Do you ever feel like there’s an invisible wall holding you back from the life you desire? In this episode, Sarah explores why achieving our goals can feel so difficult—even when we’re putting in the effort. The key to unlocking our full potential lies in understanding and befriending our autonomic nervous system, which shapes our entire experience and the ease in which we’re able to take steps forward.
By viewing the nervous system as a vehicle, Sarah shares practical strategies for how to guide your nervous system down roads that lead to your deepest desires. Through the power of nervous system regulation, parts work, and safe connection, it’s possible to get unstuck and tangibly move toward a more full, expansive life.
Episode Highlight:
00:00 Intro
01:35 The Vehicle Inside You (Your Nervous System)
07:31 The Roads of Your Deepest Desires
19:02 What Determines the Size of Your Life
23:52 Building Capacity in Your Nervous System
26:48: 4 Things That Don’t Actually Work
27:46 #1 - “Muscling Through”
30:08 #2 - Setting Unattainable Goals
32:43 #3 - Taking Steps in Isolation
34:52 #4 - Comparing Our Self to Others
36:28 Building a Bridge to Where You Want to Go
40:48 Cultivating Safe Community and Connection
42:07 Start Honoring Your ‘NO’
44:58 “What About Taking the Big, Scary Step?”
49:44 “How to Take Tolerable Steps in Dating?”
53:27 “Why Is It So Hard to Take Steps Forward?”
Join the Expansion Experience:
Ready to start expanding into a bigger life? Join Sarah’s 3-day live experience for tangible somatic tools to break through stagnancy and start expanding. First call starts on March 17th with replays available for a limited time.
Connect with Sarah on:
Website - https://www.sarahbaldwincoaching.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sarahbcoaching/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Sarahbaldwincoaching/
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Important Keywords:
Autonomic Nervous System - The body's command center for automatic functions like breathing, heart rate, and digestion. It also plays a vital role in how we respond to stress and perceived threats, as well as our ability to feel safe, connected, and regulated.
Roads of Safety - The pathways our nervous system recognizes as safe and predictable, often shaped by past experiences. While they provide comfort and stability, they may not always align with our true desires or highest potential.
Roads of Familiarity - The patterns and dynamics we've learned to navigate—whether healthy or not. Our nervous system tends to gravitate toward familiar routes because they offer a sense of control, even if they don’t always serve our well-being.
Safe Connection - The deep sense of being seen, heard, and understood by others, fostering a feeling of belonging and security. Safe connection is essential for regulating the nervous system and expanding our capacity for growth, healing, and change.