Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa

Elyssa Smith
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Self-Improvement

You know you are meant for more, but you keep getting stuck in the same frustrating cycle! I see you. I’ve been there. And I’ve got you! I’m Elyssa Smith, a trauma-informed executive coach and the host of Unlock Your Blocks Podcast. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by triggers, stuck in survival-mode, and cycles of self-sabotage. The great news is that you can overcome all of this! I know firsthand how to follow the roadmap to freedom. You can rewire your survival brain, heal the trauma holding you back, and unlock the next level of success and confidence! On Unlock Your Blocks, I’ll teach you the exact tools and strategies to break free from self-doubt, regulate emotions, and finally be able to follow through with your biggest goals! Subscribe now! Let’s get you the right keys to unlock your blocks and create the life you were made for!

  1. 1d ago

    Why You’ll Never Feel Fully Ready (And Why Waiting Is Keeping You Stuck)

    Why You’ll Never Feel Fully Ready (And Why Waiting Is Keeping You Stuck)   Have you ever told yourself you’ll take the next step once you feel more confident, more prepared, or more qualified?   Maybe you’re waiting for the website to be perfect, the plan to be finished, or that feeling of certainty to finally show up. The problem is, your nervous system may never give you that feeling before you move.   In this episode, Elyssa breaks down why perfectionistic high achievers often wait for readiness before taking action, and why unfamiliarity can feel unsafe to your nervous system.   If you’ve been holding back on something important because you don’t feel completely ready, this conversation will show you how to create enough internal safety to move forward anyway.   ✅ What You'll Learn   ✔️ Why waiting to feel ready can keep you stuck indefinitely ✔️ How perfectionism turns uncertainty into a threat ✔️ Why unfamiliar opportunities can activate your survival system ✔️ The connection between confidence, readiness, and nervous system safety ✔️ Why even major accomplishments may not make you feel qualified ✔️ How imperfect action builds trust with your nervous system ✔️ The 60% rule Elyssa uses to keep moving forward ✔️ Why simple safety cues can make uncertainty easier to tolerate ✔️ How to take bigger steps without needing 100% confidence first   🕒 Episode Chapters   00:00 – Why waiting to feel ready keeps you stuck 00:55 – How perfectionistic high achievers delay action 01:45 – Why unfamiliar things feel unsafe to your nervous system 02:35 – The advice to move before everything is perfect 03:25 – Why asking for help can feel like you are not ready 04:15 – The trap of waiting for confidence or certainty 05:00 – Elyssa’s TEDx experience and still not feeling qualified 05:50 – The choice between certainty and moving forward 06:40 – Learning to feel safe without being 100% ready 07:15 – Why readiness does not create action 08:05 – Safe, imperfect action and the 60% rule 08:55 – Using nervous system safety cues before taking the next step 09:35 – Why deep breathing actually helps with uncertainty 10:20 – Building trust through small imperfect actions 11:05 – Moving forward with 60% confidence 11:40 – Letting your goals get bigger without staying small   💬 Free Resource for Women   ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk   Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds, even in the middle of the workday.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset    💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough   Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck and overwhelmed, and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

