What if the hardest season of parenting is not when your kids are little but when they are older?

When your children become teens, young adults, or fully grown, the role you have lived inside for years quietly changes. They do not need you in the same way. The strategies that once worked anticipating, fixing, and smoothing things over can suddenly create tension instead of connection. And no one really prepares you for the nervous system shift this stage requires.

In this episode Leah Davidson explores what it truly means to parent older kids without over-functioning. She breaks down how your nervous system continues to shape connection in this phase, why regulation matters more than advice, and how doing less can actually strengthen your relationship. This episode is especially for midlife parents navigating grief, identity shifts, and the discomfort of letting go without disconnecting or abandoning themselves in the process.

We’ll explore:

• Over-functioning may feel like care, but with older kids it often creates pressure and distance rather than connection
• Regulation does not mean tolerating disrespect, it means responding with clarity instead of reactivity
• Connection with older kids deepens through restraint, not increased effort or control
• Pausing and regulating yourself creates more safety than fixing, advising, or rescuing
• Parenting older kids requires shifting focus from managing them to staying anchored in yourself

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

COMMUNITY

MIDLIFE NERVOUS SYSTEM REWIRE COMMUNITY 👑:

A low pressure, fun community for “Queenagers” to regulate, not fix, their midlife nervous systems.

Join here: https://www.skool.com/midlife-nervous-system-rewire/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1

MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

WEBSITE: wwww.leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel like you’re doing everything “right” as a parent, yet connection still feels harder than it should? You’re showing up, staying patient, trying your best… and something still feels off.

In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah Davidson explores a truth most parenting advice misses: your child experiences your nervous system before they experience your words. Long before kids understand logic or explanations, they feel your tone, pace, breath, and tension. That nervous system state becomes the environment they live inside.

Leah unpacks how well-intentioned parents often slip into over-functioning, why meltdowns register as danger in the body, and how trying harder can actually make things worse. You’ll learn why regulation, not perfection, is what builds resilience and how regulating yourself first creates the safety your child needs to settle and grow.

We’ll explore:

• Why children feel your nervous system before your intentions
• How tension, urgency, and “holding it together” shape your child’s experience
• The difference between regulation and over-functioning
• Why meltdowns trigger your nervous system as danger
• How resilience is built through shared regulation, not fixing feelings
• What repair really looks like after moments of disconnection

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

COMMUNITY

MIDLIFE NERVOUS SYSTEM REWIRE COMMUNITY 👑: A low pressure, fun community for “Queenagers” to regulate, not fix, their midlife nervous systems.

Join here: https://www.skool.com/midlife-nervous-system-rewire/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1

MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

WEBSITE: wwww.leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Midlife is often framed as a crisis, but what if it’s not about everything falling apart? What if it’s about what simply becomes no longer tolerable?

In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah Davidson explores what she calls the “Queenager” season of life, a developmental transition where capacity shifts, nervous system needs change, and old ways of pushing, performing, and people-pleasing start to cost too much. This stage isn’t about becoming more or fixing yourself, but about remembering who you are and learning how to listen to your body with honesty and respect.

Leah weaves together nervous system science, midlife realities, identity shifts, community, and embodiment, offering a compassionate lens for women who feel themselves changing but don’t yet have language for it. If midlife has you questioning your energy, relationships, roles, or expectations, this episode invites you to slow down, release outdated beliefs, and reconnect with your capacity, consent, and self-leadership. She also invites you to come join her community:

The Midlife Nervous System Rewire. https://www.skool.com/midlife-nervous-system-rewire/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1

We’ll explore:

• Midlife isn’t about crisis, it’s about capacity changing
• What once felt tolerable can quietly become too expensive for the nervous system
• The Queenager season is about remembering, not becoming
• Rest is not a reward, it’s an act of self-leadership
• Heaviness is not strength, and hiding is not safety
• Connection and normalization matter more than fixing or optimizing
• Your nervous system is the infrastructure behind every decision you make

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LINKS AND RESOURCES:

COMMUNITY

MIDLIFE NERVOUS SYSTEM REWIRE COMMUNITY 👑: A low pressure, fun community for “Queenagers” to regulate, not fix, their midlife nervous systems.

