GNT #150: Change happens one belief at a time

Welcome to Grow North Thursday - One idea each week to help you grow with purpose, earn sustainably, and design a life you love.

Forwarded this? ​Subscribe here.

read time: 2 minutes

Most founders don’t resist change because they’re stubborn.

They resist it because they’re trying to leap too far, too fast.

I’ve been sitting with an idea lately that helped me make sense of what I see in coaching conversations all the time.

People don’t move forward in one clean decision. They move forward through micro-beliefs.

What do I mean by micro-beliefs?

We often talk about change as if it’s a single moment.

“I decided to pivot.”
“I decided to raise my prices.”
“I decided to do things differently.”

But that’s not how it actually works.

Before any visible change, there’s usually a sequence happening underneath. Small internal shifts that sound more like this:

• “Something isn’t working the way it used to.”

• “I’m not the only one struggling with this.”

• “There might be another way to do this.”

• “That way might actually fit me.”

• “I’m willing to try one small step.”

Each one is a micro-belief. Miss one, and everything feels forced after that.

Today’s newsletter will help you recognize the micro-belief you’re missing, and how to work with it instead of forcing change.

Let's get to it.
 

The belief that usually gets skipped

Once someone sees that change happens through micro-beliefs, the next question is obvious.

Which one am I missing?

In practice, it’s rarely the first one.

Most founders already know something isn’t working. They’ve felt it for a while.

The belief that gets skipped is usually the one that makes the next step feel safe enough.

What that looks like in real life

This is where change starts to feel heavy.

You’re aware something needs to shift, but every option feels risky.

So you go back and forth.

- You think about raising prices, but worry about losing clients.
- You consider changing your offer, but fear breaking what’s already working.
- You know your schedule isn’t sustainable, but can’t see how to change it without consequences.

Nothing is wrong with you here.

What’s missing isn’t clarity or courage.

It’s a belief that says,

“I can take a step without blowing everything up.”

How change actually becomes possible

In my experience, most meaningful shifts move through three internal beliefs.

Not all at once. And not in a straight line.

→ Permission
“It’s okay to want something different.”

Without this, change feels selfish or ungrateful.

→ Possibility
“There might be another way to do this.”

This opens curiosity instead of resignation.

→ Safety
“I can try this without locking myself into it.”

This is what allows change without panic.

When action comes before safety, it usually doesn’t stick.

The small move that matters most

Instead of asking,

“What big decision do I need to make?”

Try asking,

→ “What belief would need to shift for the next step to feel possible?”

Not comfortable, or perfect. Just possible.

That question alone often reveals what’s been missing.

The takeaway

You don’t need to force yourself into alignment.

You do need to let your beliefs catch up to the change you’re asking yourself to make.

That’s how sustainable, meaningful businesses are built.

One belief at a time.

Before moving on, sit with this:

What belief do I need to hold, even temporarily, for the next step to feel possible?

I'm always rooting for you. See you next week.

-Colleen

📩 If you’ve found value in this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. It’s the biggest way you can support my work, and I appreciate it so much.

For more short, grounded ideas throughout the week, you can follow me on LinkedIn.

If someone forwarded this to you, you can subscribe here to get it each week. I never spam.