Building Resilience

Two people can live through the same experience—a breakup, a job loss, or a childhood wound—and walk away with entirely different realities because of the story they tell about it. In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah Davidson explores how your inner narrative shapes both your mindset and your nervous system, and how stories can become survival codes that keep you stuck. She shares three powerful ways to shift your story through your lens, your language, and your nervous system state, offering simple, compassionate tools to help you rewrite your narrative from a place of safety, growth, and self-compassion.We’ll explore:How shifting your lens changes the meaning of your storyThe power of words and how to choose ones that free youWhy “story follows state” and the role of regulationSimple tools to calm your body before rewriting your storyChanging your story expands safety and possibility, not denialLINKS AND RESOURCES:📌IT'S NOT JUST YOUR THOUGHTS, IT'S YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM (WITH A CREATIVE TWIST): A workshop mini course with bonus resources📌IBS NERVOUS SYSTEM RESET  (Workbook and Worksheets) 📌NERVOUS SYSTEM STRESS TEST: Take the test to see how dysregulated you really are?MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US 📌 Amazon CA 2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET📌Amazon US 📌Amazon CACOMMUNITIES 📌NERVOUS SYSTEM JOURNALING CLUB : Doodle, journal and heal in community📌CONNECTIONS - MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP: Coursework, Coaching, Creative Doodling and Community📌THE ADVANCED TRAINING IN NERVOUS SYSTEM RESILIENCE: A 6 month immersive experience for personal and professional training.LET'S STAY CONNECTED📌INSTAGRAM📌FACEBOOK📩 Subscribe to the Weekly NewsletterENJOYED THIS EPISODE?Please leave a 5 star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience.WANT TO CREATE YOUR OWN SKOOL COMMUNITY:  🔗 Check it out here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever noticed that your nervous system doesn’t just react to what happened? It reacts to the story you tell about it.In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah unpacks how the stories we carry, those we’ve inherited, absorbed, or created, shape the way we think, feel, and move through the world.You’ll learn how these stories can become survival codes that your nervous system still follows and why awareness is the first step toward shifting them. Leah also shares three simple metaphors: camera lenses, playlists, and weather patterns, to help you see your stories with more clarity and choice.This episode is an invitation to notice your own stories and begin gently reshaping them in a way that supports safety, growth, and connection.We’ll explore:How your nervous system reacts to the stories you tellThe difference between inherited, assigned, and protective storiesWhy even “positive” labels can keep you stuckThe role of awareness in shifting long-held narrativesThree metaphors that help your body and brain understand story workHow curiosity, not criticism, creates the foundation for changeLinks and Resources:📌IT'S NOT JUST YOUR THOUGHTS, IT'S YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM (WITH A CREATIVE TWIST): A workshop mini course with bonus resources📌IBS NERVOUS SYSTEM RESET (Workbook and Worksheets) 📌NERVOUS SYSTEM STRESS TEST: Take the test to see how dysregulated you really are?MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj📌 Amazon CA - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET📌Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4📌Amazon CA - https://a.co/d/7JtdlUMCOMMUNITIES 📌NERVOUS SYSTEM JOURNALING CLUB : Doodle, journal and heal in community.Join here: https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about📌CONNECTIONS - MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP: Coursework, Coaching, Creative Doodling and Community Join the waitlist here: https://leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/CONNECTIONS/📌THE ADVANCED TRAINING IN NERVOUS SYSTEM RESILIENCE: A 6 month immersive experience for personal and professional training.Join the waitlist here: https://leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/coach-training/LET'S STAY CONNECTED📌INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/📌FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterWANT TO CREATE YOUR OWN SKOOL COMMUNITY:  🔗 Check it out here - https://www.skool.com/signup?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We often think resilience means pushing through, staying strong, toughing it out, and keeping a brave face. But what if true resilience comes from something softer, kindness? In this grounding episode, Leah Davidson shares how kindness, especially self-kindness, can shift your nervous system from survival to safety. You’ll learn how harsh self-talk activates stress in your body, while even tiny acts of gentleness, a pause, a breath, a kind word, begin to rewire your system for healing and calm.Leah also explores how kindness shows up in parenting, relationships, and everyday moments of struggle. Whether you’re recovering from burnout, navigating chronic illness, or simply feeling overwhelmed, this episode will remind you that kindness isn’t weakness, it’s your most powerful tool for resilience, connection, and healing.We’ll explore:Resilience grows in environments of safety, not self-criticism.Your body responds to inner dialogue, harsh words trigger threat; kind words signal safety.Micro kindnesses, like resting without guilt or using gentler self-talk, can shift your physiology.True kindness honours boundaries, it’s not about people-pleasing or self-erasure.Kindness is daily medicine for your nervous system and the key to sustainable healing.Links and Resources:New: Worry Time PreSale Bundle (limited time offer) (ends October 17th, 2025)Resource:  IBS Nervous System ResetGet: My Safe Space: Affirmation and Journal Prompt Set📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US 📌 Amazon CA🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in communityWant to create your own Skool Community? 