This post was written by author, coach, and sparkle strategist, Suzanne Castle. Learn more at www.suzannecastle.com.
Today I picked pasta sauce.
Not because it was organic. Not because it was on sale. Not because it promised to transport me to the Tuscan countryside with just one simmer. I picked it because I was tired of standing frozen in the grocery aisle, paralyzed by thirty nearly identical jars of marinara.
It wasn’t really about dinner. It was about decision fatigue—the quiet overwhelm that sneaks up when your brain is maxed out, your to-do list is snarky, and your sparkle has gone into hiding.
This moment made it into my new book, The Sparkle Effect: 10 Powerful Concepts to Awaken Your Brilliance. Not because it’s dramatic (though, let’s be honest, I’ve had more than one pasta aisle meltdown), but because it’s universal.
So many of us are doing all the things, for all the people, and somehow still feel stuck when it comes to our next move.
The chapter is called “Decision Fatigue is Stealing Your Sparkle—Let’s Steal It Back.” In it, I introduce you to five sneaky personas like Overthinking Olivia and Procrastinating Patty—the inner voices we all battle when we’re tired, overcommitted, and spinning in circles. And I offer simple, science-backed ways to regain your clarity, reclaim your energy, and take action.
Because here’s the truth: I’ve been there. Curled up on the bathroom floor. Canceling plans not because I was busy, but because I couldn’t face one more choice. It’s real. It’s raw. And it’s why my book is packed with strategies you can use right now to move forward.
Through tiny, intentional decisions, I rebuilt a life that now includes bestselling books, award-winning stages, and helping women step boldly into the work they were born to do.
So yes, today I picked pasta sauce. And I celebrated it! Because every bold move—every brilliant comeback—starts with one decision. One small, courageous step forward.
What’s one decision you can make today to start changing everything?
Suzanne Castle is a speaker, coach, author, and sparkle strategist helping high-achieving women break out of indecision and into bold, sustainable action. Need help taking your next step? Download the Sustainable Self-Care Planner and begin to move from stuck to shining, and order your copy of The Sparkle Effect.
