The Nervous System’s Bias for Negativity and How to Rewire It
Real transformation begins not with willpower but with a felt sense of internal safety. Drawing on Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Experiencing, and Parts Work, Sarah shares tangible tools to help you shift from survival mode to genuine ease. Join Sarah to discover how regulation transforms not only your mindset but your entire lived experience, one safe, grounded moment at a time. Episode Highlights:[00:00] The connection between dysregulation and negativity[02:11] Understanding the six states of the nervous system[04:13] Why the nervous system is hardwired for survival[06:26] Neuroception and your orientation to the world[09:58] Your nervous system shapes your thinking[15:14] Working with your parts to find more ease and inner peace[25:44] Somatic tools to begin orienting toward the positive[35:45] Question 1: Understanding what regulation really means.[44:16] Question 2: Why feedback triggers negative responses.[52:34] Question 3: Healing the scarcity mindset surrounding money.Now Enrolling - Join Sarah’s 10-week Program:Enjoying the podcast and want to go even deeper into somatic healing? Sarah’s 10-week program, You Make Sense, will guide you through tangible tools to address your nervous system, relationships, younger parts, purpose, boundaries, grief, and more! Use code YMSPODCAST100 to claim $100 off for a limited time:https://bit.ly/sp-yms Connect with Sarah on:Email Community - bit.ly/yms-sp-newsletterInstagram — instagram.com/sarahbcoachingWebsite — sarahbaldwincoaching.com Take the FREE Quiz for More Somatic Tools:https://bit.ly/yms-sp-quiz Submit a Questionsarahbaldwin1.typeform.com/podcastQuotes:“All human beings as a whole are negatively inclined creatures.” — Sarah Baldwin [0:04:14]“The more that we heal, the more our systems see that we are safe, and when it sees it is safe, we naturally begin [to] orient more towards the positive.” — Sarah Baldwin [0:09:28]“When you come into partnership, it is very common that the protective parts that we have, we project onto our partner.” — Sarah Baldwin [0:19:37]“Life is hard enough as it is. So, when we have all this unresolved stuff, like every human on the planet, it just makes life hard, and when we are just responding to what is, life is filled with so much more ease.” — Sarah Baldwin [0:51:08]“It is not biological for anything in nature to want to be meek. It wants to be the full expression of itself. Everything wants that.” — Sarah Baldwin [0:56:06]
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Grief as a Pathway to Love, Safety, and New Possibilities
You’ll learn why grief isn’t just about death or heartbreak; it’s woven into every transition we experience. Whether it’s aging, changing relationships, or healing from the pain of our childhood, Sarah offers a compassionate roadmap to help you meet your grief with safety, embodiment, and compassion.Episode Highlights[00:00] What grief really is, and why everything in nature experiences it[02:32] Why humans resist grief more than any other species[06:30] Our culture avoids endings and celebrates beginnings[08:22] The link between safety, surrender, and emotional processing[10:46] How grief shows up in everyday transitions (marriage, growth, aging)[17:30] Why unresolved trauma keeps us stuck in survival[25:25] How protective parts keep us from experiencing grief[31:47] Sarah’s story of losing her dog Jerry, and finding love through grief[34:54] Somatic steps to gently access your grief without overwhelm[37:33] How to titrate, pendulate, and discharge emotion safely[41:51] Question 1 - Grieving estrangement from our family of origin[45:37] Question 2 - How do I stop getting overwhelmed by grief?[50:10] Question 3 - The healing process and finding others on this journeyRSVP for Sarah’s FREE Live Training:Ready to take the next step on your healing journey? Nervous System Starter Kit is a free, 75-minute live training to help you regulate your nervous system, understand your attachment style from a somatic lens, and get into the driver’s seat of your experience.Click below to save your spot (replay available for a limited time):YouTube: https://bit.ly/yt-nsskSpotify/Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/sp-nsskConnect with Sarah on:Email Community (YouTube): bit.ly/yms-yt-newsletterEmail Community (Apple/Spotify): bit.ly/yms-sp-newsletterInstagram — instagram.com/sarahbcoachingWebsite — sarahbaldwincoaching.comFree Quiz:YouTube: https://bit.ly/yms-yt-quizSpotify/Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/yms-sp-quizQuotes:“So much of our suffering isn’t about grief itself, it’s about our resistance to grief.” - Sarah Baldwin [0:01:46]“The bigger the love, the bigger the grief. Great love means great grief.” - Sarah Baldwin [0:32:14]“Grief is aliveness. It is the result of your bravery in living and loving fully.” - Sarah Baldwin [0:34:23]
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Why We Numb: Self-Sabotage, Coping Strategies, and "Bad" Habits
Do you find yourself using things to cope like doom scrolling, eating late at night, or drinking in excess? If so, you’re not alone. This episode unpacks the science behind why we numb and engage in “bad” habits. Whether it’s excessive social media, food, sex, alcohol, or work, these are all intelligent survival responses to unresolved trauma or pain.You’ll learn how to tell the difference between coping strategies and regulating resources, why you can’t just “stop” addictive behaviors, and the steps to begin bringing regulation to your nervous system. Sarah also shares her personal journey of healing from OCD, over-eating, and workaholism, proving that true freedom comes from befriending — not battling — your nervous system and protective parts.Episode Highlights[00:00] The truth about coping strategies, and why we all use them[02:11] The role trauma plays in our need to numb[03:12] Why shame perpetuates the coping cycle[05:27] How society normalizes certain numbing behaviors[09:29] You can’t just “stop” a coping behavior[10:52] Coping strategies from a Parts Work lens[15:54] Why battling your protective parts never works[21:04] How to replace coping with regulating resources[24:48] Question 1 - Why quitting smoking can feel worse before it feels better[30:24] Question 2 - Why does my addiction cause more dysregulation?[43:28] Question 3 - Am I using coffee to regulate or cope?RSVP for Sarah’s FREE Live Training:Ready to take the next step on your healing journey? Nervous System Starter Kit is a free, 75-minute live training to help you regulate your nervous system, understand your attachment style from a somatic lens, and get into the driver’s seat of your experience.Click below to save your spot (replay available for a limited time):YouTube: https://bit.ly/yt-nsskSpotify/Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/sp-nsskConnect with Sarah on:Email Community (YouTube): bit.ly/yms-yt-newsletterEmail Community (Apple/Spotify): bit.ly/yms-sp-newsletterInstagram — instagram.com/sarahbcoachingWebsite — sarahbaldwincoaching.comFree Quiz:YouTube: https://bit.ly/yms-yt-quizSpotify/Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/yms-sp-quizSubmit a Question:sarahbaldwin1.typeform.com/podcastQuotes:“You can’t battle a protector. They will always win because they love your vulnerable part too much to stop.” - Sarah Baldwin [0:14:14]“Forward doesn’t always look like forward in healing. Sometimes it looks like finally facing what’s been waiting to be held.” - Sarah Baldwin [0:29:47]
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Understanding Internal Confusion & Building Self-Trust: Is this Me or a Part of Me?