🔗 Check it out hereLet’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a 5 star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it possible that the true key to success, in business, healthcare, and life, isn’t found in data, but in kindness?In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah Davidson explores how kindness, far from being a “soft skill,” is actually a powerful nervous system practice that sustains growth, connection, and creativity.From medical school ceremonies to entrepreneurial struggles, Leah reflects on how we often measure success by numbers and performance while overlooking the biological and relational power of kindness. She shares how kindness can reframe our understanding of success, foster nervous system safety, and even become a smart business strategy, something AI will never replicate.Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or healer, this episode will remind you that kindness isn’t just a moral choice, it’s a biological intervention and the foundation of sustainable success.We’ll explore:Kindness isn’t weakness, it’s a nervous system regulator that fosters safety, healing, and creativity.Metrics and performance can’t measure the depth of human connection or trust.Bringing kindness into business leads to more sustainable success and healthier relationships.AI can replicate data, but not human compassion or co-regulation.The way you make others feel may be your most powerful business advantage.Links and Resources:New: Worry Time PreSale Bundle (limited time offer)Resource: IBS Nervous System ResetGet: My Safe Space: Affirmation and Journal Prompt Set📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US 📌 Amazon CA🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in communityWant to create your own Skool Community?🔗 Check it out hereLet’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a 5 star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this milestone episode, Leah is joined by bestselling author and master coach Molly Claire to talk about her new book, She Rises.Together, they explore what it really means to rise through adversity, whether that’s grief, burnout, perfectionism, or life transitions, and how emotions, nervous system health, and community all play a role in building resilience.You’ll hear powerful stories from She Rises and learn simple, practical ways to embrace growth, process grief, and find strength in life’s hardest seasons.We’ll explore:Why resistance to life’s challenges can keep us stuckHow grief shows up in unexpected waysThe role of emotions in resilience and nervous system healthPractical ways to lean into growth when you feel stuckWhy community and connection are essential for rising strongLinks and Resources:Lean more about Molly ClaireLife, Mastered with Molly Claire PodcastFree resources: https://www.mollyclaire.com/freebie—-------------------------New Resource : IBS Nervous System ResetNEW: My Safe Space: Affirmation and Journal Prompt Set📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US 📌 Amazon CA🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in communityWant to create your own Skool Community? 🔗 Check it out hereLet’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a 5 star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever struggled with IBS, you know it’s about more than digestion. It’s the discomfort, unpredictability, anxiety, and sometimes even shame that come along with it. And while food lists and symptom trackers may help a little, they rarely get to the root of the problem.In this episode of Building Resilience, Leah explores IBS from a nervous system perspective. She unpacks the fascinating connection between the gut and the brain, why stress makes symptoms worse, and how your body’s protective “alarm system” may be keeping you stuck in flare cycles.We’ll explore:Why IBS is a functional disorder (your gut looks fine, but it’s not working as it should)How the “second brain” in your gut constantly communicates with your actual brainThe role stress plays in digestion, inflammation, and the microbiomeThe protection loop that keeps symptoms alive long after the threat has passedPractical ways to expand your safety zone and support your nervous system in healingNew Resource : IBS Nervous System ResetNEW: My Safe Space: Affirmation and Journal Prompt Set📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US 📌 Amazon CA🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in communityWant to create your own Skool Community? 