EP108 Stop Waiting for 11:11: The Real Sign You’ve Been Missing

Ever caught yourself staring at 11:11 on the clock and thinking “Is this my sign?”

Or seen a feather, a robin, or even a damn magpie and thought “Okay universe, I hear you…”

This week’s episode of The Reinvention Era takes you straight into a bit of the woo woo (yep, angel numbers, animals, and all those little nudges from the universe)… but with my usual plot twist.

Because the things nobody actually tells you….

 👉 Signs don’t give you the answer
 👉 YOU do

In this episode, I share….

• The meaning behind the most common angel numbers (111, 222, 333… and yes, even 666)
• The personal story of magpies that changed the way I see loss, love, and connection forever.
• Why butterflies, feathers, and dragonflies have become more than just “pretty moments”
• And most importantly: how to stop outsourcing your decisions to “signs” and start building the self-trust muscle you lost somewhere between burnout, heartbreak, or menopause.

This isn’t about ditching the woo. It’s about reclaiming your power alongside it.

Because reinvention doesn’t come when you spot another 11:11

It comes when you finally believe yourself enough to f*cking act on it.

So here’s your real sign: listen now…

Love,

Sarah x 

🩷

P.S. If you’re ready to stop apologising for who you are and start unapologetically leading your best badass life, in October inside the Badass AF Book Club we’re going all in on Rachel Hollis’ Girl, Stop Apologizing. This book is all about shedding the guilt, silencing the “shoulds,” and finally owning your ambition.

Join us here ⬇️

🔥 DOWNLOAD FREEBIES TO FUEL YOUR REINVENTION

📲 FOLLOW on Instagram and Facebook

🩷

Transcript

Sarah Elizabeth  00:00

Hello. Hello and welcome to the reinvention era podcast, where we look at all things reinvention, from our identity and our emotions to our careers and our bank balance. Because if you want about badass as fuck life, you ain't gonna get that from doing basic bitch shit. So just saying, now we're gonna have a bit of a weird one today, one of my woo, woo ones, because bear with. This is episode number 108 why is that significance Sare? I hear you ask. Well, when I was first adopted, the house my family lived in was indeed 108 and then about a year or so later, we moved to number 45 where I stayed until I was 18 and pregnant, moving on. Then the first house the ex and I bought was number 18. Then we moved to a house with a name instead of a number. Then I moved to Princess cottage after the divorce, which was number three. So why does all that have a link? And no, this isn't a random quiz show, but what you may have noticed is they all make the number nine, 108 one plus zero plus eight equals 9, 45, that's four plus five, that's nine, as does 18, one plus eight and, three, threes are nine. It kind of ruined it when I moved into my current house, which is number four. But there we go. Up until then, I only lived at houses that, in some way added up to nine, as did my mum, who'd spent her childhood at number nine itself, random, shit, huh? But then the reason I'm telling you this is because nine, then kind of became my lucky number. Well, that and three, but three, threes and nine and all that, you know. And I was thinking that most probably a lot of us have got what we think of as lucky numbers, right. But then as I kind of got older and started hearing more woo, woo stuff I started to hear about Angel numbers. And I mentioned Angel numbers the other day to a couple of friends when we was out for dinner, and they were like, What the fuck's Angel numbers? So I thought we'd talk about it. What are Angel numbers? Well, the idea is that repeating number patterns like 111,222,333, you can also get 1212 or 123123 whatever, but the main ones are like 11122233, whatever could be, 112233, they're signs or nudges. They're said to be from the universe, angels, guides, whatever name works for you, whatever works for you, right? They're thought to be like little coded messages showing up when you need a reminder that you're on the right track, or when it's time to pay attention. NOTICE shit now, whether you believe they're from angels or your subconscious or just the what's it called, The Baader Meinhof, or Baader Meinhof, or whatever it's called, that effect, which is also known as the frequency bias, which is easier to say, and that's kind of like that brain quirk, where you notice something a zillion times more once you're looking for it, thanks to the reticular activating system in our blinds. But anyway, where they're from, how we get them, whatever, I guess, doesn't really matter. The point is, once you notice them, you really fucking notice them. They make you stop. They make you think, and that that horse can be so goddamn powerful. And also, Angel numbers have a bit of extra significance for me because of the times that my sons were born, actually. So why? Son. Son was born at 1144 and the other at 333 although I did often say when he was a bit of a fucker as a kid, that was only because there wasn't a 666, on the bloody clock. But anyway, he was also born on the 13th. But just saying, recently, when I looked into what those particular numbers, 1144, 333, mean, and actually, I quite liked it, so I've decided to get those numbers tattooed on me once the broken arm's better. 1144 is basically seen as a master builder. Number, it's like about strong foundations. So 11 is intuition, and 44 is stability. So together, it's like, trust your gut, but also ground it, you know, and 333 which we'll come on to again in a minute, is about growth and expansion. So triple threes are said to be creative and have self expression and joy. But it's also apparently reminded that you're being supported like your guides or your angels or whatever going we've got your back. Keep going, love. So they're good kind of numbers, I feel like, and because my son's born, it's got that significance plus one times one plus four and four is nine, and obviously three to nine. So just saying. 

