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From Wild Idea to Reality: Why Delusion Works
50 Plays5 months ago
What if being a little delusional is exactly what you need to create the life of your dreams? In this episode of Wandering the Wild Mess, I’m sharing how embracing a mindset that goes beyond logic and societal norms can open doors you never thought possible. From my own story of moving to Nashville with nothing but a dream of something more to why most resolutions fail, we’ll explore how a sprinkle of "healthy delusion" can fuel confidence and push you past fear.
This is your invitation to step into 2025 with boldness, believe fiercely in your possibilities, and start living bigger. Everything amazing started as a wild idea—so why not yours?
Alexa play "Hey Ma I Made It" by Ella Langley
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Transcript
Delusion as a Positive Force
00:00:01
Heather Morgan
What if I told you that being a little delusional might be the key to unlocking the best things in your life? Welcome to wandering the wild mess with Heather Morgan. I am so happy that you're here.
00:00:24
Heather Morgan
All right, if you're hearing this now in real time, it is the new year. So welcome to the best year of your life y'all for deciding it. I'm calling it right now 2025. If you're listening this later at any point in time, just know that's the sign that everything's going right for you moving ahead. So either way, it's the time that we realize that enough of living small and it's time to live big, right?
Personal Stories and Mindset
00:00:56
Heather Morgan
And I'm preaching this because, you know, as someone that changed up my whole life, left everything I knew moved to Nashville, obviously, I was delusional, because I don't really think most
00:01:13
Heather Morgan
normal sane people just make such a jump to move across the country to a place that they know no one and just start their life all over.
00:01:25
Heather Morgan
I literally sometimes have said this before. I don't even know who I thought I was, but I'm so glad I believed that I could be her and illusion had a lot to do with it.
Why Resolutions Fail
00:01:41
Heather Morgan
And so I wanted to kind of speak on this topic because I think when we're going into the new year, a key thing, a lot of people set up in their lives to start the new year is like resolutions.
00:01:52
Heather Morgan
And the reason that resolutions all of often fall to the ground, or I mean fall to the ground, and don't work out as intended, is because it's a huge change in our habits and our beliefs about ourselves and what we're capable of. And so unless we really like change up our day-to-day routine, our habits, and our mindset about what we're capable of,
00:02:20
Heather Morgan
achieving such drastic resolutions that are so far from or seem so far from our existing reality it just seems daunting. And then it puts us in this like place where then we don't believe in ourselves because we're like, so either we don't send them because we're like, we don't want to fail, we can't do that. Or We do and then we're like, Yeah, I guess it's not for me. But none of those things are necessarily true. It's all about the approach.
Believing in Possibilities
00:02:49
Heather Morgan
And I think including delusion into your mind and reality is really
00:03:00
Heather Morgan
giving yourself the best chance at going all in on the things that you want from life. So what I will say is being delusional, let's get into it before you're like, this girl's delusional. Cause that's exactly what I am. But what I will say is being delusional isn't about ignoring reality. It's about believing in possibilities so fiercely that you create that reality.
00:03:25
Heather Morgan
And I'll give like the simplest analogy just to put your mind in that space and where I'm going. It's like as a child, if you played sports or you're trying to learn something new, like oftentimes they'd be like, okay, so visualize yourself kicking that goal or hitting that home run, like see yourself doing that. And you're like, okay. And you're like trying to think you're like, okay, I'm going to get the ball and I'm going to hit it over the fence, you know? And you're visualizing that's possible for you.
00:03:55
Heather Morgan
If you're, if you were the kid in your head, like, I can't kick a goal. I can't hit a home run. Like you're not, ne you're probably not going to be like staying late for practice to perfect the skill or trying really hard or anything. And you probably won't hit a home run or kick in a goal because in your mind, it's just not your reality. You're like, that kind of looks hard. Don't really think I can do it. Nah, you don't put in the actions necessary.
00:04:24
Heather Morgan
because you've already decided you've imagined it in your head. Okay, could I hit a home run? No. So your mind's like, all right. And then you don't. There's no kid going, I can't hit a home run. Absolutely not. And then you just swings and hits a home run like that. That's not really how it works.
