In today's episode, we are diving into why high achievers often feel stuck DESPITE trying various self-help methods like therapy, coaching, journaling, and more.

We go over how healing and growth are not logical processes but are deeply tied to the nervous system's sense of safety. I share the importance of somatic experiencing and creating safety within the body to break free from adaptations like perfectionism and overthinking.

Key topics:

1. What “Trying Everything” Usually Looks Like
2. Why Insight Alone Doesn’t Shift Your Behavior
3. Over-Functioning as a Trauma Adaptation
4. The Illusion of Control as a Safety Strategy
5. Progress Isn’t Linear—It’s Layered

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you get episode updates automatically!

5 STAR RATINGS AND REVIEWS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED & HELP THE PODCAST GROW!

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murph.live/

Book a FREE Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/pmurph/book-a-free-discovery-call?month=2025-04

Welcome back to the podcast! In today's episode, we are diving deep into the journey of how high achievers can find themselves feeling stuck, despite a track record of outward success.

We are unpacking the hidden family dynamics and adaptive survival strategies formed in childhood, such as perfectionism, people-pleasing, and hyper-independence, and how these once-brilliant tactics for connection and safety can eventually hold us back. I share personal stories and client insights, exploring why so many successful people feel the pressure mounting, the cracks forming, and their energy draining, all while struggling to understand why mindset shifts alone don't bring lasting change.

If you've ever wondered why achievement doesn't always bring fulfillment, and what it really takes to move from feeling stuck to truly thriving, you're in exactly the right place.


Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you get episode updates automatically!

5 STAR RATINGS AND REVIEWS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED & HELP THE PODCAST GROW!

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murph.live/

Book a FREE Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/pmurph/book-a-free-discovery-call?month=2025-04

If you only listen to one episode of the podcast... LET IT BE THIS ONE. 

In episode two of 'Successful and Stuck,' We are diving into the intricacies of the nervous system, so we can then learn how to navigate it.  This episode blends personal stories of how dysregulation can show up in life as well the the real science behind how our nervous system works.  

We discuss in detail:

• The polyvagal theory and the essential concepts of autonomic nervous system states: sympathetic (fight or flight), dorsal vagal (shutdown), and the blended freeze state. 
• The importance of recognizing and regulating these states for better mental and physical health. 
• The significance of somatic practices for nervous system regulation, providing listeners with actionable steps and exercises. 

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you get episode updates automatically!

5 STAR ratings + Reviews are ALWAYS appreciated! 

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murph.live/

Book a FREE Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/pmurph/book-a-free-discovery-call?month=2025-04

In this very first episode of the Successful & Stuck podcast, I want to share the heart behind this show and why it exists in the first place.

I open up about my experience growing up with an alcoholic parent and how that shaped the way I moved through the world—from the survival patterns I developed to the identity I built around being the strong, responsible one. I also share how these early experiences eventually led me to the work I do today as a somatic practitioner and trauma-informed business coach.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to keep it all together, to always be the one others depend on, or if you’re someone who looks successful on the outside but struggles with burnout or anxiety underneath—it’s not just you. You're not alone.

In this episode, I talk about:

• My personal story of growing up in a household impacted by alcoholism
• The survival role I stepped into as "the one who holds it all together"
• How trauma can lead to high achievement and chronic over-functioning
• Why hyper-independence, people-pleasing, and perfectionism often trace back to childhood & HOW they show up in our lives as high achievers
• The role of self-awareness in breaking these cycles
• How this healing journey shaped the work I do today

This episode is an invitation to reflect, to feel seen, and to start releasing the belief that your value lies in how much you do or how well you hold it all together. Change is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone.

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you get episode updates automatically!

5 STAR ratings + Reviews are ALWAYS appreciated! 

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murph.live/

Book a FREE Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/pmurph/book-a-free-discovery-call?month=2025-04

Welcome to Successful and Stuck — the podcast for high-achieving leaders and entrepreneurs who look like they have it all together… but feel anything but.

I'm your host Patrick Murphy — a former corporate exec turned trauma-trained business coach and nervous system expert — this show cuts through the noise with unfiltered conversations and powerful tools for those who’ve tried everything and still feel stuck.

As an adult child of an alcoholic and survivor of childhood sexual abuse, my goal with this show is to brings raw honesty, deep expertise, and my lived experience to help you understand how your past might be shaping your present — and how to move through it.

This isn’t another “positive mindset” podcast. It's a space for truth, nervous system healing, and finally understanding why you keep hitting invisible walls despite all your success.

You’ll walk away each week with practical tools to regulate your nervous system, overcome perfectionism, self-doubt, overthinking, and more — so you can lead a bigger, bolder life on your terms.

Your nervous system isn’t in the way. It’s trying to show you the way.

New episodes are out every Tuesday starting April 15th! 

Hit subscribe and let’s walk this path together. You don’t have to stay stuck.

Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/murph.live 

Book a free Consult call: https://calendly.com/pmurph/book-a-free-discovery-call?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf4Jb4-q_5IP57QNOxQ-zyTRjSbxDhmM3Kh4jnfeRfVQr_P_XL5gWTJZpNDMw_aem_E2bWewZFUuGHqrwP-aFZFw&month=2025-04