In this powerful conversation, Natalie Bedard (founder of Lift Oneself podcast) shares her transformative approach to emotional healing through nervous system regulation. After being given just 3-6 months to live 11 years ago and spending 40 days in the hospital without a diagnosis, Natalie discovered the profound power of mindfulness, somatic practices, and facing trauma head-on.

The episode opens with a guided mindful moment that demonstrates how just 2-3 minutes of breathwork can shift your entire nervous system. Natalie explains why we're not "broken" but rather "breaking open" – a continuous process that creates space for resilience and growth.

Key Topics Discussed:

• How to regulate your nervous system in real time
• The difference between broken and breaking open
• Why trauma is a protective mechanism, not an enemy
• Breaking free from spiritual and mindset bypass
• The dangers of high-functioning as an addiction
• How social media and constant connectivity dysregulate our nervous systems
• Finding safety within yourself rather than seeking it externally
• The power of meditation in everyday chaos (even with twin 5-year-olds)
• Processing emotions instead of suppressing or avoiding them
• Using your body's signals as communication

Natalie shares her personal journey through chronic pain, single parenthood, and death – including holding space for her friend's final breath. Her raw honesty about her own ongoing healing process makes this deeply relatable for anyone struggling with trauma, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed by modern life.

Connect with Natalie:Website: liftoneself.comPodcast: Lift Oneself (featuring mindful moments and guided meditations)