00:04:45
Heather Morgan
So that's life in general and I think a lot of us kind of forget that. Like think back to when you were like young and you had all these like, they're like, what do you want to be when you grow up? And you have all these like,
00:05:00
Heather Morgan
thoughts and visions about like what you want to be like, I want to be this I want to be and it felt like the world was your oyster, which it is.
Societal Influences on Belief
00:05:07
Heather Morgan
But as we continue to get older and more influenced by outer things and society telling us our limitations or the limitations of reality, then we start second guessing our ability to do these things and especially things that seem like
00:05:28
Heather Morgan
very impossible. But what I want to tell you is your very existence is a pretty slim chance that you're even on this earth to begin with. So you could Google that yourself. But the fact that you're here is enough for you to use this time in being delusional to do whatever you want to do. What feels your soul? What makes you happy? What makes you feel things you want to feel?
00:05:56
Heather Morgan
And I really am so very grateful for the opportunity to step outside of the chaos that was my current life. Not that it wasn't chaotic in the meantime, but it was a different kind of chaos and really think about what fuels my soul and what I delusionally think is possible for me.
00:06:19
Heather Morgan
So I think the first time I really started not understanding delusion the way that I do. And when I say delusion, it's really just a mindset shift that's trying to not allow society, reality, logic, drive my decisions in life. Because anyone that's created anything amazing in this world,
00:06:47
Heather Morgan
had to believe in some level of delusion. I mean, literally, if you wouldn't think like Elon Musk, like the Tesla, like driving cars, like even an airplane, I say sometimes. And I say this because I don't think we sit in our own minds long enough to kind of really realize that everything that exists in this world was once a thought in someone's mind.
00:07:09
Heather Morgan
Whether it's the coaster you put your drink on, the phone that you're holding in your hand, the AirPods you're listening to, the song you're listening to, the couch I'm sitting on, all did not exist until someone put their mind in a place that thought that it could.
00:07:29
Heather Morgan
And I know that's kind of a ah pretty deep way of thinking for some people, but I hope you're following along with it because it it's crazy to take your mind there. And why I want you to do that is because once you start realizing that these were all just people like us,
00:07:46
Heather Morgan
that just decided that they wanted to do something that hadn't been done or that they really just were interested in doing.
Historical Success through Delusion
00:07:55
Heather Morgan
And then they applied themselves. And I'm sure, as we know, a lot of people along the way doubted them, didn't support them, didn't see their vision, but they were delusional enough to keep doing it, even though everyone told them why or I don't know where that's going to go or didn't support them or quietly like judging them in the background like this is real like can you imagine someone saying we're going to create an airplane I don't even know if that was a word when it came out but like we're going to create an airplane so people can fly in you know from one place to another like somebody like did that
00:08:36
Heather Morgan
And I can we go back just to thinking like, okay, this person's like legit insane. Like who's going to like fly? And now we get on airplanes all the time for a quick trip to like Las Vegas. So it's crazy to think that somebody had to continue down their delusional path, that it was possible to happen in order for us to have so many of the things that we have in this world. And so.
00:09:04
Heather Morgan
I'm saying all this to say is that healthy delusion can work. And I'll tell you why. And I want you to follow along with me.
00:09:16
Heather Morgan
It creates confidence. Sometimes when you just you act as if the success of it is an inevitable, it pushes you past the fear. So like I still think back to I created the confidence that I was moving to Tennessee. I touched down on that plane and I was like, yeah, I'm supposed to be here. I didn't even know how. I was going to like tell my work.
00:09:41
Heather Morgan
have somewhere to live. Nothing. I had no details worked out. And that's the point where I think a lot of us, if we can even get like, I'm doing this, what stops us is like how, how, how's, but if you get delusional enough, you just push past the fear of like how it's all going to work out.
