where you are? What shifts when you stop comparing and focus on your life as it is? The people, the…
People in this episode
Host: Samantha Hawley
Topics covered
- journaling
- self-reflection
- life expectations
- personal growth
- comparison
- mindfulness
Keywords
- journaling prompts
- life expectations
- self-discovery
- personal development
- mindfulness
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