  2. Aug 24

    How to Tell If You're in Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn

    How to Tell If You're in Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn   Do you ever wonder why you react the way you do under stress?   Maybe you become angry over small things, avoid difficult conversations, procrastinate on important tasks, or constantly put everyone else's needs ahead of your own.   In this episode, Elyssa explains the four common survival responses—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—and how they often show up in the lives of high-achieving women. You'll learn why these patterns aren't personality traits or character flaws, but protective strategies your nervous system developed to help you survive.   If you've ever thought, "This is just who I am," this conversation will help you understand where those patterns come from and how you can begin creating new, healthier responses that lead to more peace, confidence, and freedom.   ✅ What You'll Learn   ✔️ The difference between fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses ✔️ Why your survival responses are not personality traits ✔️ How childhood experiences shape the way you respond to stress today ✔️ Why perfectionism and people-pleasing are forms of survival mode ✔️ How procrastination and shutdown are connected to the freeze response ✔️ Why high-achieving women often live in chronic survival mode ✔️ A simple exercise to identify your default stress response ✔️ How observation creates the first step toward lasting nervous system healing ✔️ Why your brain can be rewired through neuroplasticity   🕒 Episode Chapters   00:00 – Why survival mode isn't your personality 01:05 – Understanding fight, flight, freeze, and fawn 02:30 – Elyssa's personal experience with all four responses 03:45 – Why your nervous system is trying to protect you 04:45 – How procrastination, perfectionism, and people-pleasing show up as survival responses 06:05 – The surprising truth about the fawn response 07:05 – Why these patterns keep you stuck and disconnected from yourself 08:10 – How survival responses develop in childhood 09:35 – Why your nervous system reacts before your thinking brain can 10:35 – A simple challenge to identify your default stress response 12:00 – How observation leads to nervous system healing 13:10 – Rewiring old patterns through neuroplasticity 14:05 – Taking your next step toward lasting regulation   💬 Free Resource for Women   ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk   Quick, science-backed tools to help calm your nervous system in under 60 seconds—even during your busiest days.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset    💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough   Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck, overwhelmed, or living in survival mode, and walk away with a clear, personalized next step.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

  3. Aug 17

    Why You Shut Down Under Pressure (And the 1% Rule That Gets You Moving Again)

    Why You Shut Down Under Pressure (And the 1% Rule That Gets You Moving Again)   Do you ever have a long list of things you know you need to do, but every time you try to start, you freeze?   Maybe your brain gets foggy, you suddenly feel exhausted, or you find yourself procrastinating on the very thing that matters most.   In this episode, Elyssa explains why shutting down under pressure isn't a character flaw—it's often your nervous system trying to protect you. You'll learn why high achievers and perfectionists are especially prone to this response, what's actually happening inside your brain when you feel stuck, and one simple strategy that can help you build momentum without overwhelming your system.   If you've been frustrated by procrastination, burnout, or feeling like you "just can't get yourself to do it," this episode will help you understand why—and show you a gentler way forward.   ✅ What You'll Learn   ✔️ Why overwhelm often leads to shutdown instead of productivity ✔️ What's happening inside your nervous system when you feel stuck ✔️ Why high achievers and perfectionists are more likely to procrastinate ✔️ What a dorsal shutdown is and why it happens ✔️ How your nervous system mistakes uncertainty for danger ✔️ Why big projects feel impossible to start ✔️ The 1% Progress Rule and how it helps you build momentum ✔️ How breaking tasks into tiny steps helps your brain feel safe ✔️ Why nervous system regulation creates more sustainable productivity   🕒 Episode Chapters   00:00 – Why overwhelm causes your nervous system to shut down 01:10 – What high achievers experience under pressure 02:25 – A real client story about feeling stuck and overwhelmed 03:10 – Why your brain sees certain tasks as dangerous 04:45 – How uncertainty and perfectionism trigger procrastination 06:00 – Understanding dorsal shutdown and survival mode 07:20 – The cycle of overworking, crashing, and hiding from your to-do list 08:30 – Introducing the 1% Progress Rule 09:20 – Why your brain needs a staircase instead of a cliff 10:15 – Real-life examples of breaking overwhelming tasks into smaller steps 12:00 – How tiny actions create momentum and reduce resistance 13:15 – Building long-term resilience by creating nervous system safety 14:05 – Free nervous system resource and final encouragement   💬 Free Resource for Women   ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk   Quick, science-backed tools to help calm your nervous system in under 60 seconds—even during your busiest days.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset    💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough   Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck, overwhelmed, or burned out, and walk away with a clear, personalized next step.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