Risk and Reward in Pursuing Dreams
00:10:00
Heather Morgan
You're just able to focus on like, I'm not really worried about all the house. I'm just, I have an end goal and I'm going to get there and we'll just address those things along the way.
00:10:12
Heather Morgan
is healthy because I think sometimes people are like, well, that's a little like reckless delusional. You're just going to move. You don't even know what you're going to do. Where are you going to live? What did it? No. But then it's like, well, what's more of a risk?
00:10:27
Heather Morgan
staying where I don't want to be for the rest of my life because I don't know how it's all going to work out when I move. I feel like for me, that was the more, the greater risk. Someone with a compliance, corporate compliance background, I definitely am very familiar with risk assessments. Sometimes Everyone has a different risk appetite, so I'll respect them all. But sometimes for the things that you want the most, like in compliance, ah sometimes the business that you're operating for, they will take on additional risk if they see that the reward is worth it.
00:11:07
Heather Morgan
They know certain things are going to be riskier, but at the end of the day, the business sees the vision and says, we will accept that risk because we want this product and market, whatever it is. That's the same as us. We all have different risk appetites, but when we allow o ourselves to say like, which is actually more risky, staying where we don't want to be or going into the unknown,
00:11:37
Heather Morgan
And the wild truth about this if, I mean, I don't know y'all, I haven't spoken ton about it, but obviously I've done so much self reflection and exploration and I'm geek out on neuroscience. So I'm very much into like how the ah subconscious mind operates for us in a lot of ways. And it's kind of like that, like little,
00:12:02
Heather Morgan
voice in your head that tries to keep you safe and says, like, this isn't going to work. This isn't going to happen. This isn't possible for you. Just stay doing what you're always doing. And it might not even tell you that. It might just be like, OK, you can do that. But later, later.
00:12:19
Heather Morgan
later. It's almost the idea of like diet starts Monday, you just your subconscious wants you to stay where you've always been what's comfortable. And you're telling it No, I have this new goal. I have this thing I want to do. And it's like, well, we don't know what it it's like, I don't know what it looks like. I don't know what that looks like. So I don't want to take that on because I don't know. And so it will allow you to stay miserable.
00:12:43
Heather Morgan
where you're at because it's familiar. And I've probably talked about this before, but I feel so called to share that like, gosh, life's just not serious enough to like not go all in on anything you want from life. And another reason why healthy delusion works is that it rewires your brain.
00:13:08
Heather Morgan
So that your subconscious starts working in alignment with your goals. So once you kind of decide and think about it, and you're like, No, I'm doing this against all the will of your subconscious to pull you back into the familiar, it starts learning that we're just going to have to figure this out as we go. You know what I mean? It's almost like it's two people inside you like this reckless friend of yours. It's like, we're on this adventure. We're going here. We're doing this. And you're just like, I guess we're going along for the ride. But y'all figure it out on the way you'll figure it's not like, I mean, what's the worst that could happen? I mean, we could think about that, but the likelihood is low. So we're just going to roll with it.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
00:13:52
Heather Morgan
And the other great thing about like going into this delusional headspace, healthy delusional headspace, is that it aligns you with opportunities. So when you act like the person that you want to be, you attract the people in your life and the circumstances that align with whomever you're becoming.
00:14:12
Heather Morgan
So for me, I'll tell you a story that's so wild when I think about how this works. um But when I had left my corporate job and I one day was like, I'm starting a podcast. That's what I need to do. This is, I think at the time, September or no, September like end fall of 2023.
00:14:42
Heather Morgan
So see how much I procrastinated even starting the podcast. Cause my subconscious was like, girl, we don't know what we're doing. We can't start a podcast. Well anyways, so I, the day I was driving to a TEDx talk in Nashville and I'm like, okay.
00:14:58
Heather Morgan
I'm starting a podcast. like It hit me in the car. I was like, that's what I'm doing. And I know I've said this before, like a lot of this whole initiation of or like this whole thing that drew drove me to start the podcast, it was really a lot of therapy for me. So I appreciate all of y'all listening to the earlier episodes when I really just poured my heart out to y'all. And so every single one of you listeners, like it means so much to me. You know me so personally, I feel like. So we're already connected.
