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Welcome to the third week of October! This month on the podcast, we are continuing our deep dive into celebrating ourselves. If you are anything like me, celebrating probably wasn't something you were encouraged to do growing up. High performance was expected, and staying humble, or deflective, was seen as a virtue to keep from appearing cocky, conceited, or "braggadocious".   In this episode, I unpack the historical, brain-based, social, and political reasons why high-achievers, and Black women in particular, struggle to take ownership of their wins. Drawing on Dr. Joy DeGruy’s work on Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, we look at how minimizing our success started as a protective survival mechanism to avoid standing out or being separated from community.   I also share how I caught myself using these same deferral tactics as a college professor, and why continuing to outsource your recognition keeps your nervous system trapped in hypervigilance and high blood pressure. When you practice celebrating yourself, you reclaim your sovereignty, quiet the physical stress in your body, and embody a contagiously regulated Black joy that sets everyone around you free.   Key TakeawaysHistorical Protective Minimization: Unpacking Dr. Joy DeGruy’s research on how Black parents historically deflected praise to protect their children from harm during enslavement and how that subconscious survival mechanism persists today.The Safety of the Crowd: Why human beings and specific cultures (like post-dictatorship Portugal) instinctively play in the middle of the crowd to avoid standing out as a target.The Danger of Constant Deferral: How giving all the credit to everyone else trains others and your own mind to believe you didn't drive the success, outsourcing your innate power.Somatic Impact of Hypervigilance: How bracing for a fight and refusing to acknowledge your own magic manifests physically as elevated shoulders, stomach aches, and hypertension.Black Joy as Resistance & Freedom: Why occupying space, experiencing unbridled joy (like playing Double Dutch in the street!), and celebrating yourself dismantles white supremacy and anti-Black regulation.  (00:00) - The Importance for the Brain(02:17) - Historical Context of Celebration and Self-Praise(06:51) - The Psychological Impact of Minimizing Achievements(10:52) - The Physical Effects of Not Celebrating Wins(14:15) - Celebration as an Act of Resistance(18:25) - Embracing Joy and Community   Resources MentionedBook / Scholar Mentioned: Dr. Joy DeGruy, author of Post-Traumatic Slave SyndromeCultural History: Portuguese Post-Dictatorship Social DynamicsConnect with Asha:Follow on Instagram: @ashawilkersonesqConnect on Threads: @ashawilkersonesqWork with Asha & Explore Offerings: ashasplacelisbon.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the second week of October! This month, we are talking all about celebrating, but today I want to address something I saw on Threads recently that completely caught my attention. Someone responded to a question about regrets by saying, "I regret healing." I completely understand why healing can feel that way. When we treat healing like a never-ending item on our to-do list, like getting another degree or another promotion, it becomes exhausting. But healing isn't about fixing something that is broken. It is the process of processing reality, coming back to our "zero point" before trauma, and celebrating the revelations that set us free. In this episode, I get vulnerable about a massive revelation I had recently. As a recovering people-pleaser and the daughter of a textbook narcissist, I learned early on to shape-shift, over-give, and manage relationships to keep the peace. Last month, I realized I was repeating that exact childhood pattern in my business in Lisbon, giving away so much that I was becoming resentful. Instead of spiraling, I got excited. Recognizing the pattern gave me the exact opportunity I needed to change it, set real boundaries, and include myself in my vision of justice.  