Life By Design Therapy

  You’ve probably heard it before: “ Just say positive affirmations !” But have you ever repeated “I am enough” while secretly feeling like a fraud? Affirmations can be powerful, but only when your nervous system actually feels safe enough to believe them. If deep down you feel unsafe, unworthy, or stuck in survival mode, no amount of repeating nice words will fully land. So what can you do? Start with safety first. Regulate your nervous system, connect with your body, and explore what’s underneath the resistance. When you tend to the root, the words start to feel true. Swipe through to learn: 👉 Why affirmations can backfire 👉 What’s happening in your nervous system 👉 And how to make affirmations actually work for you Healing is more than mindset, it’s mind-body-soul work. You deserve truth that resonates, not just words that sound nice 💛 https://www.lifebydesigntherapy.com/

  I used to wonder why something as simple as saying kind words to myself felt so hard. Everyone made affirmations sound easy, just repeat them daily and watch your mindset shift. But for me (and so many clients I work with), the reality felt very different. Sometimes, saying things like “I am safe” or “I am worthy” brought up more tension than peace. And that’s when I realized…it wasn’t just a mindset issue. It was also a nervous system issue. If affirmations feel uncomfortable or even triggering, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong. It’s because a part of you might not feel safe enough yet to receive those words. 💬 That resistance isn’t failure, it’s feedback. 💬 It’s your body saying, “Let’s go slower.” 💬 It’s asking for safety before belief. Affirmations can absolutely support healing , but they land best when we start with nervous system care. So if the words don’t stick right away, try starting here: ✨ Breathe. ✨ Soften. ✨ Get curious about what your body needs to fee...

  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