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How to Overcome Self-Doubt and Step into Your Calling

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Has self-doubt ever talked you out of something God was calling you toward?

It’s more common than you think. And it might be the very thing keeping you from taking action on a big dream.

In this episode, I'm talking about something I see in nearly every woman I coach: the tendency to downplay our abilities and wait to feel ready before taking a single step forward. The problem is, that moment of feeling ready rarely comes on its own.

Here are three things I want you to walk away with today:

  • You do not have to have it all figured out before you start.

  • You do not have to feel confident before you begin.

  • You do not have to be perfectly competent to take the next step.

I also dig into one of my favorite stories in Scripture: Moses at the burning bush. Moses witnessed miracles, heard directly from God, and still said, "Please send someone else." If that is not relatable, I don't know what is. His story reminds us that self-doubt in the face of a calling is nothing new, and that God's presence is what makes the calling possible, not your readiness.

Your dream has nothing to do with trying to be perfect. God gave it to you in love and grace, and He does not expect you to fulfill it a certain way. Your job is simply to be faithful and take the next step.

If you are ready to work through this and figure out what your next step actually looks like, I would love to invite you to a workshop, The Next Best Step for Pursuing a God-Shaped Dream. Register at merrittonsa.com/workshop.


**This episode was originally released on 1/19/2022. 

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How to Figure Out the Next Best Step Toward a Dream

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Are you a Christian woman trying to figure out the next right step for a dream? You feel like God has called you to something more in midlife, but what should you do about it? In this episode, I'm sharing what a God-shaped dream really is, why it's supposed to feel bigger than you, and how to stop waiting for the perfect plan. I'm also inviting you to join me for a live workshop on April 23rd where you'll find space to figure out your best next step. Come as you are. The dream is worth it.

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Say Your Dream Out Loud Before You Talk Yourself Out of It

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What if the thing standing between you and your dream is simply that you have never said it out loud? In this episode, Erin Straza and I talk about renewing our minds, grounding ourselves in who God says we are, and why speaking the dream out loud matters. Erin shares a story about her husband Mike that perfectly captures what happens when we finally stop hiding our hopes for what’s possible. If something has been stirring in your heart and you have been too afraid to name it, this one is for you. Come and listen.

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Practice Over Perfection: Faithful Steps Toward Your Dream

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In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Erin Straza for a real conversation about the courage it takes to begin. We talk about what happens in our hearts when perfectionism takes over, why a simple outline is often the only antidote we need to move forward, and how treating our early attempts as practice changes the whole game. Whether you are just starting out or in the thick of a dream you have been chasing for years, this conversation is for you.

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Faith, Fear & Dreams: Stop Procrastinating, Start Moving

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Is the hardest part of your dream just getting started? (For a lot of us, it is.) In this episode, my co-host Erin Straza and I talk honestly about why the idea of your dream often feels safer than the reality of going after it. We explore what it looks like to trust God deeply and still struggle to take action and why that tension is more common than you think. If you've been waiting for the perfect plan or some kind of guarantee before you move forward, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

The Readiness Myth: Start Before You Feel Confident

What if the thing keeping you from your dream isn't a lack of clarity but the belief that you have to feel a certain way first?

In this season opener, I sit down with writer and nonprofit communications consultant Erin Straza to unpack one of the most common things that keeps women stuck: the idea that confidence has to come before courage.

We talk about what's really underneath that "not ready" feeling, how fear disguises itself as wisdom, and what it looks like to take a faithful step when you're still not certain.

Because the dream God gave you deserves more than another season of waiting.

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How to Build Habits That Nurture Your Dreams All Year Long || Merritt Onsa

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What small steps can you take that will have a lasting impact?

Let's spark some change today that fuels your God-shaped dream and sets the stage for enduring success tomorrow. It’s easier than you might think, and it all starts with building sustainable habits into your life.

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How to Start the Dream God Gave You with Support Around You

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God took Julie Fowler’s personal story of infertility and loss and turned it into a thriving nonprofit ministry and published Bible studies. Julie shares how to navigate publishing options, leverage community support, and stay rooted in your faith. Whether you’re pursuing a new calling or need encouragement in a difficult season, Julie’s wisdom and authenticity will equip you with hope, resources, and a reminder that faithfulness matters more than outcomes.