Join here: https://www.skool.com/midlife-nervous-system-rewire/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1

MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

WEBSITE: wwww.leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why context, capacity, and safety matter more than quick fixes.

We are living in the age of nervous system hacks. Cold plunges, breathing tricks, humming, ice cubes, and viral “regulation” tips are everywhere. And while some of them can absolutely help in the moment, they are often misunderstood and misused.

In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah Davidson breaks down why nervous system hacks are not the problem, but relying on them as a strategy is. Leah explains how and why certain hacks work, the real physiology behind them, and why they can sometimes make people feel worse instead of better. Most importantly, she reframes regulation as something that happens through safety and capacity, not pressure or performance.

If you have ever tried a nervous system tool and thought, “Why isn’t this working for me?”, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a more realistic way to understand what your body actually needs.

We’ll explore:

• Hacks are moment management tools, not nervous system healing
• If a hack does not work, it is information, not failure
• Your nervous system responds to cues of safety, not force or pressure
• Capacity determines whether a tool can land or not
• Simple sensory inputs work because they engage real biology
• Regulation comes from safety first, not after you do things “right”

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

COMMUNITY

NERVOUS SYSTEM JOURNALING CLUB : Doodle, journal and heal in community.

Join here:  https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about

MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the year comes to a close, not everything fits neatly into good or bad. Some years hold both expansion and exhaustion, clarity and confusion, joy and grief, all at the same time.

In this episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah Davidson looks back on a true 50/50 year. One that brought meaningful wins, nervous system lessons, grief, growth, and recalibration. Instead of forcing a positive spin or tying everything up with a bow, Leah walks through what this year actually required of her and how those experiences shaped her capacity, boundaries, relationships, faith, rest, and sense of self.

If your year felt complicated, unfinished, or emotionally layered, this episode offers a grounded and compassionate way to reflect without judgment, urgency, or self abandonment.

We’ll explore:

• Capacity matters more than commitment, even when you love the work
• Keeping the peace for others can cost you your own internal peace
• Stress accumulates quietly and shows up long after it begins
• Alignment conserves more energy than discipline ever could
• Regulation is not the reward for doing things right, it comes first

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

COMMUNITY

NERVOUS SYSTEM JOURNALING CLUB : Doodle, journal and heal in community.

Join here:  https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about

MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The holidays often bring up reactions that feel bigger than the moment. Tension, irritability, overfunctioning, or the urge to withdraw can show up even when nothing is “wrong.”

In this short episode of the Building Resilience Podcast, Leah Davidson explains why emotionally loaded days like the holidays affect the nervous system more than we expect. Your body is not responding to the calendar. It is responding to patterns it has learned over time.

Leah walks through how past experiences, family roles, sensory cues, and relational dynamics quietly shape how your nervous system prepares for these days. You will learn why logic alone does not settle the body, why these reactions are not flaws, and how to gently bring yourself back into the present without forcing cheer or pushing through discomfort.

This episode offers a compassionate reframe for navigating the holidays with more awareness, self trust, and choice, especially if this season feels complicated or tender.

We’ll explore:

• Your nervous system responds to patterns, not events

• Holiday reactions often come from history, not present danger

• Strong emotions and coping behaviours are learned survival strategies

• Awareness without judgment can be regulating on its own

• You do not need to force happiness or override your body

• Small moments of orientation help bring your system back to the present

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

COMMUNITY

NERVOUS SYSTEM JOURNALING CLUB : Doodle, journal and heal in community.

Join here:  https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about

MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you wake up tired, feel overwhelmed by small things or can’t shake tension even after the stressful moment has passed, your body may be stuck in an unfinished stress cycle.

In this episode, Leah explains why leftover stress builds day after day, how it keeps your system activated and the simple daily habits that help your body finally complete the cycle so you can feel clearer, calmer and more resilient.

You’ll learn the real biology behind stress, why mindset alone cannot regulate your nervous system and the practical tools that signal safety to your body, including Leah’s 30 second Safety Sequence.

This is your guide to releasing stored stress and creating more capacity, not by eliminating stress, but by completing it.

