Life By Design Therapy

  If you find yourself zoning out, scrolling aimlessly, or jumping from task to task, it’s not always about “discipline” or needing a better planner. Sometimes, lack of focus is a nervous system response. When your body feels overwhelmed, unsafe, or depleted, it can be nearly impossible to concentrate. Your brain isn’t broken, it’s protecting you. Swipe through to explore: 👉 The hidden link between focus + your nervous system 👉 Why stress and survival mode hijack your attention 👉 Somatic tools to gently bring your body back into balance You don’t have to force focus through sheer willpower. Start by listening to what your body is really saying 💛 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  I used to think affirmations just didn’t work for me. I’d say the words, “I’m enough,” “I am safe,” “I love myself”, but they felt hollow. Sometimes they even triggered more discomfort instead of comfort. If that sounds familiar, then keep reading. Affirmations aren’t just about repeating positive words, they’re about how those words land in your body. When affirmations don’t stick, it’s often because your nervous system isn’t ready to receive them yet. Here’s where I encourage clients to start instead: Regulation Comes First - Before diving into affirmations, make sure your body feels somewhat calm. If it doesn’t, try using breathwork, movement, or grounding techniques to settle your system first. This helps create the internal safety needed for those words to land. Keep Them Believable - If “I love everything about myself” feels like too big a leap, meet yourself where you are. A gentler affirmation like “I’m open to learning how to feel safe in my body” might feel more auth...

  I know how unsettling it can feel when believing you’re worthy doesn’t come easily. When your body has learned to stay in survival mode, it’s not focused on helping you feel confident or calm, it’s focused on getting you through. That constant scanning, shutting down, or going numb? That’s your body’s way of protecting you. But protection isn’t the same as peace. With support and somatic practices , it’s possible to shift out of survival and into safety. And that’s where self-worth begins to take root, not just as a thought, but as something you feel in your body. 💛 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/somatic-therapy

  I often see people come into sessions feeling defeated by their own inner dialogue. They’ve tried to shift it by trying positive affirmations, but the words don’t seem to land. If you’ve ever said an affirmation like, “I am enough,” only to feel discomfort, disbelief, or even shame in response, you’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong. The response you feel can be deeply informative. It tells you something about your nervous system and how it’s been shaped by past experiences. Your self-worth isn’t just a mindset. It’s a lived experience in the body. When your nervous system has learned to be hypervigilant, to shut down, or remain in survival mode, it’s not concerned with worthiness. It’s focused on protection. This means that trying to think your way into self-worth with affirmations can feel jarring, even threatening, if your body doesn’t yet feel safe. As a somatic therapist, I understand that change can happen from the body up, not just the head down. Affirmations are...

  We’re quick to blame ourselves when we can’t focus, calling it lazy, unmotivated, or a lack of willpower. But what if distraction is actually a signal , not a flaw? When your nervous system is in survival mode, staying focused can feel unsafe. Distraction becomes a coping tool, your body’s way of saying, “This is too much right now.” What if you approached that with compassion instead of criticism? You’re not broken. You’re protecting yourself. And with support, regulation, and somatic tools , you can gently shift from surviving to safe and focused.💛 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/holistic-somatic-therapists

  Have you ever tried saying an affirmation like “I love myself,” only to hear that inner voice whisper, “yeah right”? Trust me, I get it. Not only do I see this struggle with my clients, but I’ve experienced it myself. When affirmations feel uncomfortable, it’s often because they stir up old wounds or core beliefs rooted in moments we didn’t feel fully seen, loved, or accepted, especially in childhood. It’s not that affirmations don’t work. It’s that some part of you learned long ago that love had to be earned… or that your worth was conditional. 💬 Instead of pushing through, try asking: What part of me doesn’t believe this yet? What did I need back then that I didn’t get? If you’re curious about how to use affirmations in a way that honors these deeper layers, I break it all down in our latest blog: 👉 “How to Use Affirmations to Build Self-Worth” You’ll learn what makes affirmations helpful , what gets in the way, and how to use them in a way that gently supports healing at the...

  June is Professional Wellness Month 🌿 Work stress is real. Tight deadlines, back-to-back meetings, endless to-do lists. It's easy to ignore your needs when you're in “go mode,” but your well-being matters even at work. Especially at work. That’s why we created a free guide just for you: “20 Calming Activities You Can Do at Your Desk.” 🧘‍♀️💼 Quick, simple tools to help you reset your nervous system, recharge your focus, and care for your mental health, right where you are. ✨ Think: grounding breath work, mini stretches, mindful moments, and more. Professional wellness is about creating small, sustainable habits that support you throughout your day. Grab your free guide with the link in our bio and give your nervous system the mid-day support it deserves. You don’t have to push through. You can pause and still get things done. 💛 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/