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 once

This 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 recover

06:55 – 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 them

20:18 – Why your nervous system must feel safe before optimism is possible

23:12 – You can’t access nuance from a dysregulated state

25:50 – The nervous system’s role in meaning-making

28:36 – Post-traumatic growth: Making meaning, not finding it

31:45 – What it means to hold both pain and hope

33:58 – How to actually practice tragic optimism

36:10 – Step 1: Reframe with “both/and” language

37:15 – Step 2: Befriend your nervous system, not fight it

38:48 – Step 3: Hold space for others with “Tell me more”

40:10 – What resilience really looks like: bouncing forward

41:50 – Why regulating isn’t about avoiding pain—it’s about holding it

43:30 – Final thoughts: You can be devastatingly beautiful too

📝 Get My Resilience Journal

A 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 Club

Doodle, journal, and heal in community:

https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1

Let’s Stay Connected:

Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoaching

Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletter

Enjoyed the episode?

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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 deeper

02:00 – What’s really behind feeling stuck

03:25 – Fear masked as logic: the subtle signs

04:40 – Shame’s quiet whispers and protective disguise

05:52 – The “roommate” analogy for your nervous system

08:10 – The myth of perfection in healing work

10:25 – Real-life examples: coach, parent, student, executive

12:57 – Stuckness ≠ laziness: it’s protection

13:45 – Step 1: Curiosity over criticism

14:45 – Step 2: Get specific about the emotional fear

16:09 – Step 3: Regulate before action

17:10 – The Safety Sequence in practice

17:58 – Step 4: Start with the smallest possible step

19:00 – Step 5: Find your people, especially in messy moments

20:00 – Is it resistance—or redirection?

21:20 – Sustainable change happens at the speed of safety

22:10 – 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 Club

https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1

📬 Weekly Newsletter + Free Workshops:

https://www.leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletter

https://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

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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 organized

02:34 – Meet Tracy: An organizing coach with a nervous system twist

05:55 – Why “organized” doesn’t mean minimalist or picture-perfect

09:18 – The 80% Rule: A realistic definition of being organized

12:43 – Leah’s tiny Toronto home vs. American closets

17:05 – You can be organized and have stuff

21:17 – Nervous system links: Why some people need more things to feel safe

24:30 – SPASM: The 5-step framework for organizing

29:49 – 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 deprived

41:50 – Why baskets and bins aren’t the answer

44:37 – Benefits of organizing: Calm, clarity, confidence

48:30 – Organizing as a nervous system regulation tool

52:11 – What organization reveals about your identity

56:05 – How to break projects into doable steps

59:40 – Is your “mess” actually protecting you?

01:02:55 – Where to start: Mindset before method

01:05:23 – 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

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