  4. Aug 10

    How to Rebuild Your Life After Everything Changes with Sabrina Wilson

    How to Rebuild Your Life After Everything Changes with Sabrina Wilson   What do you do when life changes overnight?   Whether it's losing a job, navigating grief, or realizing the path you've spent years pursuing is no longer the one you want, unexpected transitions can leave you questioning everything.   In this episode, Elyssa sits down with executive coach and leadership advisor Sabrina Wilson to talk about rebuilding after loss, creating a life that's aligned with your values, and why the right people can completely change the trajectory of your future. Together, they explore the importance of boundaries, asking for help, and surrounding yourself with a personal "Board of Directors" who will challenge, support, and champion you through life's biggest transitions.   If you've been facing uncertainty, feeling stuck in a career that no longer fits, or wondering how to move forward after disappointment, this conversation will remind you that sometimes life's biggest detours become your greatest opportunities.   ✅ What You'll Learn   ✔️ How to rebuild after an unexpected career setback or major life transition ✔️ Why losing something important can become the beginning of something better ✔️ The power of creating your own personal Board of Directors ✔️ How mentors, sponsors, allies, and friends each play a unique role in your growth ✔️ Why asking for help actually strengthens relationships and builds trust ✔️ How boundaries protect your time, energy, and long-term well-being ✔️ Why high achievers often sacrifice themselves in pursuit of success ✔️ How grief and joy can exist at the same time during seasons of change ✔️ A simple mindset shift that makes saying "no" much easier   🕒 Episode Chapters   00:00 – Sabrina's life-changing career transition 01:30 – Going from career success to unexpected job loss 05:10 – Processing disappointment and redefining success 08:00 – Discovering a new purpose through executive coaching 12:40 – Navigating grief while building a new business 16:00 – Why relationships matter during life's biggest transitions 18:15 – Elyssa's 3S Framework: Safety, Self-Trust, and Safe Support 20:40 – What a personal Board of Directors is and why everyone needs one 25:40 – How to intentionally build supportive relationships 33:30 – Why asking for help builds stronger connections 37:00 – Self-sabotage, boundaries, and learning to say no 45:30 – Sabrina's advice for creating a more intentional life   💬 Free Resource for Women   ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk   Quick, science-backed tools to help calm your nervous system in under 60 seconds—even during your busiest days.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset    💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough   Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck, overwhelmed, or living in survival mode, and walk away with a clear, personalized next step.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

  5. Aug 3

    Why Your Body Is Always Waiting for the Next Bad Thing (Even When Life Is Good)

    Why Your Body Is Always Waiting for the Next Bad Thing (Even When Life Is Good)   Do you ever feel like you can't fully relax, even when everything is finally going well?   Maybe you're always waiting for the other shoe to drop, scanning for problems, or feeling like you need to stay productive just in case something goes wrong.   In this episode, Elyssa breaks down why your nervous system may still be living in the past, even when your current life is safe. You'll learn how childhood experiences can train your brain to stay on high alert, and why learning to feel calm is one of the most important skills for healing, productivity, and long-term health.   If you've ever struggled to slow down, enjoy your success, or simply feel at peace, this conversation will help you understand why and give you a practical exercise to begin retraining your nervous system.   ✅ What You'll Learn   ✔️ Why your body keeps expecting something bad to happen ✔️ How childhood experiences create chronic hypervigilance ✔️ The connection between nervous system regulation and physical healing ✔️ Why high achievers often struggle to truly rest ✔️ How survival mode impacts focus, health, and decision-making ✔️ The difference between your executive brain and survival brain ✔️ How the 5-4-3-2-1 Right Now Reset helps your body feel safe ✔️ Why feeling calm actually makes you more productive, not less ✔️ A simple daily practice to build lasting nervous system safety   🕒 Episode Chapters   00:00 – Why your body keeps waiting for the next bad thing 00:55 – How childhood teaches your nervous system to stay alert 01:50 – Why high achievers struggle to relax 02:45 – The hidden cost of chronic survival mode 03:40 – How stress impacts healing and physical health 04:35 – Understanding your executive brain versus your survival brain 05:30 – Why your nervous system resists slowing down 06:25 – Elyssa's ankle injury and the importance of feeling safe to heal 07:20 – Teaching your body that calm is productive 08:15 – Introducing the Right Now Reset exercise 09:10 – Using your five senses to create safety 10:05 – How the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise interrupts survival mode 11:00 – Expanding your awareness instead of scanning for danger 11:50 – Building a nervous system that trusts the present moment 12:35 – Why internal calm leads to better performance and focus   💬 Free Resource for Women   ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk   Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds, even in the middle of the workday.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset    💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough   Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck and overwhelmed, and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

