Five Year You

About Five Year You

Welcome to "Five Year You," the podcast that takes you on a transformative journey toward your future self. Join us as we explore the power of self-improvement, tackling challenges, setting goals, and unleashing the potential within you. Our conversations are raw, real, and relatable, offering practical tips and insights to empower you in your growth. Each episode offers useful tips to help you become the person you aspire to be. Tune in, invest in yourself, and let's embark on this adventure together! Get ready for a unique and personal exploration of the honest and relatable moments that will shape the next chapter of your story. In each episode, we dive into the day-to-day experiences that make up the mosaic of your life over the next five years. From the small victories to the inevitable challenges, "Five Year You" captures the essence of the ordinary and extraordinary moments that contribute to your personal growth. Our tagline, "Raw, Real, Relatable," perfectly encapsulates the authenticity of the stories we share. No glossy highlights, just the unfiltered reality of navigating the twists and turns of everyday life. Join us as we connect with individuals from various walks of life who openly share their aspirations, setbacks, and the unexpected surprises that come with each passing day. Whether you're facing career crossroads, building relationships, or discovering new passions, "Five Year You" is here to provide a real-time reflection on the shared human experience. Tune in for a daily dose of inspiration, motivation, and a reminder that you're not alone on this journey.

Publisher

Andrew Dewar and Catherine Collins

Category

education · education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jan 2024

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

145 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Encore: Reclaiming Your Power

   Ready to go deeper? Work with me here: https://fiveyearyou.com/coaching/ (https://fiveyearyou.com/coaching/) If you’ve been feeling powerless in your own life… like other people’s opinions are shaping your choices… like you’ve lost touch with your voice, confidence, or sense of direction—this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: Your power was never truly gone. And more importantly… reclaiming it begins with remembering that you still have choices. 💭 What This Episode Covers How personal power gets handed over to other people Why fear, guilt, and approval-seeking keep you stuck The difference between control and true empowerment How boundaries help you rebuild self-trust Why taking responsibility can feel freeing instead of shameful Practical ways to reconnect with your voice and make aligned choices 🚨 Why You Feel Powerless You Learned to Seek Permission You may have learned to look outside yourself for approval before making decisions. Over time, other people’s opinions can become louder than your own inner knowing. 👉 Result: You stop asking what you want and start asking what will keep everyone else comfortable. You Confuse Power with Control Personal power is not about controlling people, outcomes, or circumstances. It is about recognizing what belongs to you: your choices, boundaries, responses, and direction. 👉 Result: When you cannot control the situation, you may assume you have no power at all. Fear Makes the Decisions Fear of failure, rejection, conflict, or disappointment can keep you from acting. You may wait until you feel completely confident before moving forward. 👉 Result: Your life remains shaped by what you are afraid of instead of what matters to you. You Carry Responsibility That Is Not Yours You may feel responsible for how everyone else feels. You try to prevent disappointment, fix conflict, and manage reactions before they happen. 👉 Result: You abandon yourself while trying to keep everyone else emotionally comfortable. 