Change starts with awareness (S4) S40 E7

Welcome to the Inspirations for Your Life Podcast, the show designed to awaken potential and drive extraordinary growth! I’m your host, John C. Morley—a Serial Entrepreneur, Engineer, Marketing Specialist, Video Producer, Podcast Host, Podcast Coach, and passionate lifelong learner. Every episode is crafted to spark transformation by unveiling truths about leadership, mindset, and personal power. Here, we explore how simple awareness can be the key to unlocking workplace motivation, elevating your leadership game, and building the life you truly desire. If you’re ready to break through limitations and create change, you’re in the right place! Together, let's journey beyond comfort zones, face what is, and embrace techniques that lead to lasting fulfillment. Follow along as we uncover bold strategies, share actionable insights, and connect you to resilient habits for every facet of your life and career. Tune in—because awareness is where your next chapter begins.

1️⃣ Awareness is the spark for all growth. At the core of every personal and professional breakthrough is awareness. It acts as the ignition for progress—before any change takes hold, there must be recognition. The moment you become conscious of a thought, pattern, or opportunity, you give growth permission to start. Like flipping on a light in a dark room, awareness reveals what was previously hidden and sets in motion the journey to new achievements.

2️⃣ No change happens until you notice what needs fixing. Transformation isn't automatic. It requires the willingness to pause and observe what isn't working. When you notice the flaws, distractions, or inefficiencies that hold you back, you lay the groundwork for all improvement. The simple act of noticing is your ticket to meaningful progress—it’s the intersection where intention meets reality.

3️⃣ Awareness shines a light on hidden habits. We all have subconscious routines—actions run on autopilot, from how we respond to stress to how we handle setbacks. These hidden habits shape results, often without our knowing. Awareness brings these patterns into the spotlight so you can choose whether to keep them or replace them. That power to choose means you can transform small routines into lifelong strengths.

4️⃣ Self-reflection opens the door to transformation. Looking inward with honest self-reflection offers deep insights about your strengths, weaknesses, and purpose. Instead of rerunning old scripts, you examine your motives, assess your progress, and reframe your goals. The habit of self-reflection doesn’t just prevent mistakes—it multiplies your successes.

5️⃣ Change is impossible without seeing what is. You can only improve on what you acknowledge. Facing the reality—good, bad, or uncomfortable—is the non-negotiable first step to creating lasting change. When you see the full picture, you empower yourself to make decisions that drive meaningful transformation.

6️⃣ Truth begins where denial ends. Personal growth accelerates when you drop the stories, excuses, or avoidance tactics. Only in the space where denial stops and truth begins do you uncover the opportunities for bold change. Admitting what needs attention sets you free to act without baggage.

7️⃣ Patterns repeat until you become aware. Ever wonder why the same challenges keep showing up? It’s not fate—it’s a lack of recognition. Awareness interrupts the repeating loop, giving you the tools to rewrite the story and develop new, empowered responses.

8️⃣ Awareness gives you power over your actions. Each day presents choices, but only those made with awareness lead to progress. By bringing attention to your intentions before acting, you gain agency over your behavior—steering it toward personal goals rather than accidental outcomes.

9️⃣ Progress starts the moment you recognize a problem. Solutions can only be found when the issue is clear. Acknowledging a challenge is what triggers your resourcefulness and creativity, setting in motion the strategies that will drive you forward.

🔟 Honest awareness is the first step to resilience. Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s recognizing where you faltered so you can rebound smarter and stronger. Honest awareness provides realistic feedback that tempers optimism with wisdom.

1️⃣1️⃣ Ignorance keeps you stuck in yesterday. When you overlook necessary growth, you stagnate, repeating old outcomes and robbing yourself of progress. Awareness breaks the chain, encouraging you to address blind spots and step forward with confidence.

1️⃣2️⃣ See it, then shift it. Every journey of change begins with observation. Once you notice, you have options—and the act of shifting what you see transforms the situation. Awareness without action is just observation; awareness paired with change is evolution.

1️⃣3️⃣ Every breakthrough starts with new awareness. Game-changing revelations don’t appear randomly. They arise when y

Episode Transcript

(00:22):
Well, hey guys, it is John C.
Morley, your serial entrepreneur.
Welcome to Inspirations for Your Life.
Today is Friday.
It's October 3rd, 2025.
And you know what that means?
We're on day seven, and that means we're
wrapping up our master topic.
If you've never been here before, I want

(00:44):
to take this opportunity to say thank you
and to welcome you to the Inspirations for
Your Life show.
If you're coming back, well, definitely welcome back,
ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you so much for choosing to come
back.
I'm glad you enjoy this content and choose
to make it part of your daily life.
All right, guys, if you're thirsty, feel free
to go grab yourself some RO water like
I have here.
Or perhaps maybe it'll be another snack or

(01:06):
a piece of fruit or a drink or
what have you.
Oh, and don't forget to check out BelieveMeAchieved
.com right after the show, where you can
get long-form content, short-form content, articles,
and much more.
So definitely check that out, guys.
So our master topic this week is the
cost of comfort versus the power.