00:15:26
Heather Morgan
But when I was driving and I was like, hey, I'm starting a podcast, it literally hit me like a bus. And I hope and think to times that that's happened for you, because I'm sure that it has, where you're like, this is what I got to do. So I was like, OK, so I'm starting a podcast. So as soon as I get there, I'm waiting for my friend. She's late.
00:15:46
Heather Morgan
And so I'm kind of just like, Oh, maybe I'll get like, I'm standing by like the TEDx sign before that, um, the talk was going to start. And I'm, you know, we're dressed professionally and this really cute, um, brunette, she's like, Oh, Hey, do you want a picture? And I was like, sure. Which side note, the amount of people in Nashville I have been introduced to and met because they said, do you want a picture or vice versa is wild. So we're all just living that same, that same mindset.
00:16:16
Heather Morgan
but anyways I'm like sure so she takes my picture I take her picture and then of course like some other random stranger just thinks her and I are like friends so she's like do you want us to take your picture we're like sure
00:16:30
Heather Morgan
So she was like, oh, are you here with somebody? I was like, oh, I'm waiting on my friend. She's late. And she's like, oh, I'm here by myself. Do you mind if I you know come with you guys? I was like, of course not. Like, come with me. um So we're like trying to find a seat. And we're just du making small talk. And we're both talking. ah She's like, oh, what do you do? And I was like, I just left corporate. She's like, oh, I'm in corporate. And we're talking about that. and And she goes, oh, what are you going to do? And I said, well, I'm starting a podcast. Literally had decided it on the drive.
00:16:59
Heather Morgan
on the drive to the TEDx talk. And she goes, Oh my gosh, I have a podcast up until that point in Nashville. I know a lot of people now that have pop pop.
00:17:10
Heather Morgan
la Podcasts in Nashville, but up until that point in my life and my time and Nashville. So this is just like not even a full year in Nashville um Because it's like the end of when I moved there fall when I moved there I moved there in the spring of that same year I had not met a single person with a podcast the day that I say I'm starting a podcast I Meet this girl that has a podcast
00:17:36
Heather Morgan
I'm just saying. So the delusional mind of like, I'm starting a podcast, introduced me to this person. I didn't know how to start a podcast. I literally decided it on that day. And then to her, I just said, I'm starting a podcast, confidently and delusional, like I even know what I was doing.
00:17:55
Heather Morgan
Like I just said it, blurted it out loud. I tell you again, words are powerful. And there we go. Off to the races. Now I'm starting a podcast. I started telling people but I'm committing. So I'm just saying that is a very crazy truth to when you just say things and affirm things delusionally, even if you don't know the how, they come to fruition in one way or another.
00:18:23
Heather Morgan
And sometimes it takes a little longer because we don't get to pick the time that it will take to get there. But we can't even get there if we don't first believe that it's even possible, that it's something we can do. Even before we know all the details how, we just have to buy into the delusion that it's possible and a reality for us. I like to think it too for like the men, it's kind of like going hunting.
00:18:51
Heather Morgan
like When we're on a hunting trip, no one's like, oh yeah, I'm not getting an elk this time, there's no way. Like the whole time everyone's like, yeah, I'm gonna get the big like the biggest box, the biggest elk. Like your your mind is just like, yeah, this is gonna be the greatest. this is gonna Like you have to think like that. You're not gonna go hunt somewhere that you know you're not gonna get anything. So you just have to believe you will.
00:19:20
Heather Morgan
Like you're gonna make the most of it. Those people in life, they're just like, we're gonna get there. And we're just like, even if there's like, regardless of the circumstances, the belief that it's possible has to be there. And it's the best way to do that is to be delusional about it. To be like, yeah, I'm gonna do it. And people are like, how? And you're like, I don't know, but I'm gonna figure it out along the way.
