Karena Solo: 5 Steps to Trust Yourself, Practice Presence, & Come Back to You

Welcome to a solo episode of Tone It Down with Karena Dawn. In this episode, Karena shares the five transformative steps that helped her learn to trust herself again and turn her life around. Drawing from her own deeply personal journey, including a pivotal morning in the park that changed everything, she walks through how to recognize when you're out of alignment, rediscover your joy, tell the difference between fear and intuition, rebuild trust through small daily promises, and choose presence over perfection.  Whether you're navigating a major life shift or simply feeling a little off-track, this episode is your reminder that you can come back to yourself at any time — and you are never alone on this journey. How do I start trusting myself again when I feel completely lost? Getting back to yourself doesn't require a dramatic overhaul — just one small, honest step at a time. You are worthy of alignment, joy, and peace, and it's never too late to choose yourself. (03:10) Step 1: Admit you're out of alignment That tiny voice in your head you keep trying to push away? That's your intuition and it's always right. Start by simply listening. Admitting you're not aligned with yourself is the most powerful first move you can make and it's as simple as saying, "Okay, I hear you." You don't have to hit rock bottom to recognize you're off-track. At any stage of life you can pause and choose to realign. (05:38) Step 2: Find what brings you joy Create your own "Joy It Up" list. Write down the things that make you feel truly alive, whether it's moving your body, painting, reading, or spending time in nature. Ask yourself: "Am I saying yes enough to the things that bring me joy?" That simple question can shift everything. Joy doesn't have to be grand, it can be as small as playing with your dog, getting lost in a good thriller, or feeling the sunshine on your face. (09:20) Step 3: Learn the difference between fear and intuition Intuition is calm, steady, and consistent. Fear is loud, anxious, and urgent. Learning to tell them apart is life-changing. Meditation and stillness help you hear your inner voice more clearly. Give yourself the gift of silence to tune in. Journal a situation where fear is holding you back, then ask what your intuition is quietly telling you. Chances are, it's saying: "You've got this." (10:45) Step 4: Rebuild trust through small promises to yourself Forget all-or-nothing thinking.The most lasting change comes from small, consistent actions that honour who you are becoming. Swap one bad habit for one good one: trade late nights out for early morning movement, or replace scrolling before bed with a two-minute gratitude meditation. Keep small promises to yourself, like giving yourself permission to rest, and watch your self-trust grow one day at a time. (13:56) Step 5: Choose presence over perfection Most of our suffering comes from living in the past or future—presence is the antidote, and it's always available to you right now. Perfection is not the goal. Progress, joy, and showing up for yourself fully is. Let go of the nitpicking and trust the work you've done. Practice micro-moments of presence: look around the room, take a breath, notice what you see. These tiny pauses can bring you back to yourself instantly. Let's Connect: New Year New TI-YOU 6 Week Challenge THE BIG SILENCE PODCAST Tone It Up App Tone It Up YouTube Tone It Up Instagram