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How One Small Step of Faith Sparked a Bigger Dream

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Julie Fowler shares her journey of building a ministry that supports women and couples experiencing infertility and loss. She reveals the challenges and triumphs of turning personal pain into purpose and the power of having authentic community. Tune if for encouragement when you feel unequipped, practical wisdom for launching a support ministry, and heartfelt reminders that our deepest struggles can drive us closer to God and each other. If you're longing for hope or purpose, this conversation is for you.

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5 Steps to Reset Your Dream When Summer Ends

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Has your God-given dream been on hold all summer? In this episode of The Devoted Dreamers Podcast, discover five practical, faith-filled steps to reconnect with your purpose, overcome fear, and take bold action toward your calling. Perfect for Christian women seeking clarity, courage, and renewed momentum this fall.

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How to Move Forward When Procrastination Holds You Back

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Get ready to hear the practical steps and honest struggles behind Samantha Wells’ journey to writing and publishing her first Bible study. Learn how she pushed past perfectionism, fear, and procrastination, and hear her heartfelt encouragement for women stepping into their own God-shaped dreams—no matter how small they may seem. If you need a boost for your creative pursuits, this episode will bless your journey.

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Why Your God-Given Dream Doesn’t Have to Look “Typical”

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Does your dream feel “different” than what you see others doing? Join Bible teacher Samantha Wells on The Devoted Dreamers Podcast as she shares how she embraced the uniqueness of her dream to help women study the passages of the Bible that usually get skipped or skimmed. In doing so she discovered that God had been preparing her all along—listen to this powerful message for Christian women in leadership or ministry.

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How to Prepare for the Resistance that Comes with a Calling

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Have you ever experienced resistance just as you were about to take those first faithful steps into your dream? Doubt, discouragement, and resistance aren’t signs that you’re on the wrong path. They are often proof that your God-shaped dream truly matters. Discover practical, biblical strategies to recognize, respond to, and rise above this battle so you can walk forward in confidence, anchored in Christ’s victory and unshakeable truth!

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When Your People Don’t Get the Dream God Gave You

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Have you ever felt misunderstood in your calling? When your people don’t get the dream God gave you, it can shake your confidence. But this episode will help you reframe their response, reconnect with your “why,” and keep going—faithfully and boldly. Listen in for three key mindset shifts and a dose of gospel truth to help you move forward with confidence in what God has invited you to do.

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How to Uncover the Business God Already Planted in You

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What if the dream God gave you is already growing but in a direction you didn’t expect? In this conversation with Andrea Olson, we explore how God often uses our past experiences, natural wiring, and even disappointments to shape something new in our calling. She shares how a quiet season of listening uncovered a shift in her work, revealing a new mission to equip faith-driven entrepreneurs—something He had been preparing her for all along.

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The Power of Surrendering Your Plans to Follow God’s Calling

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What if your dream doesn't unfold the way you expected? This week we’re talking about how to embrace the twists and turns of pursuing a God-shaped dream. Guest Andrea Olson shares how her passion for music evolved into leading conferences, equipping worship leaders, and embracing unexpected entrepreneurial shifts. With candid stories of faithful risk-taking and surrendered ambitions, you’ll walk away encouraged to take your own bold steps and trust God on the journey.

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How to Test a Business Idea Before You Build It

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Wondering if your dream will really work? In this episode, I’m sharing how I tested my course idea before building it—and how you can too. If self-doubt, perfectionism, or fear of failure have kept you from starting, this behind-the-scenes look at Dreamers Unleashed will give you clarity, courage, and your next small step forward.

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Fight Imposter Syndrome with the Only Truth That Stands Firm

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Could your self-doubt actually be a spiritual battle in disguise? Taking a step toward your big dream puts a bullseye on your back that the enemy cannot ignore. That’s why it is so important to equip yourself with the truth of God’s Word and put in place strategies that will help you fight back when imposter syndrome returns. Listen and learn about the critical shift from “trying harder” to standing on God's promises so you can defeat imposter syndrome.

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Is Imposter Syndrome Keeping You Stuck? Here's How to Know

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Stuck in a cycle of dreaming and doubting? It might not be laziness or lack of time; it might be imposter syndrome. This is an attack your identity but God’s promises can set you free. Listen in and learn how to spot the lies that keep you playing small so you can finally move forward in the calling God has given you.

How to Recognize Imposter Syndrome Before It Stops You

Does it feel like you’ll never measure up? Like self-doubt is winning the battle for your mind? In this episode, you’ll learn how to recognize imposter syndrome before it blocks the calling God put on your heart. Tune in for a powerful visualization and faith-filled encouragement that will equip you in the battle against imposter syndrome every time that voice gets loud.