😞 The Emotional Cost of Giving Your Power Away When you believe other people have more authority over your life than you do, it creates: Resentment Anxiety Self-doubt Helplessness Frustration Disconnection from yourself You may stop trusting your instincts. You may feel angry with others while continuing to give them control over your choices. You may wait for someone else to change before allowing yourself to move forward. And the worst part? 👉 You can become a passenger in a life that was meant to belong to you. ⚠️ The Hidden Danger When you feel powerless, you may make choices that keep you disconnected from yourself. Examples: Saying yes when you want to say no Staying silent to avoid conflict Letting criticism determine your worth Waiting for closure before allowing yourself to heal Blaming circumstances without looking for your next available choice Remaining in relationships or situations that repeatedly diminish you 👉 Giving your power away can feel safer in the moment, but it slowly costs you your freedom. 🔑 The Truth You Need to Hear You are allowed to choose yourself. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to disappoint people who benefited from your lack of boundaries. Your voice matters Your needs matter Your choices matter Your past does not own your future You do not need permission to become who you are Reclaiming your power does not require becoming harder. 👉 It means becoming more honest about what is yours to choose. 🔄 What Reclaiming Your Power Actually Means Reclaiming your power is not about winning every argument. It is not about controlling the outcome. It is not about pretending difficult circumstances do not exist. It means recognizing where you still have agency. It means trusting yourself enough to make a decision. It means taking responsibility for your next step without blaming yourself for everything that happened before. 👉 Your power returns every time you choose alignment over fear. 🛠️ How to Shift Out of the “Powerless” Mindset Identify Where You Gave Your Power Away Ask yourself: Whose approval am I waiting for? Where am I staying silent? What decision am I avoiding because someone may not understand? Awareness helps you see where your choices have been shaped by fear. Focus on What Is Yours Separate what you can control from what you cannot. You cannot control another person’s reaction. You can control what you communicate. You cannot rewrite the past. You can choose what happens next. 👉 Power grows when you stop fighting what is not yours and act on what is. Practice Making Small Decisions Rebuilding self-trust does not require one dramatic move. Choose the restaurant. State your preference. Decline something that drains you. Follow through on one promise to yourself. Every small decision reminds you that your voice matters. Set a Clear Boundary Boundaries are one of the clearest ways to reclaim your power. You might say: “That does not work for me.” “I need time to think.” “I am not available for that.” “I understand your feelings, but this is still my decision.” 👉 A boundary is not punishment—it is clarity. Take One Courageous Step Ask yourself: What would I do if I trusted myself? What action would move me closer to the life I want? What am I ready to stop tolerating? You do not need complete certainty. You only need enough courage for the next step. 💡 Key Takeaway Your power is not found in controlling everything around you. It is found in your ability to choose your response, honor your needs, speak honestly, and move toward what matters. You may not control what happened. You may not control what someone else chooses. But you still have influence over what you accept, what you believe, and where you go from here. 👉 Reclaiming your power begins when you stop waiting for permission to live your own life. ✨ Glimmers from This Episode Saying no without overexplaining Making a decision based on your own values Feeling your confidence return after honoring a boundary Realizing that one small choice can change your direction 💬 Final Thought Your power has been waiting beneath the fear. Beneath the guilt. Beneath the doubt. Beneath every moment you forgot that you had a choice. You do not need to become someone new. You only need to return to yourself. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs this reminder 💫