Key TakeawaysRedefining Healing: Healing is not a list of endless tasks or proof that you are broken. It is the practice of integrating reality so old emotional patterns no longer dictate your future.The Natural Healing Cycle & The Zero Point: Trauma moves us away from our baseline "zero point". Healing is the journey back to that original state of love and self-acceptance.Spotting Childhood Patterns in Adulthood: How survival strategies learned in childhood, like over-giving, shape-shifting, and avoiding conflict, secretly show up in romantic relationships, friendships, and even business operations.Including Yourself in Justice: Generosity that requires your own resentment isn't altruism. True balance means putting your needs on the scale alongside everyone else's.Celebrating Revelations: Hard realizations are not failures; they are exciting opportunities to break generational cycles and protect your peace. (00:00) - Celebrating Healing and Self-Reflection(05:06) - Understanding Trauma and Its Impact(09:54) - Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth(14:28) - Business Dynamics and Personal Patterns  Resources MentionedFramework: The Natural Healing Cycle (Trauma ➔ Trigger ➔ Integration ➔ Zero Point)Connect with Asha:Follow on Instagram: @ashawilkersonesqConnect on Threads: @ashawilkersonesqWork with Asha: ashasplacelisbon.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the first week of October! I am so glad you are here. This month on the podcast, we are talking all about celebration, partly because it is my birth month (hello, Libra season!), but also because of something that has been showing up consistently in my recent tarot card readings. Lately, when I hold space for women asking about their relationships, the Justice card keeps coming out. The message is always about doing what is fair and right, but I notice that the person I am reading for rarely includes themselves in their vision of justice. As a recovering people-pleaser, I know this pattern intimately. I naturally balance all sides of a story, but I had to learn that to truly balance the scales, I have to put my own wants, needs, and desires into the equation too. This month, I want you to focus on celebrating you. Not in relation to other people, not only after all your responsibilities are finished, and not just when society validates you. In this episode, I share a simple 7-day daily practice to write down your wins, from cooking dinner for yourself to winning a new client, so you can start collecting data on your own value, building self-trust, and protecting your peace.   Key TakeawaysIncluding Yourself in Justice: Fairness isn't just about how you treat others; true balance requires including your own needs and desires in the equation.The Power of the Micro-Win: Celebrating small daily choices (like eating breakfastUncoupling Worth from Productivity: Your existence is already a gift to the world. You do not have to earn your right to celebrate or prove your value through constant output or self-sacrifice.Harvesting Your Seeds: October marks harvest season, a time to recognize the seeds you've planted over the past months or years before moving into winter rest and hibernation.Celebration as Boundary Protection: Acknowledging your own impact makes it significantly easier to say no to things that drain you and prioritize your peace without guilt.  (00:00) - Celebrating Yourself and the Justice Card(00:30) - Putting Yourself in the Picture of Fairness(01:30) - How to Start a Daily Wins List(02:27) - Small Wins Build Self-Trust and Confidence(02:54) - Recognizing Your Inherent Self-Worth(03:21) - Letting Go of People-Pleasing and Proving Yourself(04:16) - A Simple Daily Self-Celebration Practice(04:46) - How Self-Celebration Can Change Your Relationships(05:13) - Fall, Harvest Season, and Recognizing Your Growth(06:10) - A Seven-Day Self-Worth Challenge(07:08) - How Celebrating Your Wins Helps You Set Boundaries(08:01) - Putting Your Needs First and Protecting Your Peace(08:31) - Your Daily Self-Celebration Practice   Resources MentionedTarot Archetype: The Justice CardConnect with Asha:Follow on Instagram: @ashawilkersonesqConnect on Threads: @ashawilkersonesqWork with Asha & Book a Private Session: ashawilkerson.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this final installment of the Reclaiming Your Personal Power series, I explore how highly empathic people can protect their energetic boundaries without sacrificing their compassion. Reflecting on my transition from legal practice and higher education to running Asha's Place Lisbon, I share real-life examples of how unhealed people-pleasing and old family dynamics can pull us into fixing other people's emotional chaos, and I provide a framework for separating what is yours to hold from what belongs to someone else.   