🔗 Check it out hereLet’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a 5 star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the very things you do to manage your health are actually keeping you stuck?In this episode of Building Resilience, Leah uncovers the common habits that may be making you sick, like constantly talking about symptoms, compulsive Googling, avoiding activities, or delaying joy. These everyday patterns can keep your nervous system locked in protection mode, fueling chronic pain and stress. The good news? With awareness and small, practical shifts, you can begin to rewire your system toward safety, calm, and healing.We’ll explore: • Why symptom-focused talk and reassurance seeking backfire • How avoidance and hyper-monitoring shrink your world • The power of micro-habits that retrain your brain toward safety • Why joy and gratitude are essential to nervous system healingNew Resource : IBS Nervous System ResetNEW: My Safe Space: Affirmation and Journal Prompt Set📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US 📌 Amazon CA🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in communityWant to create your own Skool Community? 🔗 Check it out hereLet’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a 5 star rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like food has all the power, that you can’t trust yourself around it, or that no matter how hard you try, you keep falling into the same patterns of overeating, restricting, or guilt?What if your struggles with food aren’t really about willpower at all, but about your nervous system?In this episode of Building Resilience, I’m joined by Jane Pilger, a coach who helps people move from fighting with their bodies to building food freedom and body trust. Jane shares her own 25-year journey with binge eating and how learning about the nervous system became the missing piece in her healing.We’ll explore:Food struggles are signals from your nervous system, not lack of willpowerShame and judgment keep you stuck, curiosity and compassion help you healFood often acts as a safety strategy but can also feel unsafe (the safety paradox)Black-and-white thinking about food is a sign of dysregulationThe Three Powerful Questions: What do I notice? What do I need? What’s next?Links mentioned:Connect with Jane PilgerBinge Eating Breakthrough Mini Series on food and the nervous systemFree resource: IBS Nervous System ResetNEW: My Safe Space: Affirmation and Journal Prompt Set📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care:🛍️ Amazon US🛍️ Amazon CA: Buy Here🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling Club Doodle, journal, and heal in community Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More and more parents are quietly noticing a growing distance with their adult children, and many Gen Z kids are just as quickly setting boundaries or even stepping away completely. If you’ve wondered why this is happening, you’re not alone.In this episode of Building Resilience, I explore the generational nervous system gap and why relationships between Gen X parents and Gen Z children can feel so strained. This isn’t about blame, it’s about understanding how cultural shifts, nervous system regulation, and different approaches to mental health have shaped how each generation sees family, boundaries, and connection.We’ll unpack research on rising family estrangement, why Gen Z is more likely to see boundaries as survival rather than betrayal, and how Gen X parents, who often poured decades of effort, time, and sacrifice into raising their kids, are making sense of this new reality. I’ll also talk about the risks on both sides: what Gen Z might lose when they disconnect too quickly, and what Gen X could face as they age without the support they expected.We’ll explore:The nervous system's role in feeling safe or unsafeGen Z's emotional vocabulary, its strengths and challengesWhy Gen X parents feel blindsided despite their best effortsThe difference between healthy boundaries (bridges) and isolating ones (walls)Links and Resources:IBS Nervous System Reset📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care:🛍️ Amazon US🛍️ Amazon CA: Buy Here🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling Club Doodle, journal, and heal in communityLet’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Silence can be one of the most powerful tools we have but it can also become one of the most damaging. In this episode of Building Resilience, we talk about the double-edged nature of silence: when it truly helps regulate your nervous system, and when it tips into avoidance, shutdown, or even self-abandonment.You’ll learn five different ways silence shows up: from a healthy reset to a symptom of trauma - and how to tell the difference. we also explore silence as a boundary, a relational message, and even as a quiet container for grief.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I choosing silence from a place of strength, or from fear?”- this conversation will give you clarity, compassion, and practical insights to navigate your own patterns with silence.We’ll explore:Silence can regulate your nervous system when used intentionally.Silence may also be a symptom of shutdown or trauma responses.Silence can act as a boundary, but it can also be misused as control.Quiet moments after crisis often bring grief or exhaustion to the surface.Silence in relationships is never neutral, it sends powerful messages.Awareness helps distinguish between protective silence and harmful avoidance.Want to create your own Skool Community? Check it out here: https://www.skool.com/signup?