Today at a Glance
- Discover why your self-improvement journey might be doing more harm than good, and learn the transformative shift from fixing to expanding.
- A personal running story that changed everything, revealing why chasing perfection keeps you stuck.
- Plus: 6 practical strategies to stop seeing yourself as broken and start unlocking your true potential.

Let me ask you something.
How often do you look in the mirror and think, “If I could just fix this one thing about myself, everything would fall into place”?
Maybe it’s your fitness. Your weight. Your confidence. Or the way you always seem to procrastinate or fall short. You convince yourself that if you could just fix that, you’d finally be happy.
Well, self-improvement has a dark side.
When you see yourself as broken, every effort to grow comes from a place of deficit. You chase perfection, punish yourself for not being “there” yet, and wonder why you still feel empty after hitting your goals.
But here’s the thing: you’re not broken. You don’t need fixing. What you need is expansion.
Ketty and I believe growth isn’t about repairing what’s wrong. It’s about amplifying what’s right. It’s about cultivating energy, not obsessing over gaps.
And when you shift from fixing to expanding, everything changes.
The Trap of “Fixing Yourself”
We’ve all been there. You look at your life and think: If I could just be more disciplined… or lose the weight… or earn more money… then I’d be good enough.
This mindset is everywhere. It’s baked into the way we talk about fitness, health, and even personal growth.
But here’s the problem: when you see yourself as something to fix, you’re operating from a place of scarcity. You’re focused on what you lack, not what you have.
This is where most people get stuck. They think:
- I’ll be happy when I lose 10 kilos.
- I’ll be confident once I stop making mistakes.
- I’ll feel good about myself when I hit that goal.
But guess what? Even when you hit those goals, the feeling doesn’t last. Why? Because you’re still chasing. Still trying to fix. Still seeing yourself as “not enough.”
It’s a treadmill, and it never stops.
"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change their future by merely changing their attitude."
— Oprah Winfrey
The Shift to Expansion
So, what’s the alternative?
Instead of focusing on fixing, focus on expanding.
Expansion means asking yourself: What’s possible for me? It’s about leaning into your strengths, cultivating energy, and creating momentum from a place of abundance—not scarcity.
It’s not about being “better” or “fixed.” It’s about unlocking the potential that’s already inside you.
A Moment That Changed Everything
A few years ago, I was deep in 10k training. I was determined to hit a personal best and prove to myself I could run sub 45 min.. But somewhere along the way, training stopped being fun. It became another thing to “fix.” Every run felt like a test. Every missed split felt like failure.
After a particularly tough training week, I asked myself “Why are you doing this?”
“Because I’m not good enough yet.” was the first thought that bubbled up.
That’s when I stopped. Not the training, but the mindset.
Instead of chasing perfection, I started focusing on the energy I wanted to feel. I stopped asking, What’s wrong with me? and started asking, What lights me up?
I leaned into the parts of running I loved—feeling strong, connecting with nature, the joy of movement. And when race day came… I missed my goal by 17 seconds. Yet I ran with a freedom and confidence I haven’t felt in years.
That’s the power of expansion.
How to Shift from Fixing to Expanding
If you’re ready to stop fixing yourself and start expanding, here’s how to make the shift:
1. Stop Asking What’s Wrong
The next time you catch yourself thinking, What’s wrong with me? stop. Reframe the question. Ask: What’s possible for me? What’s already working that I can build on?
2. Transform “I am” Statements
Instead of saying I am a failure, reframe your self-talk to focus on growth and possibility. Try I am learning, I am growing, or I am becoming.
3. Focus on Energy, Not Perfection
Instead of setting goals based on fixing flaws, set intentions based on cultivating energy.
- Want to lose weight? Focus on feeling strong and vibrant, not just the number on the scale.
- Want to be more productive? Focus on what energizes you, not what you need to “fix.”
4. Celebrate What You Have
Scarcity thinking robs you of joy. Take time every day to recognize your wins—big or small. Gratitude is a powerful way to shift your mindset from deficit to abundance.
5. Expand One Step at a Time
Expansion doesn’t mean doing it all at once. It means leaning into growth, one step at a time. What’s one area of your life where you can focus on growth, not repair, this week?
6. Surround Yourself with Energy
Your environment matters. Spend time with people and in spaces that amplify your energy, not drain it.
A Challenge for You
Here’s my challenge:
Write down one area of your life where you’ve been stuck in “fixing” mode. Then, reframe it.
Instead of asking, What’s wrong with me here? ask: What’s possible for me in this area?
You might be surprised how much lighter—and more energized—you feel when you shift your focus.
Wrapping it up:
You don’t need to fix yourself. You’re not broken. What you need is to expand, to lean into the energy that’s already inside you, and to let that energy guide your growth.
At The Energy Lab, this is the philosophy behind everything we do. It’s also the heart of our Equilibrio Retreat—a 6-day immersive experience designed to help you reconnect with your energy and step into the next level of your potential.
This isn’t about fixing flaws or chasing perfection. It’s about expanding into the fullest version of yourself.
Because you’re already enough. And the possibilities ahead of you are limitless.
What’s one way you’ll expand your energy this week? Reply and let us know. We’d love to hear your story.
That’s it for today.
Hope you enjoyed it (and learned something new).
As always, stay fit, stay active, and enjoy your life.
Ketty & Markus