Key Takeaways Empathy vs. Empathic Perception: Empathy allows you to understand and care for someone else's experience, while being an empath means physically absorbing their emotional state. Power lies in learning to separate your energy from theirs.The Pause as Energetic Protection: When confronted with conflict, dissatisfaction, or external reactivity, taking a step back to process gives you space to respond from a grounded place rather than react from defensiveness.Uncoupling Blame from Responsibility: Unresolved childhood dynamics, such as managing an unpredictable parent's emotions, often teach us to absorb misplaced blame. Maturing as an empath means recognizing that another person's dysregulation is not yours to fix.Protecting Business & Personal Energy: Responding to client feedback or misunderstandings from an anxious desire to "fix it right now" surrenders your personal power. Objective distance helps you hold your boundaries while staying clear and kind.  (00:00) - Reclaiming Your Personal Power (00:38) - Customer Service, People-Pleasing & Emotional Burnout (02:17) - Protecting Your Energy as an Introvert (03:30) - Empathy vs. Being an Empath (05:07) - Separating Your Emotions From Other People’s Emotions (07:05) - Childhood Patterns, Emotional Manipulation & Boundaries (11:16) - Handling Client Complaints Without Losing Your Power (14:48) - How Pausing Helps You Respond Instead of React (16:01) - Emotional Regulation, Self-Awareness & Healthy Boundaries (17:15) - Setting Boundaries With Parents and Family (20:10) - Responding to Criticism, Feedback & Difficult Customers (21:15) - A Practice for Healers, People-Pleasers & Adult Children (22:22) - Reclaim Your Energy and Personal Power   Resources Mentioned Asha's Place Lisbon: Studio offerings, workshops, and community circles. Explore the classes HEREThreads: Join the conversation with me @ashawilkersonesq.Love Notes: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for updates on online courses, memberships, and studio events. Sign up HERE. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, I explore how connecting with your spirituality and intuition serves as a primary doorway to reclaiming your personal power. Grounding the esoteric in high school physics, I break down how we are energetic beings who constantly perceive invisible information, why society conditions us to ignore our innate body wisdom, and how honoring your physical data directly increases your personal power and self-trust.   Key Takeaways The Physics of Intuition: Everything is made of energy. Human beings are electrical beings designed to pick up on unseeable data, intuition is simply your body processing real information before your brain applies logic.Body Data as Power: Tapping into physical sensations (like a sudden drop in your stomach or an ache in your chest) gives you more information to make aligned choices about your career, business, and relationships.Redefining Spirituality: Spirituality isn’t about external dogma, complex rituals, or moral control. True spirituality is your internal connection with yourself as a valid, trusted energy source.Life Force Within: Practices like yoga and breathwork teach us that life force energy (prana or qi) is already inside us. Listening to your body is a direct connection to universal consciousness.Sovereignty in Action: Making choices based on your body’s intelligence, such as resting in bed while working instead of forcing yourself into a rigid chair, builds self-trust and true autonomy.  (00:00) — Spirituality, intuition, and personal power (00:29) — Why intuition makes sense scientifically (00:58) — Energy, physics, and human awareness (02:22) — Energy perception and energetic shifts (03:49) — Intuition as information (05:36) — The limits of logic vs body wisdom (07:32) — Spirituality as self-connection (09:29) — Spirituality vs control and oppression (10:30) — Breath, prana, qi, and life force energy (11:58) — Reclaiming power through embodied decisions (12:54) — A real-life example: moving to Portugal (14:50) — Rest, intuition, and productive flow (15:50) — Spiritual practice as empowerment   Resources Mentioned Asha's Place Lisbon: Studio offerings, bodywork, and community circles.Threads: Connect and share your reflections with me @ashawilkersonesq.Email List Community (Love Notes): Join my email list for updates on new online offerings, courses, and studio events.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Spurred by a discussion on Threads about creating a life that supports the nervous system rather than constantly forcing it to adapt, I unpack why exhaustion in a capitalist society isn't a personal failure. I explore the historical roots of modern capitalism and explain why you shouldn't expect your nervous system to go quiet in the face of a genuine threat, along with how small, daily micro-acts of rebellion allow you to reclaim your personal power.   