Running to Myself Podcast
Episode Title: "What If You Got Closer?"
Release Date: April 07, 2025
[Intro]
Hey friends, welcome back to Running to Myself—the podcast where we take lessons from the road and apply them to life, one step at a time.
Today’s episode is all about perspective. About what changes—not just out on a run—but in life, when we choose to move closer instead of keeping our distance. It’s about how assumptions can shape our mindset and how curiosity can lead to deeper understanding.
Let’s dive in.
[Story]
I was out on a run recently when I saw something up ahead on the trail.
It looked like a bird at first. Or maybe a squirrel.
Whatever it was, I noticed it wasn’t moving.
I kept running.
It was still there.
Still not moving.
Now, this struck me as a little strange. I mean, usually birds or squirrels are quick to dart off when someone approaches. But not this time.
As I got closer, I realized…
It wasn’t a bird.
It wasn’t a squirrel.
It wasn’t even an animal at all.
It was the end of a large tree branch that had fallen onto the trail.
From a distance, my mind had filled in the blanks. I assumed I was seeing something familiar, something I could make sense of. But it wasn’t until I got close that I could actually see it for what it was.
And that moment stuck with me—not because it was dramatic, but because it was true in so many areas of life.
[Reflection]
So let me ask you this:
What are you looking at from a distance right now?
Maybe it’s a person you don’t understand.
Maybe it’s a relationship that feels messy or complicated.
Maybe it’s a struggle you’ve been watching from the sidelines—yours or someone else’s.
And maybe, from far away, it looks one way. It seems obvious. You think you know what’s going on.
But what if you're wrong?
What if, just like that tree branch, it only seems like something else because you’re too far removed?
[Mindset Shift]
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Assumptions live in the space between distance and understanding.
- Judgment thrives where curiosity is absent.
- And sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is get closer.
Not to fix.
Not to control.
Just to understand.
I think about people in my life who have struggled with addiction or mental illness—things that are deeply personal for me. From the outside, it’s easy for others to form opinions, to say, "Why can’t they just…?" or "If only they would…"
But those assumptions dissolve when you’re up close.
When you’ve sat beside someone in their lowest moment.
When you’ve seen the effort behind the smallest steps forward.
When you’ve heard the full story instead of just one chapter.
Perspective changes when we get closer.
[Coaching Tie-In]
And the same applies to how we treat ourselves.
How often do we judge ourselves from a distance?
We look at our current situation, our habits, our struggles, and we label them without understanding the full picture.
What if you got curious instead?
What if, instead of judging yourself for where you are, you moved in closer and asked,
- “What’s really going on here?”
- “What do I need right now?”
- “What would grace look like in this moment?”
Getting closer to yourself is where healing begins.
And that starts with presence. With honesty. With compassion.
[Closing Encouragement]
So whether it’s a situation you don’t understand, a person who feels difficult to love, or a part of yourself that you’ve been avoiding…
Ask yourself:
What would happen if I got closer?
Not to fix or figure out everything…
But simply to see more clearly.
Sometimes the branch isn’t a bird.
Sometimes the thing we fear isn’t as scary as it seems.
Sometimes clarity only comes when we choose to lean in.
Let’s be people who lean in.
Let’s be people who seek understanding.
Let’s be people who get close.
[Outro with CTA]
That’s all for today, my friends. I hope this story gave you something to think about on your own journey.
If you enjoyed this episode of Running to Myself, would you take just a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? Your feedback helps other people find the show, and it means the world to me.
And if someone came to mind while you were listening—someone who’s navigating misunderstanding or feeling stuck—go ahead and share this episode with them. You never know who might need a little encouragement today.
As always, you can find past episodes and learn more about coaching with me at www.trishastanton.com or in my Facebook group The Simple Truth Coaching.
Until next week—keep running your race, one step at a time.
And remember: Mindset Matters. đź’™