00:19:45
Heather Morgan
And it also can um combat self-doubt. So like healthy delusion overrides limiting beliefs that keep you stuck. So if I would've been like, I'm starting a podcast and then I'm like telling, yeah, I'm doing it. And then there were moments when I was like, I don't even know. Like what do I do? I don't, cause I literally did this like myself, like figured out like the girl that I met, love her. We're still friends. Just celebrated her second, our second time together for her birthday. So we've been friends.
00:20:18
Heather Morgan
that long now, which is so fun. But ah she gave me some like tips and like suggestions and things, which was really helpful in me even getting there. But as far as like doing all of the things, it was myself. And so when you're delusional enough to be like, Yeah, I can start a podcast, like every time I'm like, Oh my gosh, this seems like overwhelming. This is a lot. I'm like, but I can do it. Like, how hard could it be? Like,
00:20:44
Heather Morgan
Everyone has a podcast. Like every time I'm on Instagram, like someone has a podcast, like I can't figure that out. Of course I can. And it's not, it's not even to be like, look at me. It's just to be like, of course you can. Who can't? And if you really want something, don't get hung up in the like, well, I don't really know like the, the details. Just figure it out and you will.
00:21:12
Heather Morgan
When you're forced to figure things out, you do, right? When you have no choice, when your back's against the wall and you have no choice, you'll figure it out. If you know that to be true about yourself, then why not apply that same logic to things you want to do, even when your back isn't against the wall? You'll figure those out too. This time you just won't have your back against the wall. It'll be like something that you really want to do in your heart and soul.
Nashville: A City of Dreamers
00:21:42
Heather Morgan
And I'll tell you that the reason why I want to share this with you is because moving to Nashville allowed me the mindset to feel this energy like I never knew was possible.
00:21:56
Heather Morgan
And the cool thing about it is that Nashville's filled with a whole bunch of people going all in on them their dreams. And they literally do have to be delusional enough to be like, they're the next thing. That there's the song they're writing is the next number one hit. That the thing that they're doing is going to resonate with hundreds of millions of people one day.
00:22:16
Heather Morgan
And obviously you don't do everything in the lens of like, I just want all this recognition. It's not necessarily that. It's just, I wanna do things that fuel my soul. And sometimes I need enough attention and recognition for those things to keep allowing me to create.
00:22:37
Heather Morgan
And that's where I'm aiming to be in this new year is, holding tight to my delusion that anything, absolutely anything is possible for me, for you, for anyone who wants to think that it is. And I want you to think that it is. Because I think so many times we waste a lot of our life saying, well, it couldn't be me. Well, it's too late.
00:23:08
Heather Morgan
It's too hard. I don't have this. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next year, maybe the next day.
00:23:17
Heather Morgan
And then one day we're going to look back and be like, I i wasted a lot of time.
00:23:24
Heather Morgan
And I'll be honest, I'm not gonna say it's a downer cause I don't necessarily think that sometimes I think there's a all a path for everyone. Like there's a lot more I wish, well, I try to use my words. There's a lot more that I think I could have got accomplished in the last year had I had focused differently. But when I look back, I also do realize that sometimes we need a calm or a break to recalibrate our minds and ourselves into a place that we can become that person. And so I think that allowing some reflection in our lives can help skyrocket us to that next place where we're meant to be and allow us to really like visualize our dream life and then speak it into existence.
00:24:23
Heather Morgan
And what I will say about the mind that I have read and I won't get so woo woo on y'all, but I just want to tell you because i I want, I truly want people to be happy. It's really hard to articulate how it feels when I see or speak with someone that is, is not,
00:24:52
Heather Morgan
living their potential. And I know I cannot change anyone and everyone's path is different, but I have such a soft spot for wanting all y'all to really look at yourself and and make sure that you're doing the things that make you happiest and that you're not letting
00:25:23
Heather Morgan
limiting beliefs about what you're capable of, self doubt, negative thoughts, prevent you from stepping into the best version of yourself.