  6. Jul 27

    7 Surprising Signs Your Nervous System Is Dysregulated (That Most High Achievers Miss)

    7 Surprising Signs Your Nervous System Is Dysregulated (That Most High Achievers Miss)   What if your nervous system has been stuck in survival mode for years... and you don't even realize it?   Many high achievers assume that if they're productive, successful, and checking all the boxes, they must be doing okay. But nervous system dysregulation isn't always obvious. Sometimes it hides behind perfectionism, overthinking, and constant productivity.   In this episode, Elyssa breaks down seven surprising signs that your nervous system may be dysregulated, even if you're performing at a high level. You'll learn how survival patterns can quietly shape your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and how to recognize the signs before they lead to burnout.   ✅ What You'll Learn   ✔️ The seven surprising signs of nervous system dysregulation ✔️ Why high achievers often stay in survival mode without realizing it ✔️ How perfectionism, overthinking, and procrastination become coping strategies ✔️ The connection between childhood experiences and adult stress patterns ✔️ Why emotional numbness and irritability are signs of nervous system overload ✔️ How difficulty relaxing keeps your body stuck in fight-or-flight ✔️ Why looking "high functioning" doesn't always mean you're okay ✔️ A simple self-assessment to understand your current level of dysregulation ✔️ Practical first steps to begin regulating your nervous system   🕒 Episode Chapters   00:00 – Could your nervous system be dysregulated without you knowing? 00:55 – Why high achievers often miss the signs of survival mode 01:55 – Sign #1: Perfectionism and impossible standards 03:15 – Sign #2: Overthinking every decision 04:55 – Sign #3: Procrastination and survival mode 06:45 – Sign #4: Increased irritability and a shorter fuse 08:30 – Sign #5: Emotional numbness and shutting feelings down 10:15 – Sign #6: Why you can't truly relax 11:45 – Sign #7: Looking high functioning while struggling internally 13:20 – The nervous system self-assessment exercise 15:15 – Rating your symptoms and what your score means 16:40 – Why gentleness is the first step toward healing 17:45 – Simple nervous system practices to start feeling better today   💬 Free Resource for Women   ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk   Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds, even in the middle of the workday.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset    💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough   Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck and overwhelmed, and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

  7. Jul 20

    Why You Procrastinate on the Things That Matter Most (And What Your Nervous System Is Trying to Tell You)

    Why You Procrastinate on the Things That Matter Most (And What Your Nervous System Is Trying to Tell You)   If you've ever known exactly what you need to do, but still couldn't make yourself start, you're not lazy, unmotivated, or broken.   In fact, procrastination is often a form of communication from your nervous system. It's a protector part that's trying to keep you safe from something that feels risky, overwhelming, or emotionally uncomfortable.   In this episode, Elyssa breaks down why high achievers procrastinate, what procrastination is actually trying to protect you from, and how to stop fighting yourself so you can finally move forward with more ease and less shame.   ✅ What You'll Learn   ✔️ Why procrastination is a nervous system response, not a character flaw ✔️ How shame keeps the procrastination cycle alive ✔️ Why high achievers often wait until the last minute to start ✔️ The connection between procrastination, perfectionism, and overthinking ✔️ Why working under pressure isn't actually your best work ✔️ How fear of success, failure, or judgment can create resistance ✔️ The hidden role burnout plays in procrastination ✔️ Why all-or-nothing thinking keeps you stuck ✔️ A simple way to break overwhelming projects into manageable steps   🕒 Episode Chapters   00:00 – Why procrastination isn't a flaw 00:55 – The shame cycle that keeps procrastination alive 01:50 – Procrastination as communication from your nervous system 02:45 – Why high achievers are especially vulnerable to it 03:35 – The myth of doing your best work under pressure 04:25 – How survival mode limits your executive functioning 05:20 – What procrastination is actually trying to protect you from 06:15 – When your nervous system is craving a break 07:10 – The problem with all-or-nothing work habits 08:05 – Fear of success, failure, and judgment explained 09:00 – Why childhood pressure can fuel procrastination 09:55 – The hidden overwhelm of micro-decisions 10:50 – Thinking too far ahead instead of focusing on step one 11:45 – How to break projects into tiny, manageable steps 12:40 – Teaching your brain that progress is safe 13:35 – Building momentum without shame or pressure   💬 Free Resource for Women   ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk   Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds, even in the middle of the workday.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset    💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough   Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck and overwhelmed, and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

