Why is it that we can read all the self-help books, listen to every podcast, and try every workshop… but still feel stuck? Therapist and coach Nina DeFrancisco breaks down why knowing something isn’t the same as living it—and what’s missing when we treat healing like another hustle checklist.

We talk about how easy it is to stack meditation, journaling, and exercise on top of our to-do list without actually shifting what’s happening inside. Nina shares simple grounding practices you can use anywhere to come back to the present. She also digs into how the “protective identities” we’ve built—those versions of ourselves we created to stay safe—can quietly block us from real change, no matter how much we think we’ve learned.

The biggest growth doesn’t happen in your head—it happens in how you show up in real life, in your relationships, in those tiny moments when you choose to respond differently. Nina reframes nervous system regulation in such a refreshing way: it’s not about avoiding stress, it’s about building the flexibility to move through it and come back to balance.

If you’ve been feeling stuck on the self-help hamster wheel or craving a gentler, more integrated approach, this episode will feel like a deep breath.

✨ Connect with Nina on Instagram @mindbodynina
or at humansunplugged.com

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