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1—-------------📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal...📌 Amazon CA: Buy Here:https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-...🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in community:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-...Let’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel guilty for spending time on things that don’t feel “productive”? Or maybe you’ve let go of hobbies altogether because they don’t seem to “count”?In this episode of Building Resilience, we explore why skipping hobbies is actually wrecking your nervous system, and how bringing them back can help restore your energy, identity, and joy.Hobbies aren’t just frivolous or “nice to have.” They’re nervous system nourishment. They help us regulate, re-engage with life, and remember who we are outside of our roles and responsibilities. Whether it’s painting, gardening, collecting, or listening to music, hobbies can pull you out of survival mode, help you find your “play zone,” and bring you back to life.If you’ve been burned out, overwhelmed, or stuck in survival mode, this conversation will remind you why fun, curiosity, and creativity are not optional extras, they’re essential for resilience.We’ll explore:Productivity pressure disconnects us from joy and meaning.A true hobby is about presence, curiosity, and enjoyment, not performance or profit.Rest has two forms: stillness (quieting) and nourishment (reigniting).Burnout often comes from doing too little of what feels alive.Hobbies guide the nervous system into the “play zone”, that sweet spot of safety + engagement.The nervous system sometimes just needs something that lets it “be.”Exploring hobbies opens safe containers for creativity, joy, and regulation.📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal...📌 Amazon CA: Buy Here:https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-...🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in community:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-...Let’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when your kids grow up, and your role as their parent quietly, but profoundly, changes?In this episode of Building Resilience, I unpack the real meaning behind the shocking phrase, “I hate my kids.” Spoiler: it’s not about hate at all. It’s about the complex, often unspoken realities of parenting young adult children, the shifting roles, the nervous system toll, the grief of being needed less, and the bittersweet pride of watching them build their own lives.I share my own behind-the-scenes experiences, from feeling invisible in my own home when they visit, to resisting the urge to “fix” their struggles, to navigating sibling dynamics and new partners, to rediscovering my own identity beyond motherhood.This is a conversation about saying the quiet parts out loud, about letting the messy and the beautiful coexist, and about finding your footing again when the rhythm of parenting changes.We’ll explore:“I hate my kids” isn’t about hate, it’s about change.Speaking the messy, taboo truths can be liberating.Parental roles shift, again and again.Parenting adult children takes a nervous system toll.Your opinion is often no longer welcome.Partners and new family dynamics change the landscape.Envy can be a cue for self-investment.Sibling dynamics can be messy, and beyond your control.Love and grief can coexist.—-------------📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal...📌 Amazon CA: Buy Here:https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-...🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in community:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-...Let’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the way we teach kids about emotions is actually making things worse?In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, I’m diving into 10 essential truths I wish every kid, and every parent, knew about mental health.We’re having more conversations about emotions than ever before, but we’re still missing the most foundational piece: the body. We tell kids to calm down, to use their words, to think positive… but we rarely teach them how to feel safe in their bodies. And if you were never taught that yourself, you're not alone.From why movement is daily medicine and sleep is non-negotiable, to how breath can shift anxiety faster than any pep talk - this episode offers a practical, science-backed roadmap to help your child (and your inner child) build real, lasting resilience.We’ll explore:• Why emotional education must include the body, not just the mind• How movement, breath, and sleep are powerful tools for regulation• The role of creativity in calming a dysregulated system• Why stillness isn’t laziness, it’s essential for growth• How to teach kids (and ourselves) that safety is something we can create• The nervous system’s role in shaping thoughts, feelings, and behaviour• Practical ways to support brain and emotional health through daily rhythms• What it means to "ride the wave" of anxiety rather than resist it• That health is not a status, it’s a daily practice📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal...📌 Amazon CA: Buy Here:https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-...🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in community:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-...Let’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you feel like you’ve done all the right things - mindset work, supplements, protocols - but your symptoms still linger?In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, I share a compassionate reframe: maybe the goal isn't to fix your body… but to help your nervous system feel safe enough to stop fighting.Whether you're navigating chronic pain, illness, or stress-related symptoms, I unpack 10 powerful yet practical ways to create safety in your system without needing to be symptom-free first. From breathwork and somatic tools to environment cues and outcome-independent healing, these tools are grounded in science, self-compassion, and nervous system literacy.These aren’t quick fixes or toxic positivity, they’re real tools to soften the grip of suffering and begin healing from the inside out.We’ll explore:Slowing down even 10% sends a powerful message of safety.Your breath is always broadcasting: danger or calm, choose consciously.The Safety Sequence grounds your body in present, not panic.Gentle movement is more regulating than pushing through.Self-talk isn’t fluff, it’s a nervous system intervention.Wishing yourself well is a powerful act of self-kindness.Releasing pressure to heal often unlocks healing.Your environment can cue safety without a single word.Visualization rewires your system toward possibility.Co-regulation and rhythm are not luxuries, they’re medicine.📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal...📌 Amazon CA: Buy Here:https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-...🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in community:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-...Let’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the quickest way to calm your nervous system didn’t involve meditation, mindset work, or even deep breathing, but just a pen and a few minutes?In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah Davidson shares three simple, science-backed tools to help you gently regulate your nervous system, using creative expression, not perfection. These practices don’t require artistic skill or profound insights. Just a willingness to explore, express, and create a sense of safety in your body.You’ll learn how doodling, gentle journaling prompts, and repetitive shapes can act as regulation anchors helping you shift out of survival mode and into a state of calm, clarity, and connection.Whether you’re overwhelmed, shut down, overstimulated, or just looking for a way to reconnect with yourself this episode will give you three powerful ways to feel a little more regulated in under 10 minutes.✨ Want to go deeper? These are the exact kinds of practices we use weekly inside the Nervous System Journaling Club, a creative, supportive space to build safety and resilience from the inside out.We’ll explore:Visual expression helps externalise internal states.Simple journaling prompts can shift your state.Repetitive patterns (like loops or spirals) create predictability.Containment matters more than perfection.Co-regulation can happen with the page.Every time you meet your system with curiosity, you build resilience.📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal...📌 Amazon CA: Buy Here:https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-...🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in community:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-...Let’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel like you're doing all the inner work, journaling, processing, consuming wisdom, but still not feeling purposeful or alive?In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, we explore a powerful reframe: healing alone isn’t the goal. Living is. Using the metaphors of weeding vs planting and consuming vs creating, we’ll unpack how real purpose isn’t something you chase, it’s something you experience, through small acts of creation and participation.We’ll talk about why so many people get stuck in chronic weeding mode, what happens when we only consume but never create, and how even the tiniest moments of planting can signal safety to your nervous system.This episode is your reminder that healing doesn’t have to be a full-time job, and that joy, meaning, and purpose come from doing, not just fixing. Timestamps 00:00 – That “What’s the point of all this?” feeling 01:00 – Purpose as pressure: why it dysregulates the nervous system 02:15 – The weeding vs planting metaphor 04:55 – Healing = weeding, but what about planting? 06:20 – How your nervous system interprets creation as safety 07:00 – Consuming vs creating: input ≠ output 08:10 – You don’t regulate from what you know, you regulate from what you do 09:10 – Chronic weeding and chronic consuming = dysregulation 10:00 – Regulation through participation, not perfection 10:40 – Let purpose reveal itself through small acts 11:20 – Journaling prompts and where to start📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal...📌 Amazon CA: Buy Here:https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-...🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in community:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-...Let’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the most resilient people aren’t the ones who bounce back quickly—but those who allow themselves to break, feel, grieve, and still move forward?In this heartfelt episode, we explore tragic optimism—a powerful reframe introduced by Viktor Frankl—and how it allows us to hold both pain and hope without bypassing either. You’ll learn how real resilience comes not from fixing or rushing, but from the ability to live with the full truth of what is and keep going anyway.We’ll explore:• Why “bouncing back” is a cultural myth• What tragic optimism really means (and what it’s not)• The nervous system’s role in resilience and meaning-making• The 3 Ps of pessimism—and how to unlearn them• Practical tools to regulate your body, reframe your thoughts, and hold space for grief and growth at onceThis is your invitation to stop striving to return to “how things used to be”—and instead, build capacity to bounce forward with wisdom, gentleness, and courage.Timestamps:00:00 – Resilient people aren’t the fastest to recover06:55 – When Breath Becomes Air & the phrase “devastatingly beautiful”10:14 – What tragic optimism really means (Viktor Frankl)13:05 – Why it’s not toxic positivity (Brad Stulberg’s take)15:15 – Introducing learned optimism (Martin Seligman)17:32 – The 3 Ps of pessimism and how to flip them20:18 – Why your nervous system must feel safe before optimism is possible23:12 – You can’t access nuance from a dysregulated state25:50 – The nervous system’s role in meaning-making28:36 – Post-traumatic growth: Making meaning, not finding it31:45 – What it means to hold both pain and hope33:58 – How to actually practice tragic optimism36:10 – Step 1: Reframe with “both/and” language37:15 – Step 2: Befriend your nervous system, not fight it38:48 – Step 3: Hold space for others with “Tell me more”40:10 – What resilience really looks like: bouncing forward41:50 – Why regulating isn’t about avoiding pain—it’s about holding it43:30 – Final thoughts: You can be devastatingly beautiful too📝 Get My Resilience JournalA guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aXvnLQ5iNMBUxzQYYcrgjg.AteqhnbvcWMthzgND7lwUxHbtn59LfW9Y7jqFUK9X-M&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mental%2Bhealth%2BJournal&qid=1751362532&sr=8-1&th=1📌 Amazon CA: Buy Here:https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F?th=1🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling ClubDoodle, journal, and heal in community:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1Let’s Stay Connected:Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoachingSubscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterEnjoyed the episode?Please leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. It helps more people discover these tools for healing and resilience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve been calling yourself lazy, unmotivated, or inconsistent, this episode is your wake-up call.What if the reason you’re stuck isn’t a mindset problem… but a nervous system one? In this deeply validating solo episode, Leah Davidson explores how procrastination, avoidance, and “invisible resistance” are often signs of a protective nervous system, not personal failure.From ghosting your own business to endlessly “preparing” but never acting, Leah shares powerful insights on how shame, fear, and dysregulation keep you small, and how to reclaim momentum safely, one small step at a time.Whether you’re an overwhelmed parent, frozen entrepreneur, or helper who can’t seem to help yourself—this episode will help you reframe your “stuckness” and offer a gentler, more effective path forward.⸻⏱ Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: When “cleaning the junk drawer” means something deeper02:00 – What’s really behind feeling stuck03:25 – Fear masked as logic: the subtle signs04:40 – Shame’s quiet whispers and protective disguise05:52 – The “roommate” analogy for your nervous system08:10 – The myth of perfection in healing work10:25 – Real-life examples: coach, parent, student, executive12:57 – Stuckness ≠ laziness: it’s protection13:45 – Step 1: Curiosity over criticism14:45 – Step 2: Get specific about the emotional fear16:09 – Step 3: Regulate before action17:10 – The Safety Sequence in practice17:58 – Step 4: Start with the smallest possible step19:00 – Step 5: Find your people, especially in messy moments20:00 – Is it resistance—or redirection?21:20 – Sustainable change happens at the speed of safety22:10 – Regulate. Act. Repeat.⸻🧠 Want More Support?📝 Get my Resilience Journal – A guided journal for nervous system care:📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mental+health+Journal&hidden-keywords=B0DNRSLV9F&ref=nb_sb_noss_1📌 Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F/ref=sr_1_1🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling Clubhttps://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1📬 Weekly Newsletter + Free Workshops:https://www.leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletterhttps://www.leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/doodleworkshop📱 Follow me:Instagram & Facebook – @leahdavidsonlifecoaching⸻🗣️ Found this helpful? Like, comment, and subscribe to support more conversations on nervous system resilience and compassionate growth.