  8. Jul 13

    Why Your Brain Won't Stop Overthinking (And What It's Trying to Protect You From)

    Why Your Brain Won't Stop Overthinking (And What It's Trying to Protect You From)   Do you ever wish you could just turn your brain off?   Maybe you replay conversations, overanalyze decisions, or wake up at 3 a.m. thinking about everything that could go wrong. If so, you're not broken, and you're not bad at making decisions.   In this episode, Elyssa breaks down why overthinking isn't actually the problem. It's a communication strategy from your nervous system that's trying to keep you safe. Once you understand what your brain is trying to protect you from, you can stop fighting the spiral and start interrupting it.   If you're tired of living in your head and want practical tools to quiet the mental noise, this conversation will help you understand what's really happening and how to move forward with more clarity and confidence.   ✅ What You'll Learn   ✔️ Why overthinking is a nervous system response, not a personality flaw ✔️ How overthinking develops as a survival strategy in childhood ✔️ The connection between over-planning and feeling safe ✔️ Why your brain constantly prepares for worst-case scenarios ✔️ How fear of rejection, abandonment, and disappointment fuel overthinking ✔️ The earliest sign that overthinking became part of your coping strategy ✔️ A simple "What Then?" exercise to stop spiraling thoughts ✔️ Why self-compassion is essential for nervous system healing ✔️ How the 3S Framework helps interrupt overthinking in real time   🕒 Episode Chapters   00:00 – Why overthinking isn't actually the problem 00:50 – What overthinking is trying to accomplish 01:40 – How overthinking started as a survival strategy 02:35 – The exhaustion of constantly preparing for every outcome 03:25 – Why understanding your past reduces self-judgment 04:15 – The childhood roots of overthinking 05:10 – How overthinking becomes your version of safety 06:00 – The connection between self-compassion and nervous system regulation 06:50 – Introducing the "What Then?" exercise 07:45 – Real-life example: fear before speaking engagements 08:35 – Identifying what your brain is actually afraid of 09:25 – Rejection, abandonment, and disappointment explained 10:15 – How to reassure your nervous system with evidence 11:05 – Pattern interrupts that stop the spiral 11:55 – Using the 3S Framework to feel safe and grounded 12:35 – Teaching your nervous system that you'll be okay   💬 Free Resource for Women   ✨ 5 Nervous System Hacks You Can Do at Your Desk   Quick, science-backed tools to calm your body in under 60 seconds, even in the middle of the workday.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/reset    💖 For Women Ready for Their Next Breakthrough   Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks Focus Call to uncover what's keeping you stuck and overwhelmed, and get a clear, gentle plan for your next step.   👉 https://elyssasmith.com/focus

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About

You know you are meant for more, but you keep getting stuck in the same frustrating cycle! I see you. I’ve been there. And I’ve got you! I’m Elyssa Smith, a trauma-informed executive coach and the host of Unlock Your Blocks Podcast. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by triggers, stuck in survival-mode, and cycles of self-sabotage. The great news is that you can overcome all of this! I know firsthand how to follow the roadmap to freedom. You can rewire your survival brain, heal the trauma holding you back, and unlock the next level of success and confidence! On Unlock Your Blocks, I’ll teach you the exact tools and strategies to break free from self-doubt, regulate emotions, and finally be able to follow through with your biggest goals! Subscribe now! Let’s get you the right keys to unlock your blocks and create the life you were made for!

Information

  • Creator
    Elyssa Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa