Feeling Pulled in Every Direction? How to Stay Present With Big Dreams
Have you ever felt like you’re living in three different timelines at once?
Some days, part of you is racing into the future — dreaming, planning, and trying to make everything you want happen. At the same time, you’re doing your best to stay grounded in the present, showing up for what’s right in front of you. And then, almost without noticing, your mind pulls you back into the past — replaying old stories, mistakes, or wondering what you could have done differently.
It can be exhausting. You might feel scattered, stuck, or like you’re doing it all wrong. Sometimes it can stop you from doing anything at all.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many impact-driven multipassionate women feel this push and pull daily. And if you have ADHD, that tug-of-war between past, present, and future can feel even stronger.
🎥 Prefer to watch? Here’s a video I recorded:
Why It Feels This Way
When you care deeply about where you’re going, it’s natural to dream and plan ahead. When you value presence, you also want to fully show up for the moment you’re in. And when you’ve experienced challenges before, your brain will sometimes drag you back to the past in an effort to protect you from repeating them.
That back-and-forth isn’t a flaw — it’s what happens when you’re living with a big vision and a big heart. Your brain is trying to prepare you for every possibility. Meanwhile, your body craves calm, peace, and presence.
The Cost of Living in Three Timelines
The more your energy is split, the harder it is to focus and follow through. That’s why so many high-achieving women struggle with procrastination, self-doubt, or feeling like they’re spinning their wheels.
It’s not laziness and it’s not lack of discipline. It’s simply your nervous system trying to manage competing demands: holding your past experiences, future goals, and present reality all at once.
Coming Back to Now
The goal isn’t to stop dreaming about the future or reflecting on the past. It’s to return to yourself so you can move forward with clarity, calm, and steady momentum.
Here are a few ways I practice coming back to the present:
Talk it through. Whether with a coach, a trusted friend, a therapist, a journal, or an AI chatbot, getting your thoughts out helps untangle them.
Ground with mindfulness. A short meditation, breathing exercise, or guided visualization helps reconnect me with my body and the present moment. It’s like letting the flakes in a snowglobe settle so you can see the picture clearly.
Seek inspiration. Listening to a podcast or video can remind me why I care about what I’m building and what my values are so I actually feel motivated to take action.
These simple practices break the ping-pong cycle between past and future and bring me back into action now.
You’re Not Doing It Wrong
If you’ve been feeling pulled in multiple directions, please hear this: there’s nothing wrong with you.
You’re not scatterbrained, incapable, or lazy — you’re someone with vision, passion, and a mind that’s trying to keep you safe.
You don’t have to give up dreaming or planning. You just need ways to ground yourself so you don’t miss out on the life that’s happening now.
Because now is where your impact starts.
Now is where you get to experience peace and joy.
Now is where you get to feel at home in your own body.
And when you feel at home in yourself, you get to create the impact that transforms lives ✨
Want More Support?
If this resonates, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Inside Mindful Mavens, my monthly membership, you’ll find daily support, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who understand what it’s like to care deeply, dream big, and still want to feel calm and grounded.
It’s a space to build self-trust, regulate your nervous system, and take aligned action without the overwhelm. You’ll get access to mindfulness and emotional mastery tools, real-time guidance, and a circle of women who truly get it.
✨ Learn more and join us here → Mindful Mavens