profile

Christen Hong Coaching

You're not meant to make the ocean

Published 15 days ago • 2 min read

Christen Hong Coaching

10/29/25

Hi friends,

I think I've been using my brain wrong. Don't get it twisted, I'm grateful for my mind. I recognize that I have a unique perspective that usually serves me well. But I also let the pressure of this world convince me that I need to do more, need to figure it all out, all on my own. That I need to push hard to make things happen.

And it's exhausting trying to have all the answers, trying to make something out of nothing. It perpetuates the belief, and the chains, of always having to be in control.

I heard something this week that I keep thinking about: instead using our brains to control what will happen (something it can't actually do, even though we expect it to), your mind is just meant to perceive what has already happened. It's job isn't to create what comes next, but to make meaning of what has come before. It's a tool.

Like if you were a scuba diver, your brain would be your goggles. It would be crazy to think that your goggles are meant to create the ocean, when really, they're just there to help you see underwater.

When we expect the mind to control the situation, we get stuck trying to make the future out of the past. It cements us in sameness. If we want something new, we have to allow it, not force it. Don't let your mind get in the way of a better life when it's meant to witness the unfolding, not control the tide.

Reframe Prompts​
Let these prompts guide you from control towards trust, allowing, and presence.

  • Where am I trying to think my way to safety instead of feeling my way to it?
  • What might unfold if I stopped trying to predict the future and focused on perceiving what’s true right now?
  • How can I let the past guide me without controlling my next steps?
  • What part of me doesn’t yet trust that good things can happen without overthinking them?
Astro Note ✨
This morning, Mercury (the planet that rules the mind and mental energy) enters Sagittarius, bringing a shift from depth to discovery. After weeks of introspection, this energy invites you to lift your gaze and trust the bigger picture. It’s a reminder that clarity doesn’t come from controlling what’s ahead, but from staying curious about what’s possible.

As you move through your week, notice when your mind tries to take over, and see if you can observe instead. Here's to loosening your grip, seeing clearly, and letting life surprise you.

Happy Halloween babies, hope it's full of magic and delight. 🎃🖤

xo,
Christen

​

Use the button below to visit my Etsy shop — your Friends & Family discount on a Human Design Insights Report will apply automatically at checkout.

​

Austin, TX
​Unsubscribe · Preferences

Christen Hong Coaching

Austin, TX Based Mindset & Human Design Coach

I help people align with their purpose and manage their energy, time, and tools to create clarity and impact. My weekly newsletter delivers fresh insights and prompts designed to spark “aha” moments in your everyday life.

Read more from Christen Hong Coaching

Christen Hong Coaching 11/12/25 Hi friends, You may not have noticed, but I didn't send out a newsletter last week. It's not because I didn't want to — I actually spent time throughout the week thinking about what I'd write. But then I got in my head about it. I told myself I should probably wait until after the election results came in, just in case I felt the need to comment. And then...I just forgot. When I remembered, I initially felt panicked. I'd made a goal to write every week, and...

1 day ago • 1 min read

Christen Hong Coaching 10/22/25 Hi friends, This week I've been thinking about motivation — specifically, the difference between the drive to move away from something versus moving towards something. It's the difference between trying to get out of a job you hate versus building a career that excites you. Between wanting to stop feeling lonely and opening yourself to deeper connection.Between avoiding burnout and cultivating balance and peace. When your goal is simply to escape where you are,...

22 days ago • 2 min read

Christen Hong Coaching 10/15/25 Hi friends, One lesson I’ve had to learn the hard way: things don't automatically happen for you — you have to ask for what you want. This can be especially hard for those of us who grew up striving to be likable, to not rock the boat. In fact, you might even find yourself resenting people who boldly declare what they want, who don't have the same hangups about putting themselves out there. But the truth is this: no one can read your mind. If you want something...

29 days ago • 2 min read