(01:31):
And I think that's an interesting thing because
when we can understand that and we can
understand this whole thing about how it works
and how, you know, there's this unique, how
can I say, guys, dynamic in our life
that has the power to do so many
great things for us.

(01:52):
So our master topic for the week is
the cost of comfort versus the power of
awareness.
All right, guys, and tonight's granular topic is,
of course, another great granular topic to wrap
off this wonderful master week.
And so that granular topic, guys, for tonight

(02:16):
or for today is one that I think
wraps up this week pretty well.
Change starts with awareness.
Series 4, show 40, episode number 7.
All right, guys, let's just kick this off,
okay?
So I invite you guys to tune in

(02:37):
often, and let's spark your next breakthrough together.
Welcome, everyone, to the Inspirations for Your Life
podcast.
I am John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur, engineer, marketing specialist, video producer,

(02:57):
graduate student, podcast host, podcast coach.
And a passionate lifelong learner.
Yeah, if you guys haven't been watching me
that long, you probably didn't know that I
love to learn.
I love to share.
So here, every episode is a journey to

(03:17):
awaken your mind, expand your leadership, and fuel
your growth with actionable insights.
I believe, ladies and gentlemen, that true transformation
starts long before the action it begins with.
Deep self-awareness.

(03:41):
This show is your resource for thought-provoking
wisdom, practical motivation, and resilient habits that turn
everyday moments into catalysts for change.
Whether you're seeking to up-level your career,

(04:01):
build an inspiring life, or simply discover what's
possible, you'll find powerful strategies and expert reflections
right here.
My goal is to help you all see
more, to feel more, and to do more.
So let's take this journey together, alright?

(04:23):
And unlock your highest true potential that will
benefit not only you, but everyone else for
the greater good of all concerned.
Alright guys, point number one is, awareness is
the spark for all growth.
Awareness is where every journey begins.

(04:46):
It isn't just about knowledge, it's the realization
that something in your life, business, or mindset
could be better.
When you shine a light on your habits
and challenges, you unlock new ways to grow.

(05:08):
Growth never happens by accident.
It's always by chance.
Number two guys, no change happens until you
notice what needs fixing.
You can't, ladies and gentlemen, change what you

(05:29):
don't see and what you don't know.
Sometimes, life's challenges will persist within us for
years, simply because we've never paused to notice
them.
So you really need to pause and reflect
on what's going on in your life, because

(05:50):
when you do, so many great things can
happen.
I think that's an important thing to understand.
And hopefully, you'll understand more about it.
I think a lot of times, people don't
quite understand what it is.

(06:14):
But I want to tell you that these
are things that we all can do every
single day.
Every single day.
And so when we think about every single
day, we think about the fact that so
much is possible in our life.

(06:36):
Sometimes, we all get stuck in this mode,
right?
And this mode isn't meant to trip you
up.
It's meant to get you to awaken and
to be part of something.
I think sometimes we move so fast in
our life that we miss the real beauty

(06:56):
of things.
The real beauty gets missed, because we are
in such a big, big rush, okay?
I think people don't
know the whole deal or the whole shebang,

(07:20):
right?
I think when this happens, most people are
like, oh my gosh, what do I do
from here?
What am I supposed to do now, right?
So the act of noticing opens the door
to solutions and new directions.

(07:40):
A small step that can lead to massive
improvements is the key, guys.
Number three, awareness shines a light on hidden
habits.
Hidden habits often drive our lives without permission.
They're the routines and thought patterns you didn't

(08:05):
even realize were there.
When awareness brings them to, well, the surface,
basically letting our attention notice them, you're finally
able to make conscious shifts, swap old habits

(08:26):
with powerful new ones, and truly move forward.
Number four, guys, self-reflection opens the door
to transformation.
When you reflect and not just review, you
uncover the mystery, the deeper reasons behind your

(08:49):
actions and the choices you've made.
Self-reflection asks honest questions and listens for
honest answers.
It's the difference, ladies and gentlemen, between repeating
the same year over and over and experiencing

(09:10):
lifelong evolution, and this is something that we
need to understand.
Number five is change is impossible without what
is.
Want things to be different in your life?
Start by looking at what actually is.