00:25:38
Heather Morgan
and there'll be versions evolve, right? But I think there's moments where we're wandering this wild mess. We're like, what am I doing? What am I doing? And the thing that should be the constant thing that we're doing is feeling good about what we're doing. I mean, there's gonna be moments, there's gonna be days, but at the end of it, and the wild mess like, did it but did we enjoy it? Were we enjoying it the most that we could?
00:26:07
Heather Morgan
Because if you really looked back and thought, like when was I like enjoying life? like
00:26:12
Heather Morgan
That's gonna be what you're gonna wanna remember. And I want you to see that delusionally you can have as many of those days as you want. It's it's just up to you to make your mind about it.
Achievable Goals and Living in Possibilities
00:26:27
Heather Morgan
So I'll start wrapping this up with a little bit of thoughts for you. If this is kind of your your cup of tea or you've been in a place where like the new year started, maybe you're on your new year, new me BS or you're not. But I, these are a few things that I try to do.
00:26:48
Heather Morgan
I definitely would say one of my favorites, and it doesn't even it's not even a new year, like not the whole year, but for each month of the year, because it's easier in bite-sized little pieces, just determining what three things you want from life that month.
00:27:12
Heather Morgan
So it could be things that you want, things that you you are saying you're not going to do, like those limitations from a discipline perspective. It can be like steps towards something that is important to you.
00:27:26
Heather Morgan
When we break it down into like just three high priority things that would make us feel better if we achieved or didn't do at the end of the month and then reevaluated where we feel the next month and if something carries over or if we have new things that come to mind, that's just kind of a good way to set intentions for your life and to just be delusional about what's possible.
00:27:58
Heather Morgan
I think so many times and I'll say this at the end is that, and I i don't know if I mentioned this before, but i I am delusional and I know I have so many things that are going to come in my life because of this delusional mindset that are going to be amazing. And I'm saying that out loud because I know how powerful our words are. So make sure to be kind to yourself always.
00:28:24
Heather Morgan
But I remember I think I don't know if I talked about this, but in the episode that I talked about, remember, ah I had one boyfriend since my divorce. And there was a moment that I knew it probably could never work. Because I was just being super positive as I was throughout the entire relationship. And he was like, he kind of got frustrated, which was like one of the few times I saw him frustrated. And he was like, we can't just be positive all the time. You can't just think everything's gonna work out like you can't be so delusional, something along those lines. And I was like, well,
00:29:11
Heather Morgan
I don't know if I could ever ah live my life with someone who wouldn't allow me to be a little delusional and not lean into that the way that I have. Because it's just not that fun. Being logical about what's possible for ourselves isn't isn't really why I'm here. And so I know that's not everyone's cup of tea, but I swear it's a happier mindset to live in.
00:29:40
Heather Morgan
so As you go through this new year, try to find more times where you can allow for delusion. Live in your possibilities.
00:29:53
Heather Morgan
Prepare for opportunities even when you can't see how they come. This world is really our oyster. Everything, and even now more than ever with everything at our fingertips, it's possible for us.
00:30:10
Heather Morgan
You just need to decide what it is you want most and keep your focus there. I'll break down a little bit more if anyone wants it. I have lots of fun ideas that I am thinking about for this year. And before I end this episode, I just want to give a plug and a thank you for being here um and listening in the new year. It means the absolute world to me. I truly mean it.
00:30:38
Heather Morgan
I know this journey is only going to get better there's gonna be more things to come i have some big news on the next episode and then i also want to just say ah i don't know why this is one of my i'm working through why this is a challenge for me but If you listen, as always, I would love for you to just comment or rate the podcast on anything that you listen to the podcast on so that we can kind of get your thoughts and better ratings or not better ratings. I have good ratings. So I just need more ratings and I would love that. Appreciate it so much. And as always check out wandering the wild mess.com.
00:31:21
Heather Morgan
I have book recommendations there and some things are coming soon. Also, if you're listening, I just gives a little bit of background on me, my story and the mission and so much more to come. Again, be delusional. If you have two choices, it can be delusional or not. I promise you being delusional is much more fun. Thank you for listening to Wandering the Wild Mess with Heather Morgan. You matter.