Key Takeaways Systemic Design of Burnout: Capitalism is built to keep us busy and depleted so there is no time or energy left to analyze, question, or rebel against the system.Rebellion Over Adaptation: Instead of trying to force your nervous system to adapt to overwhelming environments, true power lies in rebelling, slowing down, setting firm boundaries, and choosing where your energy goes.Listen, Don't Silence: Your nervous system freaks out because it perceives a threat; the goal isn't to silence or force it into compliance, but to listen to its data and move away from the threat.Generational Shifts in Autonomy: Autonomy and the ability to push back look different across generations; honoring how much room you have to rebel allows you to take calculated risks for your peace.Micro-Acts of Power: Reclaiming your power starts with accessible micro-decisions, taking a breath before answering the phone, closing your inbox early, or taking a walk instead of forcing another meeting.    (00:00) – Intro: Black Women, Recovery, and Nervous System Support (01:22) – Reclaiming Personal Power in a Capitalist System (03:16) – Rest Is Resistance and the History of Capitalism (07:07) – Burnout, Recovery, and Living a Life of Ease (08:01) – Small Acts of Rebellion to Reclaim Energy (09:29) – Generational Differences, Career Pressure, and Rebellion (12:46) – Nervous System Regulation and Listening to Your Body (14:42) – How to Start Reclaiming Power Today (16:35) – Closing Thoughts and Listener Call to Action   Resources Mentioned Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia HerseyThreads: Join the conversation with me @ashawilkersonesqLove Notes: Subscribe to my weekly newsletter for updates on online courses, studio events, and community offerings Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I share a vulnerable look into my weekly "money dates" and paying instructors at my Lisbon studio. I open up about how financial conversations re-trigger old somatic memories from my teenage years, and why true personal power isn't about physical labor; it's about doing the internal, somatic work to grow through discomfort.   Key Takeaways The Internal Shift: True growth isn't about working harder or putting in physical labor; it's about your willingness to do the internal, emotional, and somatic work required to reach your next level.Trauma in Business: Unhealed childhood experiences, especially around money, control, and negotiation, will show up in your day-to-day business operations if left unaddressed.Self-Awareness vs. Action: Self-reflection is only the first step; moving from understanding into real action requires nervous system regulation and sitting through somatic discomfort.Power in the Choice: Deciding if you are willing to work through the stickiness of a goal reclaims your power. If you decide you aren't willing to do the work for a specific dream, letting it go is an equally empowered choice.  (00:00) — Self-Empowerment: The Work Behind Personal Growth (01:47) — Self-Sabotage, Healing & Building Self-Trust (03:39) — Money Trauma, Entrepreneurship & Nervous System Regulation (08:07) — Overcoming Financial Anxiety as a Business Owner (12:05) — Working Through Discomfort to Grow Your Business (13:13) — Personal Power: Making Empowered Decisions (16:05) — How to Stop Feeling Stuck and Reclaim Your Power (17:42) — Healing Community, Online Offerings & Staying Connected   Resources Mentioned Asha's Place Lisbon: Studio offerings, workshops, and weekly classes.Threads: Connect and share your reflections with me @ashawilkersonesq.Email List Community: Join my email list for updates on new online offerings, memberships, and courses. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if reconnecting to yourself doesn't have to happen alone? As we wrap up our August series on reconnection, Asha talks about two powerful ways we can come home to ourselves: community and ancestry. Community can become a mirror, a place where parts of you that you've questioned or hidden are reflected back to you. When you're around people who share your values, interests, experiences, or ways of seeing the world, you may finally feel safe enough to put some of your armor down. And then there's ancestry. You don't have to know every name in your family tree. You don't need a perfect lineage. You don't even have to feel connected to your immediate family. Asha shares how connecting with the benevolent parts of her ancestry helped her realize something profound. This episode is an invitation to consider what happens when you stop trying to prove yourself and begin connecting with the people, places, and energies that remind you who you already are.  