Sarah Elizabeth  06:39

But there we go back to General Angel numbers. Are they a thing I don't know. I mean, I do frequently spot 1111, quite a lot, actually, ever since I got a 111, necklace as well. But another one I see an awful lot of is 222, or 2222 on the clock, which actually, now maybe I think about it, I live at number four. Who knows? Anyway? Oh, let's talk about these Angel numbers then, and what the main ones mean. So 111, is said to be intuition, alignment, new beginnings, a reminder that your thoughts are powerful. So watch what you're focusing on. Watch what you're looking at. 222, is about balance and trust. It's the number that says everything's working out. Don't force it, don't push it, which is probably why I see it a lot, 333, as we've said, is like your team's got your back, creativity, growth, support, 444, is protection and foundation. So it's like a sign that you're safe and supported, like we said that for for the strong foundations, the structure. So it's like saying you are safe and supported, even if you can't see it yet. 555, is change, transformation. Buckle up. Something's moving. Love 666, not the devil in Angel numbers. It's about balance, especially in the material world. So like money, home, relationships, it's kind of a little bit of a nudge to put you in the right place if you're not quite in balance 777. Is around spiritual growth, and again, intuition. It's sometimes seen as lucky. A lot of people have seven as their lucky number, but really it's about deepening your trust and self trust. 88 is abundance and money and infinite flow. So it's kind of like a reminder that you're always in the cycle and it's always moving for you. 999, is completion and endings, like Time to wrap something up, prepare for the new but there's also actually numerology that says that same thing about nine being endings. And actually for Numerology, the year 2025, is a nine number, which is said to mean a lot of endings this year, whether you want them or not. But anyway, those are the main Angel numbers we kind of see and hear about, although we could also add 000, which is fresh slate as well. But anyway, there we go. If you're seeing lots of repeated numbers as you're going. About your day, whether it's on the clock, whether it's on a bus, or number play or someone's house number whatever, just pay attention to the repeated numbers that you see over and over and over, because they're supposed to be giving you that nudge. 