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Encore: Embracing The Art of Flexibility

   Ready to go deeper? Work with me here: https://fiveyearyou.com/coaching/ (https://fiveyearyou.com/coaching/) If you’ve been feeling frustrated when plans change… like uncertainty makes you anxious… like life keeps interrupting the picture you had in your mind—this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: Flexibility is not the same as giving up. And more importantly… learning to adapt can help you move through life with greater peace, confidence, and trust. 💭 What This Episode Covers Why unexpected changes can feel so uncomfortable How rigid expectations create unnecessary stress The difference between flexibility and abandoning your needs Why adaptability is a powerful form of emotional resilience How to stay grounded when life does not go according to plan Practical ways to become more open, calm, and responsive 🚨 Why Flexibility Feels So Difficult Plans Create a Sense of Safety Knowing what comes next can help you feel secure and in control. When plans suddenly change, your nervous system may interpret that uncertainty as a threat. 👉 Result: A simple change can feel much bigger than the situation itself. You Become Attached to One Outcome You may decide that happiness, success, or peace can only arrive in one specific way. When reality offers something different, it can feel like failure—even when another path is still available. 👉 Result: You become so focused on what did not happen that you cannot see what is still possible. Change Can Feel Personal A cancelled plan, unexpected delay, or shifting relationship may trigger deeper fears about rejection, disappointment, or not being important. 👉 Result: You react to the meaning you attach to the change rather than the change itself. Rigidity Can Look Like Responsibility Being organized, prepared, and dependable can be valuable. But when structure becomes an attempt to control every detail, it can create anxiety instead of stability. 👉 Result: You spend more energy protecting the plan than responding to the present moment. 😞 The Emotional Cost of Rigidity When you believe things must happen a certain way, it creates: Anxiety Frustration Disappointment Irritability Resentment Emotional exhaustion You may struggle to enjoy the present because you are comparing it to what you expected. You may resist helpful changes simply because they were not part of the original plan. And the worst part? 👉 The need to control every outcome can keep you from experiencing the life that is actually unfolding. ⚠️ The Hidden Danger Rigidity can quietly lead you into choices that no longer serve you. Examples: Staying committed to a goal that no longer feels meaningful Forcing a relationship to match an old expectation Treating every interruption as a problem Refusing support because it arrives differently than expected Believing a changed plan means all progress has been lost 👉 When you confuse changing direction with failure, you may remain loyal to paths you have already outgrown. 🔑 The Truth You Need to Hear You are allowed to change the plan. You are allowed to respond to new information. You are allowed to choose a different direction. Flexibility is not weakness Adapting does not erase your progress A detour is not always a setback You can honor your needs without controlling every detail There is more than one way forward 👉 Letting go of one plan does not mean letting go of yourself. 🔄 What Flexibility Actually Means Flexibility does not mean saying yes to everything. It does not mean tolerating disrespect, ignoring your boundaries, or abandoning what matters to you. It means staying connected to your values while remaining open about how you reach them. It means adjusting without losing yourself. It means responding to reality instead of fighting it. 👉 Flexibility is the ability to bend without breaking. 🛠️ How to Shift Out of the “It Has to Happen This Way” Mindset Separate the Goal from the Plan Ask yourself: What am I truly trying to create? Is there another way to meet that need? Can the destination stay the same even if the route changes? Your plan is one possibility—not the only possibility. Pause Before Reacting When something changes, give yourself a moment. Breathe. Notice what you are feeling. Ask: What actually happened? What story am I adding to it? 👉 A pause creates space between disappointment and response. Practice Small Acts of Flexibility You do not have to begin with major life changes. Try a different routine. Let someone else choose. Adjust a plan without treating it like a disaster. Small moments teach your mind that change can be manageable. Focus on What You Can Control You may not control the timing, outcome, or other people’s choices. But you can control how you communicate, what you prioritize, and what you do next. Ask yourself: What is still within my power? What would an aligned response look like now? Stay Rooted in Your Values Flexibility works best when you know what matters most. You can change the method without abandoning the value. You can release the timeline without releasing the dream. 👉 Adapt the plan while staying true to yourself. 💡 Key Takeaway Life will not always follow your preferred schedule. Plans will change. People will surprise you. Some doors will close while others open in ways you never expected. The goal is not to control every outcome. It is to trust that you can meet change with awareness, creativity, and courage. 👉 Peace grows when you stop demanding certainty and start trusting your ability to adapt. ✨ Glimmers from This Episode A changed plan leading to an unexpectedly meaningful moment Realizing there is more than one way to solve a problem Feeling your body relax when you stop fighting what has already changed Discovering that a detour can bring you somewhere beautiful 💬 Final Thought You do not need life to be predictable in order to feel safe within yourself. You can adjust. You can begin again. You can choose a new direction. The plan may change without the journey losing its meaning. Sometimes, the life meant for you begins where your original plan ends. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs this reminder 💫

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Encore: Were Antidepressants Worth Taking?