In this episode, Asha explores:Why community can act as a mirrorHow finding aligned community can help your nervous system settleThe role of co-regulation in feeling safe enough to restWhy you are allowed to create new communities as your life changesWhat to do when your family or immediate lineage doesn't feel safe or healthyWhy you don't need to know your ancestors' names to connect with ancestral energyHow to intentionally connect with the benevolent and supportive parts of your lineageAsha's experience connecting with her ancestral lineagesThe message she received: “We’ve been waiting for you.”How ancestral connection helped Asha release the pressure to prove herselfThe difference between carrying your lineage and being loyal to energy that makes you smallWhy you can let the BS goWays to begin reconnecting with community and ancestry in your own life  (00:00) - Reconnecting Through Community and Ancestry (03:17) - How to Build a Supportive Community (05:41) - Community, Safety, and Nervous System Regulation (08:25) - How to Connect With Your Ancestors Through Intention (12:20) - Ancestral Freedom, Healing, and Personal Power (13:26) - Living in Alignment and Releasing the Need to Prove Yourself (17:42) - Choosing a Healthy Ancestral Connection (19:01) - Practical Ways to Connect With Community and Ancestry   Resources & Ways to ConnectAsha mentions several resources and experiences during this episode: Meet Your Ancestral Guide Meditation - a guided practice to help you begin connecting with your ancestral energy.Meet Your Four Ancestral Lineages - a one-on-one guided meditation with Asha exploring the maternal and paternal lines on both sides.Ancestral Tarot Reading - an intuitive reading focused on the energies, gifts, messages, and wishes present within your ancestral lineage.  Connect with Asha: Threads: @ashawilkersonesqInstagram: @ashawilkersonesqWeekly Love Notes Newsletter: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/659871/112719372217222301/share Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the third week of our short series on reconnection. In our first week, we explored practical exercises to ground yourself, and last week, we talked about how reconnecting to your wants, needs, and desires is really an act of reclaiming your power. This week, I’m talking about how reconnecting to your body and your truth is an act of rebellion, particularly for those of us who come from the African diaspora, live in Black or brown bodies, or function as worker bees in a capitalist system. Historically, systems of capitalism and colonialism were designed to separate us from our bodies, turn us into labor, and make us operate as machines. When you pause, listen to your physical data, and choose what actually honors your spirit instead of sacrificing yourself to keep the peace, you break that cycle. Reclaiming your sovereignty doesn't require a grand, loud protest. It happens in the quiet, daily moments where you allow yourself to be fully human. (00:00) - Reconnecting to Yourself: Why It Matters (01:07) - How Capitalism, Racism, and Colonialism Disconnect Us From Our Bodies (02:10) - Reconnecting With Your Body as an Act of Rebellion (03:12) - How Rest Helps You Reclaim Autonomy and Personal Power (04:15) - You Don’t Have to Earn Rest: Small Ways to Listen to Your Body (05:36) - Reclaiming Your Desires, Needs, and Boundaries (06:18) - Honoring Your Ancestors Through Rest and Self-Connection (06:56) - Why Capitalism Doesn’t Create Equal Autonomy (07:35) - Do You Need to Quit Your Job to Reclaim Your Life? (08:11) - Small Acts of Rebellion for Black and Brown Bodies (09:32) - Everyday Boundaries: Saying No, Resting, and Choosing Yourself (10:05) - Being Fully Human Is an Act of Rebellion (10:39) - How to Practice Reconnection This Week Key Takeaways The Historical Disconnect: Systems of capitalism and colonialism were built to disconnect Black and brown people from their bodies and turn human beings into tools for output.Reconnection as Rebellion: Reclaiming your time, resting before you're completely exhausted, and listening to your body's needs counteracts systemic exploitation.The Power of Small Decisions: Rebellion isn't always grand; it shows up when you say no to things you don't want, ask for job accommodations, or simply refuse to eat the office pizza if you're lactose intolerant.Reclaiming Full Humanity: Reconnecting to yourself doesn't take anything away from anyone else; it simply returns you to your inherent sovereignty and power to be fully human. Resources & Links Previous Episodes Mentioned: Ep 60: Reconnect With Yourself: 3 Simple Ways to Come Back to What Feels GoodEpisode 61: Reconnecting as reclaiming your power Connect with Asha: Threads: Connect and share your reflections @ashawilkersonesqInstagram: Follow @ashawilkersonesqJoin the Weekly Love Notes: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/659871/112719372217222301/share Offers & Sanctuary: RESET: Live Group Experience: https://www.ashasplacelisbon.com/resetHELD: 1:1 Lisbon Retreat: https://www.ashasplacelisbon.com/solo-retreatAsha’s Place Lisbon: Studio offerings and bodywork: https://www.ashasplacelisbon.com/experiences Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back to the second week of our conversations around reconnecting. In the wellness and healing spaces, we hear buzzwords like "reconnect," "go deep," or "tap in" tossed around all the time, without always understanding what they actually mean or how they fit into the bigger picture. Last week, we talked about reconnecting through play, nostalgic traditions/foods, and writing a letter from your future self to your present self. This week, I’m diving into why reconnecting to yourself matters so deeply. Reconnecting to yourself gives you the superpower you have been looking for in everything else. When you connect to your intuition, your body, your wants, your needs, and your desires, you start making decisions that align with how you actually want to feel today, tomorrow, and five years from now. (00:00) - Reconnecting and personal power (01:05) - Intuition, needs, and intentional decisions (02:24) - Burnout and giving away power (03:29) - Conscious choices and responsibility (06:25) - Survival mode and disconnection (08:37) - Desires as a decision-making filter (10:33) - Small choices and agency (11:41) - Personal needs and relationships (13:55 - Self-reflection and future desires Key Takeaways Beyond the Buzzwords: Words like "tap in" and "reconnect" often lose their meaning when we don't look at why they matter to our overall well-being. The True Superpower: Connecting to your intuition, body, wants, needs, and desires is the ultimate superpower you’ve been searching for outside yourself. Asking the Right Questions: Taking time to ask yourself What do I want in this moment? What feelings do I want to feel? (powerful, alive, hopeful, loved, adventurous, curious) creates immediate clarity. Future-Aligned Decision Making: When you know how you want to feel, you can start making decisions today that align with where you want to be in one, two, or five years. Resources Mentioned Podcast Platforms: Leave a comment/review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Threads: Connect directly with Asha on Threads at @ashawilkersonesq. Newsletter: Subscribe to Love Notes, Asha's weekly newsletter sharing insights, stories, and opportunities to connect, grow, and heal (link at the bottom of the show notes). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This month, I’m thinking about reconnecting. I’m spending August back in the United States with my family, and being home has me reflecting on all the ways we can reconnect, not just with others but also with ourselves. It’s easy to get caught up in doing everything, meeting expectations, showing up where we’re supposed to be, and building the life we thought we wanted. Then we realize that some of it doesn’t feel good anymore. In this episode, I’m starting with something simple: remembering. I also discuss the link between play, the chakra system, human development, and intuition. I explain how trying out what feels good can help you rebuild trust in yourself. It doesn't have to be big or dramatic; it just has to help you reconnect. (00:00) - How to Reconnect With Yourself (02:29) - Why Childhood Joy Helps You Feel More Grounded (03:46) - How Play Supports Emotional Well-Being (06:24) - Reconnecting With Your Intuition Through Play (10:20) - Comfort Food, Culture, and Feeling at Home (12:00) - Creating Rituals That Help You Reconnect (14:09) - Write a Letter From Your Future Self (16:55) - Three Simple Practices to Reconnect With Yourself Key Takeaways Beware of the Overfunctioning Trap: It’s easy to perform and meet external expectations while privately feeling empty inside.Play as a Somatic Reset: Play brings you back into your body and breaks up the rigid routine of adult responsibilities.Grounding in Roots: Tapping into old traditions or foods creates a bridge back to simpler parts of yourself.Future Self Guidance: Writing a letter from your future self offers perspective, validation, and a gentle connection to the present. Resources Mentioned Weekly Newsletter (Love Notes): Join Asha's email list for weekly reflections, community updates, and upcoming offers.Social Media: Connect with Asha on Threads at @ashawilkersonesq to share your reflections on these exercises. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I used to love a good life hack.  I used to work out more, track my steps, measure my sleep, optimize my schedule, and do the mindset work. I was focused on finding the right strategy to help me reach my goals faster.  But lately, I’ve realized something: trying to hack the process can actually slow it down.  I’m working out less now, and my workouts aren’t as intense. I’m making more room in my schedule. When my smartwatch broke on vacation, I didn't rush to replace it. Instead, I found peace in not constantly measuring my sleep, my steps, or my connection to my phone.  I’m also learning to listen to what my nervous system is really telling me instead of trying to hack my brain or coach myself out of my feelings.  Maybe the fastest way forward isn’t about finding another shortcut.  Maybe it’s about facing what’s actually in front of you.  In this episode, I discuss the power of doing less, why I believe we’re moving away from optimization culture, and what can happen when we stop rushing processes that need time. (00:00) - How “hacks” used to run life (01:27) - Old workout culture: maxing out every day (01:56) - Why fewer workouts are helping more (02:25) - More isn’t always better for the nervous system (04:47) - The power of less in commitments and schedules (05:16) - How the smartwatch became obsessive (06:13) - Realizing she doesn’t miss the smartwatch (07:12) - Listening to the nervous system instead of hacking it (08:06) - Mindset coaching and trying to hack the brain (09:04) - Faster progress by addressing the real need (09:33) - Why shortcuts loop you back around (10:04) - The quickest path is facing obstacles directly (11:00) - The biscuit analogy for sustainable change (11:30) - You can’t rush nervous system healing Key Takeaways More isn’t always better. Sometimes, your nervous system needs you to do less. Creating more space in your schedule can bring you more peace than adding another commitment. Tracking your health isn’t always the same as improving it. Constant mindset work can end up blocking the signals your body is sending you. The shortcut can turn into a long detour when you need to go back to what you skipped. Sustainable change occurs when you work through your process instead of trying to rush it. The time it takes is the time it takes, and you’re not wasting time by giving yourself what you truly need. If you're enjoying the podcast, consider joining my email list where I share all the ways you can connect to community and go deeper with your healing via Love Notes, my weekly newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everyone is talking about nervous system regulation, but what does that actually mean? In this episode, I wanted to take the mystery out of one of the biggest wellness buzzwords and explain it in a way that's practical, not overly scientific, and not something that only therapists or coaches can understand. Your nervous system isn't working against you. It's doing exactly what it was designed to do: keep you safe. The challenge is that your brain doesn't always know the difference between what's dangerous and what's simply unfamiliar. That means the very things you want most: a new career, healthier relationships, starting a business, traveling, resting, even choosing yourself, can feel unsafe simply because they're new. I share why your body responds this way, how your childhood experiences shape your nervous system's capacity, and why pushing through discomfort often isn't the answer. Throughout the episode, I also walk through personal examples from my own life, including struggling with sleep, regulating my nervous system with an episode of Law & Order, navigating the demands of hosting co-working, and completely rethinking how I launch my business so it actually feels peaceful instead of overwhelming. At the heart of it all is one simple practice: Learning how to listen to your body. Because maybe nervous system regulation isn't really about regulating anything at all. Maybe it's simply about paying attention. (00:00) Nervous System Regulation (01:06) How Your Nervous System Keeps You Safe (04:32) Fear of Travel & Feeling Safe (05:52) How to Regulate in the Moment (09:18) What Does Dysregulated Mean? (10:23) Sleep, Stress & Nervous System Recovery (14:20) There’s No “Right” Way to Regulate (17:40) Overwhelm, Capacity & Asking for Support (19:53) Body Listening & Emotional Awareness (20:59) Business Anxiety & Nervous System Capacity (23:07) Authentic Marketing