When You’re Craving More but Afraid to Want It
(And Why October Is the Perfect Time to Reset.)
Like autumn leaves settling to the ground, our bodies ask us to soften too—into warmth, into nourishment, into the quiet rituals that remind us we’re safe to want more.
“Who am I to want more?”
“If I go after this, will people think I’m greedy?”
“What if I lose everything I already have?”
If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking this way, you’re not broken. You’re human.
And—this part matters—it’s not weakness or lack of discipline. It’s biology.
Why Wanting Feels Dangerous
Your nervous system is wired to protect you. So the moment you crave more—more freedom, more energy, more impact—it doesn’t throw a party.
It scans for danger.
What if you fail? → cortisol spikes.
What if others judge you? → shame pathways fire.
What if you succeed and lose love? → your stress response clamps down.
That craving gets hijacked into a stress loop. The more you want, the heavier it feels.
My Own Loop
When I pivoted from hospital medicine into building this work, I was terrified of wanting more.
More freedom.
More energy.
A life that in’t just night shifts and recovery.
The old story in my body whispered: If you want more, you’re ungrateful. If you want more, you’ll lose respect.
Every time I sat down to create, I felt the swirl of “busyness” pulling me away from the work that mattered. It wasn’t that I didn’t want it enough—it was that my biology didn’t feel safe in the stretch.
The October Reframe
Here’s what changed everything: realizing fear wasn’t proof I shouldn’t want more.
It was proof my body needed safety before it could expand.
That’s the essence of Biological Leadership™. You don’t bulldoze past your stress response—you partner with it.
Curiosity first.
Awareness next.
Then, micro-resets to signal: I am safe to want this.
And October is the perfect time to practice.
Our biology naturally shifts this season—slower rhythms, heartier foods, cozy rituals. This isn’t laziness. It’s a biological invitation to pause, reflect, and prepare for what’s next.
Even your microbiome joins the reset. In summer, your gut often craves lighter foods—crisp veggies, citrus, salads. But come fall? It asks for warmth: soups, stews, root vegetables, pumpkin everything. And yes—sweetness, too.
Those cravings aren’t weakness. They’re your body adapting for the season ahead. A biological nudge toward comfort and connection.
But here’s the catch: sometimes we even judge those cravings. We tell ourselves we “shouldn’t” want sweets, or cozy downtime, or more connection. And that judgment piles on top of the fear already in our system.
So what if instead of fighting it, we reframed October as harvest season? The time to celebrate what’s been planted, grown, and gathered. The time to honor small steps—like listening to your body more closely, even if it’s just one choice at a time.
Because connection is the theme of this season. And the first connection worth tending is with yourself.
Try This Today
When you notice that craving for “more” colliding with fear, pause and ask:
💭 What stress signals are showing up in my body right now?
Tight chest? Racing thoughts? Blank stare?
💭 What is my body trying to protect me from?
💭 What’s one micro-reset I can use to bring safety back into this moment?
(Example: slow exhale, 20-second shake-out, one grounding sentence: “I can want more and be safe.”)
It’s not about flipping a switch. It’s about rewiring safety in small, consistent ways—so your body trusts that wanting more won’t cost you everything.
Your Next Step
If this hits home, my free Mindset Journal is where to start.
It’s not another “feel good” journal. It’s a guided process to:
✨ Spot your stress loops.
✨ Decode what your body is really asking for.
✨ Practice awareness that frees up energy for the life you want.
📥 Download it here and take your first step toward wanting more—with biology on your side.
Your body isn’t the blocker. It’s the messenger. And when you learn to listen differently, you create the energy and clarity your dream has been waiting for.
Xoxo,
Dr. Kat
