Episode Notes:
Introduction: A Bigger Thing Than You Think You Can Do (00:00)
Welcome to the Joy Ambition podcast, with me, Emma Lavelle.
Today we’re going to have a chat about a brilliant question I received on Instagram. I’m also recording this one as a video — partly because I want to show off my creation, honestly — and partly because it really illustrates the point I want to make.
If this is your first time listening, welcome. The idea of this podcast is that these episodes feel a bit like voice notes from — hopefully — one of your favourite people. You get something real, something practical, something you can actually apply.
I love podcasts that feel conversational rather than high-tech. That’s what we’re doing here.
A Quick Invitation (01:00)
Before we dive in, a quick invitation.
If you haven’t heard of the Joy Studio, it’s my community for international, English-speaking women building businesses. We’re very centred in France, but we also have members from Beijing to — let’s say — Glasgow.
You can come to your first event for free. There’s a calendar where you can choose either an in-person event if you’re local, or an online one if you’re not.
I also have one coaching spot opening in January — the Deep Selfish Joy Journey. If you’ve been thinking about coaching and you have questions, you can message me on Instagram or email me at hello@emmalavelle.co.
The Question: Taking On Something Bigger Than You (02:00)
The question I received was this: how do you take on something that feels bigger than you think you might be able to achieve?
I love this question because it’s something we experience again and again — and because it’s deeply subjective.
Depending on where you are in life, your stress levels, your self-trust, and what you’ve achieved recently (or haven’t), your idea of what feels “too big” will shift dramatically.
Sometimes even the idea of having a shower every day feels unachievable.Sometimes having a shower alone feels unachievable.
And then there are those of you who are achieving a lot — ticking boxes, making money, winning awards — but inner calm and peace feel impossible. Like you can have success or ease, but not both.
That’s why this question matters.
Why Practice Matters (and the Wreath) (03:30)
Because this experience is so subjective, it’s useful to find places where we can practice.
If you’re watching the video, I’m going to show you the wreath I made today. I am ridiculously proud of it. It smells like Christmas tree and eucalyptus, and it’s beautiful.
It’s a handmade gift for my boyfriend’s mother. We decided it’s handmade gifts or nothing — it’s about being together, not consumption.
This is a perfect example of taking on something that felt bigger than me.
Step One: Do You Actually Want This? (04:00)
The first step — and this mirrors my coaching model — is starting with the want.
Why do you want to do this thing?
You can apply this even to something small, like wanting a shower on your own. Why does that matter to you?
With the wreath, I asked myself why I wanted to make it. What we’re checking here is whether the desire is genuine — or whether it’s something we think we should want.
At first I thought, “Well, my co-founder thinks creative workshops are important.”Then I paused. That’s a very school-girl answer.
Do I want to make something beautiful?Do I want to slow down?Do I believe it matters to do things with our hands and connect beyond work?
Yes. That part was true.
Imagining the Result (Without Needing the Map) (05:15)
Next, we imagine having achieved it.
I couldn’t see the full journey from raw materials to finished wreath — but I could imagine the moment of giving it as a gift. I knew I wanted that.
Then we ask another important question:Do I think something about me will change because of this?
If the answer sounds like “I’ll finally feel enough” or “I’ll like myself more,” that’s a gentle warning sign.
The real question then becomes: where am I already enough now?
Step Two: Self-Identity (06:30)
Step two is self-identity — seeing yourself as the person who completes this.
For me, that person values time, connection, and intention more than convenience or spending money.
She’s someone who can reprioritise her day when something matters.She asks for help and support.She lets herself do things her own way.
That identity is something you can connect with before the result exists.
Step Three: The Journey Is the Destination (08:45)
Step three is essential: valuing the journey itself as the destination.
I don’t know who first said this, but I live by it.
A joyful, spacious life comes from loving where you are because of the experience.
I’m someone who always takes the scenic route. I live in France — I could take the toll roads — but that’s not who I am.
I love driving with my dog Rita, stopping in villages, having espresso, chatting with strangers. Even when I know I could arrive faster, I choose the journey.
When something feels bigger than you, the question becomes: how can you decide to enjoy the process now?
Making the Journey Tangible (10:45)
One way I do this is by documenting the journey.
I keep a notebook for each project. This one has an image on the front representing a future dream — a house in the Pyrenees and a small apartment in Toulouse.
Inside are scraps, postcards, notes, even a teabag from a particularly beautiful cup of tea.
The goal matters — but so does delighting in the process of becoming the person who gets there.
Step Four: Pauses (Not Procrastination) (12:00)
Step four is learning how to pause.
When I started the wreath, I noticed two thoughts:“I don’t know how to do this.”“I’m going to do it wrong.”
Not knowing how is normal — it’s the point of learning something new.The fear of doing it wrong is familiar to many of us.
I thought of my dog Rita. When she doesn’t understand what’s happening, she just sits. She pauses. She processes.
So now, when I feel overwhelmed, I pause. I let my body catch up with my mind.
Pauses are not procrastination. They’re not giving up.They’re breathing space.
And learning to pause in moments of urgency is a complete game-changer.
Step Five: Unfurling Energy (14:30)
The final step is what I’m calling unfurling energy.
This isn’t just taking things step by step. It’s staying connected to curiosity and movement — “I don’t know what’s coming, but it’s going to be interesting.”
I think about aerial silks — how they unfurl from the ceiling, light and elegant, yet incredibly strong.
This is about flow, direction, freedom to change course.
When something feels bigger than you, you’re dancing between imagination and action. And you’re allowed to adjust as you go.
Closing & Invitation (16:40)
Let me know how you get on with this.
If you’re a paid member of Joy Ambition, we’ll explore this together in the monthly live.If you’re in the Joy Studio, bring it into coaching.
And if you have topics you’d love me to cover on the podcast or in the letters, send them my way. I love working with your questions.
I’ll see you next week.
Emma 🌼