Without Pressure (26:49) Growing Your Capacity Without Burnout In this episode, I discuss: What your nervous system actually isWhy unfamiliar experiences feel dangerousHow childhood experiences shape your safety thresholdThe difference between being dysregulated and simply having emotionsWhy recovery, not perfection, is the sign of a healthy nervous systemPractical questions to ask yourself when anxiety or discomfort shows upWhy "pushing through" isn't always the healthiest responseHow I redesigned my business to work with my nervous system instead of against itWhy listening to your body may be the greatest form of self-trust Resources: Find me on Threads: @ashawilkersonesq If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a review, share it with someone who needs it, or send me a message on Threads.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For a long time, I believed I needed to know exactly how everything would unfold before I could make a big decision. As an attorney, professor, and lifelong planner, I was used to having a roadmap. But when I left my tenured position, my apartment, and the life I had built in California to move to Portugal, I didn't have one. I only knew the next right step. In this episode, I'm sharing why that decision became one of the most important lessons of my life. Recording from Porto before speaking at the Our Rich Journey FIRE Conference, I reflect on what it means to trust yourself before you have all the answers, why nervous system regulation matters more than the perfect plan, and how peace became the foundation for every decision I make. I also share why I'm choosing to sell a property that once represented freedom, and how I realized that what once aligned with my values no longer supported the life I'm building today. If you're standing between the life you've built and the life that's calling you, I hope this conversation reminds you that you don't need to know the entire staircase. You only need enough courage to take the next right step. 00:00 - Embracing Life Transitions 02:35 - The Journey to Portugal and New Beginnings 05:24 - Finding Peace in Financial Independence 08:40 - Aligning Actions with Inner Peace 11:26 - Reevaluating Life Choices for Peace 14:19 - Taking the Next Right Step Key Takeaways • You don't need the entire plan before you begin. • Peace is not something you earn after reaching your goals—it can become the strategy that guides your decisions today. • A regulated nervous system helps you recognize what is truly aligned for you. • Your values may change, and your decisions can change with them. • Every aligned step reveals possibilities you couldn't have seen before. Come home to yourself. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For a long time, I believed that keeping my word meant never changing my mind. But over the years, I realized something important. Sometimes we make decisions with the information we have at the time. Then life changes, or we change. We gather new experiences, new wisdom, and new data, and the decision that once felt aligned may no longer fit. In this episode, I'm sharing why I finally changed the name of this podcast from Because I've Healed to Because I'm Healing, and why that small change represents something much bigger. We talk about people-pleasing, keeping promises, making choices out of obligation rather than alignment, and why giving yourself permission to make a different decision isn't being unreliable. It's honoring who you are now. If you've been holding onto a career, relationship, responsibility, identity, or role simply because you've always done it, this episode is your reminder that you're allowed to choose again. Sometimes healing isn't staying committed to an old decision. Sometimes healing is trusting yourself enough to make a new one. (00:00) - Embracing Change: The Need for Permission (10:00) - The Power of Decision-Making and Self-Permission (18:03) - Redefining Roles and Responsibilities in Life Key Takeaways Healing is an ongoing process, not a destination.You are allowed to make a different decision when you have new information.Keeping your word should never require abandoning yourself.People-pleasing often disguises itself as commitment.Your body can become a trustworthy guide in decision-making.Roles that once served you may eventually become too heavy to carry.Choosing yourself is not selfish; it prevents burnout.Sometimes changing course isn't changing your mind; it's honoring who you've become.Your life today deserves decisions made with today's wisdom, not yesterday's circumstances. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.