Sarah Elizabeth  10:21

But Angel numbers aren't the only signs that people notice and said to have meaning. Certain animals or symbols or things often show up in like traditions too, because sometimes they're from folklore, but sometimes they're from like, cultural meanings, and sometimes actually just because they mean something to you, like butterflies, for example, butterflies are said to signify transformation and rebirth, that reminder that endings lead to new beginnings, and they've also actually become kind of a like a bit of a universal grief symbol as well. Like people often say their loved one is visiting when they see a butterfly. Now, whether it's true or not, who knows. But the point is, the butterfly in those moments is never just a butterfly. It's almost like a message of hope, I guess another one's like birds and feathers, especially white feathers, like you'll hear this a lot. People will find a white feather in a random place after they've lost someone, and it feels like, almost like a whisper from the other side, a kind of reminder you're not alone. Or Robbins, robins is another one that is huge in grief and loss as well. Like, what's the saying, robins appear when loved ones are near. How many times you heard that? Like, for so many people, robins are a real comfort, and like a flash of red in the garden that goes, Oh, you're still connected. And ours as well. Ours is another one. Apparently, they're traditionally symbols of wisdom and seeing through the dark, like the whole night vision thing. So they kind of represent inner knowing and guidance and clarity When Everything Feels just dark and confusing. Who knew when you see an owl and dragonflies as well? There's said to be a sign of change as well and adaptability and spiritual growth, because they apparently live short but very transformative lives. So they've become almost symbols of embracing change and living fully while you bloody can, you know, but there's also, I think, when I was thinking about this, there's also signs and symbols and animals and whatever that don't show up in the air quotes, books or on Google, but that end up becoming your sign. So like for me, it's actually magpies, which is weird, but you know that old rhyme, one for sorrow, two for joy, three for girl, four for boy, five, for silver, six for girls. And the secret never to be told, whatever it goes, I think, goes up to however many didn't it, but you know what I mean, right? One for sorrow. The day my mum died, there was a magpie on the lawn, all fucking day, just sitting there on the grass me and mum and dad's garden, all I could think of was one for sorrow, and then two years to the day later, when my dad died, My uncle phoned my auntie to tell her, and as he spoke the words, a single Magpie flew her window. How wild is that? So now, whenever I see two magpies, I think I'm in mum and dad. It's me mum and dad. Go, Oh, mum or what, Dad, if I only see one, I do laugh to myself that they've had a rail, which, to be fair, was pretty common when they were alive. So, you know, I've even got make two magpies actually tattooed down my side, so that even if I do see one, I see another one in Cherry Blossom and blossom, because there was a cherry blossom tree right outside my bedroom window. And Number 45 one of those houses that, of course, add up to nine. So yeah, magpies blossom nine. It's all a thing for me. 

Sarah Elizabeth  14:48

But the point is, and here is the point we're finally getting to three hours later. It doesn't matter if it's written in a book or if it's recognised as. Spiritual sign, or this just the goddamn thing. What matters is it means something to you, because whether you see them as literal messages or just your brain somehow making meaning, making sense of some shit, like they kind of spark that thinking. They make you stop scrolling, they make you stop running and just check in with yourself. And that's where I think this gets really interesting, because I think often when we're looking for a sign what we're really doing. What we're actually doing is asking for permission to trust ourselves, like we ask ourselves, don't we, things like, Oh, God, I don't know. Should I quit the job? Should I leave the relationship? Should I go for the thing, you know? And then we look for the feather or a number or a butterfly or whatever our thing is, and we go, oh, that's the sign. Oh, do you think that's the sign? But deep down, we already fucking know, we just need a bit of a nudge to believe in ourselves. And the kicker is, I think if you've been through some kind of really difficult shit, like divorce, like burnout, like menopause, your self trust muscle can feel absolutely fucking shredded to pieces, which means you end up second guessing. You outsource your decisions. You ask everyone you've ever met. You're getting a lift with some fucking stranger, and you go, Oh, what do you think? Should I leave my job? Oh, don't like you wait for some kind of proof before you leap. And that's where the signs are often so overused, because it's not what a sign I want to sign. It's the right thing to do, you know. And reinvention is about rebuilding that self trust. Yes, science can help 100% and they can be that external reminder that you're not freaking crazy, that your gut is valid. But the deeper work here is remembering that the sign isn't the answer. It might be a nudge, it might be a reminder, it might be a prompt, but it's not the answer. You are. You are the answer. So how do you start to trust yourself again? Because you know if you're listening, going, Yeah,