We'll explore:

•Why your body stays stressed even when the situation is over

• How leftover stress builds up and leads to overwhelm and burnout

• The difference between stressors and true stress in the nervous system

• Why you cannot regulate effectively when your life is overloaded

• Simple daily practices to complete the stress cycle and restore resilience

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

COMMUNITY

NERVOUS SYSTEM JOURNALING CLUB : Doodle, journal and heal in community.

Join here:  https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about

MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever repeated an affirmation like "I am calm" or "Everything is okay" and felt your body tense up even more? You are not alone. Affirmations sometimes fall flat because your nervous system is not in a state that can receive the message.

This episode helps you understand why affirmations work beautifully on some days and feel completely off on others. It all comes down to your physiological state and the type of safety your nervous system is trying to protect in that moment.

We explore the four forms of inner safety, how your body decides what feels believable, and how to choose affirmations that offer permission instead of pressure. I also introduce the Safe Space Affirmation Cards, designed to support your system with the right kind of language when you need it most.

We’ll explore:

• Why affirmations only land when the body feels safe

• How the nervous system prioritizes safety over positivity

• Why positive phrases can feel threatening during dysregulation

• The four forms of inner safety your body tracks

• How small shifts show that an affirmation is landing

• Why the right affirmation is the one that feels possible right now

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

COMMUNITY

NERVOUS SYSTEM JOURNALING CLUB : Doodle, journal and heal in community.

Join here:  https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about

MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever wonder “Why am I still reacting like this when I know better?”

You’ve read the books. You’ve reframed your thoughts. You’ve practiced gratitude, breathwork, affirmations, all the mindset tools.

Yet the overwhelm, shutdown, anger, people pleasing, or overthinking still show up.

In this episode, Leah shares a truth most of us were never taught:

✨ Your nervous system moves before your mindset does.

Your brain doesn’t ask, “What’s the most empowering thought?” It asks, “Am I safe?” and your body answers that question faster than thought, logic, or intention.

This episode breaks down why mindset alone cannot override biology and why learning about your nervous system is not just helpful, but transformational.

Leah walks you through 10 predictable shifts that happen once you understand how your system actually works from dissolving shame, to making better decisions, to setting boundaries without panic, to finally feeling more like yourself again.

We’ll explore:

• Why your reactions aren’t personal failures but biological protection
• Why affirmations, motivation, and willpower disappear during dysregulation
• Why sensations stop feeling scary once you understand them
• Why relationships feel easier when you can name your internal state
• Why real resilience is not being unshakeable but being recoverable
• Why education is regulation and why you don’t have to fix yourself, just understand yourself

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

COMMUNITY

NERVOUS SYSTEM JOURNALING CLUB : Doodle, journal and heal in community.

Join here:  https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about

MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel like the harder you try to regulate, the more dysregulated you become? You breathe deeper, stretch longer, journal harder… yet your mind still races and your body keeps bracing.

If that sounds familiar, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale.

Today, Leah breaks down why healing is not about working harder. It is about shifting your tone, not stacking more tools. You will learn how the seven protective F patterns keep your system stuck in survival, and the three powerful P antidotes that finally bring your body the cue it has been waiting for: you are safe now.

This is your permission to stop performing healing and start befriending your nervous system instead.

We’ll explore:

• Why doing more regulation practices can actually send your body deeper into threat.
• The seven F survival reflexes your nervous system uses to protect you.
• The three P antidotes permission, pace, and proximity to safety and how to use them gently.
• Why healing happens through tone, rhythm, and relationship.
• How to give your nervous system daily drops of safety instead of pressure.
• How presence and possibility help you move through shutdown without force.

🔗 LINKS AND RESOURCES:

🏡 COMMUNITY

NERVOUS SYSTEM JOURNALING CLUB : Doodle, journal and heal in community.

Join here:  https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about

📚 MENTAL HEALTH STATIONERY - RESILIENT BRILLIANCE PRODUCTS:

1) RESILIENCE JOURNAL: A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care

 Amazon US - https://a.co/d/7DpuyVj

2) MY SAFE SPACE : AFFIRMATION AND JOURNAL PROMPT SET

Amazon US - https://a.co/d/2mANQs4

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/leahdavidsonlifecoaching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.