(09:32):
Facing reality is tough, but it sets the
foundation for every transformation.
Acceptance puts you back in control and empowers
you to pursue meaningful change.
I think that's a very important thing, guys,

(09:54):
really important thing.
Number six, truth begins where denial ends.
We all struggle with denial from little self
-deceptions to major blind spots.
But real growth, the real growth happens when

(10:16):
we correct ourselves.
I think denial clears the fog and opens
new possibilities, not just for your life, but
your mindset as well.
And I think that's something a lot of
people miss because they don't realize how that

(10:38):
one perceptional switch can make such a big,
big difference in your life.
I think that's an important thing.
Number seven, guys, patterns repeat until you become
aware of them.
Ever feel stuck in recurring cycles?

(10:59):
Awareness is the interruption.
Recognize the repeating patterns, and you can finally
move beyond them.
Transforming what once seemed inevitable.
Number eight, guys, awareness gives you power over

(11:21):
your actions.
Every conscious decision is powered by awareness.
Once you know why you act and how
you act, you can choose differently.
Awareness fuels intention, and I think this is

(11:47):
important to understand because the place that you
are, you know, we're all living, you're in
a place that you should be in charge
and not be on autopilot because when you're
on autopilot, you miss the beauty.
You miss the opportunities to learn.

(12:10):
Number nine, progress, guys, starts the moment you
recognize a problem.
The light bulb moment comes when you realize
what needs fixing.
From there, progress accelerates creative solutions and new

(12:31):
ideas flow and they go forward and propel
your momentum and everything begins to take shape.
Number 10, guys, honest awareness is the first
step to resilience.
Resilience means bouncing back and adapting, but first

(12:55):
you must see where you fell.
Honest awareness allows you to learn lessons and
build the inner strength to rise stronger than
before.
Number 11, ignorance keeps you stuck in yesterday.

(13:19):
Operating without awareness means you repeat the same
mistakes and chase the same unfulfilling goals, time
in and time out.
Awakening to what's really happening lets you let
go of the old and embrace something just

(13:41):
a little bit better.
Number 12, see it, then shift it.
The best changes start with noticing first.
Once you're aware, even the smallest subtle changes,
those slight shifts have the ability to elicit

(14:05):
amazing big results.
It's awareness plus bold action that yields transformation.
Number 13, guys, every breakthrough, every breakthrough starts
with new awareness.
The greatest progress comes not from brute force,

(14:29):
but from seeing new possibilities.
Awareness is often the unseen spark behind every
innovation and triumph.
Number 14, mindful moments drive lasting change.

(14:50):
Mindfulness, pausing to observe without judgment, gives you
time to make better choices.
Respond instead of react and anchor changes that
really last.
Number 15, guys, awareness disrupts autopilot living.

(15:13):
Most of our days are guided by a
routine.
True awareness snaps you out of autopilot mode
and gives you clarity and provides energy to
pursue what matters most.
Number 16, observation is your strongest tool for

(15:40):
self-improvement.
Observing yourself and others without an agenda creates
a feedback loop for growth.
It's the backbone of improvement from learning new

(16:02):
skills to changing your approach for your entire
life.
Number 17, guys, awareness.
Awareness, awareness, awareness is uncomfortable, but so is
being stuck.

(16:23):
Growth always stretches you, and awareness often brings
discomfort by revealing the truth.
I think if we can understand that we've
got to push the envelope a little bit
further, we want to practice getting comfortable being
uncomfortable.
I didn't say be in pain.
I say to be uncomfortable.
That's why I said to be uncomfortable.
We have to keep pushing that zone a

(16:44):
little bit so we can keep growing because
if we just stay where we are, we're
never going to expand.
But staying stuck, guys, is much more painful
than that discomfort of the change.
Embrace awareness, guys, to escape your limits.

(17:05):
Yeah, embrace it.
You don't have to get there tomorrow, but
you are going to get there based on
your own beliefs and your own reality.
I think that's an important thing.
Number 18, guys, you can't change what you
won't acknowledge.

(17:26):
You can't change what you won't acknowledge.
You can't change what you won't acknowledge.
Progress begins with admission.
Being honest with yourself is the launching point
for new habits, better performance, and greater happiness.

(17:49):
But sometimes we let what's outside of us
control us or put us in a fear
state because we're attracted to that illusion.
And that illusion causes us to act in
a way that's not totally in alignment with

(18:11):
our core purpose.
Number 19, guys, change gets easier.
The more you notice, awareness builds momentum.
The more you practice noticing, the easier new
habits, insights, and shifts will develop within you.

(18:36):
Now, again, they're not going to happen overnight.
I want to be clear about that.
They're not going to happen overnight.
What they are going to do is they're
going to morph slowly, and that's going to
get you to change day by day who
you are and what you're becoming.
Basically, reshaping your character.
Number 20, guys, the bravest step.

(19:00):
You ready, guys, for this?
Is admitting the truth to yourself.
The bravest step is admitting the truth to
yourself.
Courage means being radically honest even when it's

(19:22):
tough.
Maybe that's what it is.
Strength and clarity to pursue real changes in
your life.
And when we have to look at ourself
or examine our conscience and realize, well, maybe

(19:42):
we were wrong.
You see, there's nothing out of the ordinary
with being wrong.
When we notice this, we have to go
back, and we have to change things around.
Okay, I think that's a very, very important
point.
Number 21, growth accelerates when awareness becomes habit.

(20:14):
As you build the routine of your self
-awareness, every area of your life can transform
rapidly, compounding your results over time.
Number 22, guys, number 22.

(20:34):
Awareness minds create evolving lives and amazing
futures.
Continuous growth comes from staying aware.

(20:57):
Notice, adapt, and keep evolving.
It's the key to fulfilling life.
In other words, be that chameleon.
You know, like the Army, Navy officers, they
have the camouflage uniform that they have, and
that basically allows them to hide themselves and
protect themselves among nature so people couldn't spot

(21:17):
them easily.
Number 23, guys, it's not the moment you
act, but when you see that real change
begins, action matters.
But awareness is that which gives it meaning

(21:38):
and direction.
See first, guys.
Act second.
See first, act second.
That's how you build sustainable change in your
life.
Number 24, awareness builds emotional intelligence.

(22:02):
Tap into your feelings by noticing them first.
You see, emotional awareness gives you the skill
to connect and lead and thrive with others.
Number 25, guys, noticing, not judging.

(22:24):
Noticing, not judging will open space for better
choices.
Drop the criticism and replace it with curiosity.
Noticing how this creates the room you need
to grow, to learn, and choose wisely.

(22:49):
Number 26, guys, small realizations can spark huge
life changes.
Don't discount the power of little insights.
A simple moment of clarity can become the
beginning of a monumental journey.

(23:11):
It could be the cornerstone of the building.
Remember, guys, letting go is not weakness.
Letting go is not weakness.
I said this before.
It is true wisdom.
When you choose to release what's no longer

(23:31):
serving you and practice awareness consistently
in your life, you raise the bar and
you set the whole stage for transformation.
And I know a lot of you are

(23:52):
saying to me, John, like, I get it.
And a lot of times when you become
aware of something, it changes not only what
was there, but it changes you.

(24:12):
Maybe there's a situation you don't like.
And if you just become aware of it
and aware of the context and how it
happens, you might be able to learn how
to avoid that in the future.
These are, like, mind-blowing things, guys.
Mind-blowing.

(24:33):
Change, ladies and gentlemen, starts with awareness.
So I'd like to reference a definition from,
basically, from Miriam Webster.

(24:57):
And I'm hoping that you guys can see
that it's something, you know, pretty remarkable.
Something that maybe you didn't know, but this
one little change can really redefine your whole
purpose.
Being aware of something at the moment.

(25:19):
Maybe you're doing a relaxation exercise.
And I tell you, notice and be aware
of how fast your heart is beating.
Notice and be aware of how your body
feels against the chair.
Notice and be aware of all the sounds
you're hearing right now.

(25:41):
Notice and be aware of all the sounds
inside your body.
Notice and be aware of all the sensations,
temperatures, that you're feeling in different parts of
your body.
The fact that I just told you to
be aware of something really changes, like, how

(26:07):
something is.
You might have heard this experiment a long
time ago.
I think a lot of people don't quite
understand that it's not what you see, but

(26:34):
what you don't see that causes the problem.
I think when we can understand what to

(26:56):
be aware of, we can notice that things
change in our life every single day.
But being aware of something, and this is
where I was going to right now, I
was just going to Miriam Webster.
I want to look up the word awareness.
According to Miriam Webster, the word awareness is

(27:17):
a noun, the quality or state of being
aware.
What the heck does aware mean?
Aware is an adjective, having or showing a
realization or perception or knowledge of something.
When you're aware of something, you put your
attention on it.
You pay attention to it.

(27:38):
And then you kind of figure out, okay,
well, what does this mean?
Because there's so many things in our life
that we're not aware of, not because we
don't want to, just because we're busy.
But today or tomorrow, I'd like you to
take a few moments and just be aware
of things that you're normally not aware of,
whether nature, different parts of your home or

(28:01):
business, and see how that changes you.
I invite you to connect with me, ladies
and gentlemen, at BelieveMeAchieve.com.
And we'll explore more together, that short-form
content, long-form content, and so much more.
I hope you guys have a great day
or a great rest of your evening, and
I'll catch you real soon, everyone.