Sarah Elizabeth  17:50

but how do I even start trusting myself again? Sare? I've been second guessing for years. Love. The truth is, self trust isn't built in like, one big moment, it's the little things, the micro moments. So I wanted to give you a couple of ways that you could take away and kind of start on this and start to learn to trust your gut again, right? So number one, keep one very small promise to yourself every goddamn day, just one and don't start with like, oh one, 5k, every morning. Like, not gonna happen. Start with something small, like, I don't know, I'll drink one glass of water before each meal or before coffee, or I'll write one sentence in my journal every time you do what you've said you'd do however Small, however tiny your brain and your nervous system gets evidence I can trust myself. I do what I said. I do right now. The second small way to start rebuilding this self trust muscle is to just take a moment before outsourcing this shit, before you ask your best mate, your coach, your therapist or some random on the train, just try asking yourself first, if I had to decide right now, if someone had a gun to mute, If I had to decide right now, what would I choose? Because you'll be shocked how often you already do actually fucking know, but you ask everyone else for validation you know. So you know someone. Has a gun to your head. What would you choose right now? Here now, what would you choose? Because you don't, kind of know, you know, and also in this self trust development, please, please, please, stop apologising for what you want, because this one's, I think huge women, especially we've been so trained to downplay, to soften ourselves, to ask permission, to seek validation, but self trust honestly grows when you start owning what you want without epoxy disclaimer. You know you want more money. Say it. You want rest fucking take it. You want space. Claim it. You know, everyday life examples. Instead of going, sorry, I can't make it tonight. I'm just so tired making excuses. You go, I'm not coming tonight. I'm resting. That's it. Periods as they say, No bloody TED talk, no apology, just all you need to say. 

Sarah Elizabeth  21:18

So let me ask you a few things to see where you're at right now with this right What sign are you still waiting for before you give yourself permission to make a change, to reinvent what feather or number or Magpie Are you secretly hoping is going to tell you what you already know and what would change if you stopped waiting actually and just trusted that that little whisper in your gut is already freaking enough, because actually, it could be argued, the universe doesn't hand you signs to decide for you. It hands you signs to remind you that you already decided. It's just a comfort, a bit of security, almost may be, I don't know, but reinvention doesn't come when you see another 1111, on the clock. It comes when you believe yourself enough to just bloody act on it. So if you're noticing numbers or feathers or Robins popping up when you're thinking about something, just pay attention, not just to the sign, though, pay attention to yourself in that moment. What's the thing you're actually hoping it means what decision are you already leaning towards? And you'll say, oh, that's the sign for because that's actually what you want, because that's your answer. Love, you don't need to abandon the woo, woo. But equally, you don't need to outsource your power to it either. Just trust yourself. What are you hoping it means? Because that's your answer. That's the biggest sign you're ever gonna get. And if this is landing for you, if you're done apologising for what you want or waiting for cosmic permission slips, then October's badass AF book club could not be any more perfect. We are going all in on girl Stop apologising. By Rachel Hollis, and you know, I hear you. You might have rolled your eyes at the title before, but trust me, this book is a straight up manifesto for self trust, for claiming what you want without waiting for fucking permission. And inside the book club. We don't just read it, we apply it. We'll be using it to practice stopping the constant Sorry, sorry, as well as to start building this micro self trust daily, and basically to step into the unapologetic, bad ass as fuck version of you that you already know is there. So if you're ready to stop looking for signs that you're allowed and actually start living the signs you've been fucking begging for, come and join us. We're going to be starting October the first but in the meantime, all the library back catalogue of books are there for all paying members to access whenever you want, whenever you need, a hit of something particular. And also, did you know you can actually join the badass as fuck book club as a free member, too. Free members also get a say in the book choices, and they also get the first private pod. Past chapter. So chapter one essentially for free, but that's it for not much more than the audible subscription costs or a couple of Starbucks, you get all the juice for full on reinvention. So like, this is your fucking sign laughter, but that is a wrap on today. Thank you so much for being here. I know it was a bit of a weird one, but if you have had any takeaways, I'd love for you to share them. I love these kinds of like conversations and these kind of things, because let us all benefit, do the Lord's work and all that. So I will be back in your beauts badass earbuds again next week. Sending you so much love. Bye.