#NervousSystemHealing #SurvivalMode #YouAreNotLazy #TraumaInformedGrowth #LeahDavidson #BuildingResiliencePodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if being “messy” doesn’t mean you’re disorganized—and clutter isn’t the real issue?In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, I’m joined by organizing coach Tracy Hoth for a powerful reframe on what it really means to be organized. Spoiler: It’s not about color-coded bins or minimalist living. It’s about safety, clarity, and knowing where your stuff is—80% of the time.We talk about the nervous system side of clutter, why perfection is a trap, and how “messiness” might be a protective response rather than a personal flaw. You’ll walk away with mindset shifts, practical tips (hello, SPASM method!), and a whole new lens on what organized can actually feel like.If you’ve ever looked at your home, your business, or your life and thought, “I should have it more together by now”—this conversation is for you.⸻Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome + Leah admits she might not be that organized02:34 – Meet Tracy: An organizing coach with a nervous system twist05:55 – Why “organized” doesn’t mean minimalist or picture-perfect09:18 – The 80% Rule: A realistic definition of being organized12:43 – Leah’s tiny Toronto home vs. American closets17:05 – You can be organized and have stuff21:17 – Nervous system links: Why some people need more things to feel safe24:30 – SPASM: The 5-step framework for organizing29:49 – The hardest part of getting organized (it’s not what you think)33:12 – The emotional side of purging (guilt, scarcity, memories)38:05 – How to set limits without feeling deprived41:50 – Why baskets and bins aren’t the answer44:37 – Benefits of organizing: Calm, clarity, confidence48:30 – Organizing as a nervous system regulation tool52:11 – What organization reveals about your identity56:05 – How to break projects into doable steps59:40 – Is your “mess” actually protecting you?01:02:55 – Where to start: Mindset before method01:05:23 – Final takeaways + how to work with Tracy⸻🧠 Want More Tools?📝 Get my Resilience Journal to support your nervous system:📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mental+health+Journal&hidden-keywords=B0DNRSLV9F&ref=nb_sb_noss_1📌 Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F/ref=sr_1_1🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling Club:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1📚 Explore Coaching, Courses, and Community:https://www.leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com📱 Follow me on Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoaching💌 Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: www.leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletter⸻🗣️ Enjoyed the episode?Like, comment, and share! It helps more people find healing through nervous system tools and resilience-building strategies.#Organization #NervousSystem #DeclutterYourMind #TraumaInformedLiving #EmotionalClutter #LeahDavidson #TracyHoth #BuildingResiliencePodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That voice in your head that says, "Who do you think you are?" The one that shows up right before you do something brave or bold? It’s not a flaw, it’s a signal , and the way you respond to it might be the difference between staying stuck or stepping forward.In Part 1, Leah Davidson explored where imposter syndrome comes from, how it shows up, and why it’s actually not the enemy. Now, in Part 2, she dives deeper into the how: what those imposter feelings are trying to tell you, how to regulate your nervous system in the moment, and strategies to help you take action even when self-doubt is present.This isn't about "fixing" imposter syndrome, but understanding its roots in your nervous system's protective responses. Leah guides you through practical, embodied strategies to transform the fear of being "found out" into a powerful catalyst for authentic self-expression and sustainable progress. Remember, confidence isn't a requirement to doing things; it's the result of doing them.In this episode, you'll learn:- Why imposter syndrome often signals you're heading in the right direction and doing something that matters to you.- How to reframe imposter feelings as "data, not drama" by getting curious instead of fighting or believing them completely.- Practical nervous system regulation techniques like the Safety Sequence, Box Breathing, 5-4-3-2-1 grounding, and Progressive Muscle Relaxation to calm your body and allow clear thinking.- The crucial difference between eliminating imposter feelings and regulating your nervous system to act effectively while they are present.- How to build "general competence confidence" by taking small, consistent actions despite uncertainty, proving to yourself that you can handle challenging situations.The importance of community and seeking examples of others to counteract the isolation imposter syndrome thrives in.This episode is for anyone ready to move beyond just understanding imposter syndrome and actively build the nervous system resilience needed to thrive in their authentic power.—📝 Get my Resilience Journal to support your healing journey:📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mental+health+Journal&hidden-keywords=B0DNRSLV9F&ref=nb_sb_noss_1📌 Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F/ref=sr_1_1🎓 Nervous System Journaling Club:https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1—📌 Tags:#ImposterSyndrome #NervousSystemHealing#EmotionalRegulation #GrowthMindset#Resilience #TraumaRecovery#SelfBelonging #ConfidenceBuilding#LeahDavidson #BuildingResiliencePodcast#Neuroplasticity #Authenticity#HealingJourney #PersonalGrowth#SelfDoubt #TakeAction Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.