   Ready to go deeper? Work with me here: https://fiveyearyou.com/coaching/ (https://fiveyearyou.com/coaching/) If you’ve been wondering whether antidepressants could help… like you’re struggling but unsure whether medication is the right step… like you’re afraid of making the wrong decision—this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: There is no single answer that fits everyone. And more importantly… needing support does not mean you have failed. 💭 What This Episode Covers Why the decision to take antidepressants can feel so complicated The fears and stigma that often surround medication Why antidepressants may help some people and not others The importance of working with a qualified healthcare professional How medication can fit alongside therapy, lifestyle changes, and emotional support Why your experience deserves to be evaluated individually 🚨 Why Deciding About Antidepressants Feels So Hard Mental Health Still Carries Stigma Many people have been taught that they should be able to think, exercise, or motivate their way out of depression. Medication may feel like an admission that you are not strong enough. 👉 Result: You may delay seeking help because you believe you should handle everything alone. You Hear Conflicting Stories One person may describe antidepressants as life-changing. Another may share a difficult experience with side effects or finding the right medication. Both experiences can be real. 👉 Result: Other people’s stories can make it harder to hear what your own situation requires. You Want Certainty Before Beginning It is understandable to want a guarantee that medication will work. But mental health treatment often involves careful observation, honest communication, and adjustment over time. 👉 Result: Fear of making an imperfect choice can keep you from exploring potentially helpful support. You May Believe Medication Changes Who You Are Some people worry that antidepressants will dull their emotions, change their personality, or make them dependent on medication forever. These concerns deserve thoughtful conversations with a qualified professional. 👉 Result: Fear of losing yourself can prevent you from asking whether treatment might help you feel more like yourself. 😞 The Emotional Cost of Struggling Without Support When you believe you should be able to cope alone, it can create: Shame Isolation Hopelessness Exhaustion Self-blame Fear of asking for help You may minimize how much you are struggling. You may wait until things become unbearable before speaking honestly. You may judge yourself for needing support that you would never deny someone else. And the worst part? 👉 Shame can convince you to suffer silently when compassionate help may be available. ⚠️ The Hidden Danger Making decisions about antidepressants from fear, pressure, or misinformation can lead to choices that do not reflect your actual needs. Examples: Avoiding professional support because of stigma Starting or stopping medication based only on someone else’s experience Expecting medication to solve every part of your life Ignoring side effects instead of discussing them with your prescriber Stopping medication suddenly without medical guidance Treating medication as proof that something is wrong with you 👉 Medication decisions should be informed, supported, and personal—not driven by shame. 🔑 The Truth You Need to Hear You are not weak for considering medication. You are not broken if you need more than positive thinking. You are not failing if therapy, rest, or lifestyle changes have not been enough on their own. Your mental health matters You deserve informed support Asking questions is responsible Treatment can include more than one approach Your experience does not have to match anyone else’s Antidepressants can be one tool among many. 👉 The right question is not whether medication is “good” or “bad”—it is whether it may be appropriate for you with professional guidance. 🔄 What Considering Antidepressants Actually Means Considering medication does not mean you are giving up. It may mean you are taking your pain seriously. It may mean you are open to support. It may mean you are ready to explore another option instead of continuing to struggle in the same way. Medication is not a moral decision. It is a healthcare decision. 👉 Reaching for support can be an act of courage—not defeat. 🛠️ How to Approach the Decision Thoughtfully Be Honest About How You Are Feeling Ask yourself: How long have I felt this way? How is this affecting my sleep, relationships, work, or daily life? What have I already tried? Honest reflection helps you communicate clearly with a healthcare professional. Speak With a Qualified Professional Discuss your symptoms, medical history, concerns, and treatment options with someone qualified to assess your situation. Ask: What benefits might I reasonably expect? What side effects should I watch for? How will we evaluate whether the medication is helping? What should I do if I want to stop or change it? Let Medication Be One Part of Support Medication may be most helpful when considered alongside other forms of care. These may include: Therapy Supportive relationships Sleep and nutrition Movement Stress reduction Changes to difficult environments or routines 👉 Medication can support healing without being expected to do all the work alone. Track Your Experience Notice changes in your mood, sleep, energy, appetite, concentration, and daily functioning. Keep your prescriber informed about improvements, concerns, or side effects. Your experience is important information—not something you have to quietly tolerate. Release the Need for a Perfect Decision Choosing to explore medication does not lock you into one path forever. Treatment can be reviewed and adjusted with professional support. You are allowed to ask questions. You are allowed to advocate for yourself. You are allowed to make decisions one step at a time. 💡 Key Takeaway Antidepressants may be worth considering when depression is affecting your ability to live, function, connect, or feel like yourself. They are not a sign of weakness. They are not the only option. And they are not right for every person in every situation. The most helpful decision is one made with honesty, reliable medical guidance, and compassion for what you are experiencing. 👉 You do not have to prove your strength by refusing support. ✨ Glimmers from This Episode Feeling heard during an honest conversation about your mental health Realizing there may be more than one path toward feeling better Asking a question you were previously too afraid to voice Choosing curiosity and self-compassion over shame 💬 Final Thought You deserve more than silent survival. You deserve support that sees the whole person—not just the symptoms. There is no shame in needing help. No failure in exploring your options. No weakness in choosing care. You do not have to make the decision alone. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs this reminder 💫

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

59,559

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

63

Social presence

0

YouTube

72

Engagement

51

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