In this episode, Sarah breaks down the science of Parts Work and how trauma shapes the different “selves” we embody. You’ll learn why these parts develop, how to begin differentiating between the truth of a part and the truth of your adult self, and the steps necessary to finally resolve old wounds. This episode will empower you to find clarity within, build trust with your younger parts, and come home to the authentic you you’ve always been.Episode Highlights:[01:19 ] Why we feel like different versions of ourselves in different settings[03:40] What “Parts Work” means and how parts develop[06:00] How your nervous system reverts to old protective patterns[09:50] The difference between vulnerable and protective parts[11:10] Examples of protectors: achiever, fawner, caretaker, perfectionist[16:35] Somatic exercise: embodying your adult self[20:30] Recognizing truths from adult self vs. your parts[23:40] How romantic relationships trigger childhood parts[26:30] Why protectors often sabotage love and purpose[30:00] The beauty of becoming your own “internal archeologist”[33:30] How to identify your truth and stop oscillating between versions of self[40:00] The importance of marinating in your truth[43:012] Q&A - How can I learn to trust myself and know my truth?[49:157] Q&A - How do I overcoming abuse and self doubt?[55:501] Q&A - How can I know what is the “real me” and what is the traumatized me?[1:00:008] Q&A - How can I create deep and genuine conversations?Join the 3-day Expansion Experience:Ready to step into a bigger life? If you’re feeling stuck in any area of your life, the key to stepping toward your desires is learning how to work with your nervous system (rather than against it). Sarah is going to show you how to do exactly that inside her 3-day live experience for only $37.Click below to join the first call on October 27 (replays available for a limited time):https://bit.ly/yms-sp-eeDownload Sarah’s FREE Workbook:Not sure where to get started with somatic healing? Sarah created a FREE trauma-informed workbook called "How To Gain Control Over How You Feel" to help you step toward a life filled with more freedom, ease, and empowerment.Click the link below to download the workbook: https://bit.ly/yms-sp-workbookConnect with Sarah on:Email Community (YouTube): bit.ly/yms-yt-newsletterEmail Community (Apple/Spotify): bit.ly/yms-sp-newsletterInstagram — instagram.com/sarahbcoachingWebsite — sarahbaldwincoaching.comSubmit a Question:sarahbaldwin1.typeform.com/podcastQuotes:“Anything you think or feel at any given moment is the truth to a part of you, it just might not be the truth to your adult self.” - Sarah Baldwin [0:40:40]“We end up living lives that our protective parts decided are safe for us, not the lives that are actually meant for us.” - Sarah Baldwin [0:47:21]“The life you are here to live is not meant to feel comfortable. It will stretch you, grow you, and invite you into healing.” - Sarah Baldwin [0:48:26]
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The Path to Regulation: How to Find Consistent Presence, Joy, and Aliveness
Your nervous system creates your entire experience. Everything from your thoughts and feelings to your behaviors and perception of self, others, and the world around you are all determined by what’s happening in this self-protective system. In this episode, Sarah will guide you through the fundamentals of nervous system regulation and equip you with tangible somatic tools to help you gain control over your experience.Many traditional models of healing focus only on treating the “symptoms” — like anxiety, depression, stress, fear, burnout, or panic — rather than addressing the root cause. But much of our pain and stuckness is actually a result of unresolved trauma or chronic dysregulation. When you learn how to befriend your nervous system and gently walk it toward safety, it’s possible to feel better, move through the world with more ease, and step toward all that you desire. Episode Highlights:[00:25] Nervous system regulation is the foundation of all healing[02:00] Understanding your Autonomic Nervous System[07:44] What makes regulation so powerful and freeing[10:30] The symptoms of dysregulation[24:28] How we can regulate our nervous systems[29:04] What to expect as you come into regulation[34:35] Question 1: How to resolve anxiety through nervous system regulation[39:37] Question 2: The “expand and contract” experience of healing[42:25] Question 3: Why you might “freeze” or have a startle response[46:33] Question 4: Staying regulated in difficult work environments Take Sarah’s FREE Quiz:Feeling stuck in your life? Not sure where to start with somatic healing? Sarah’s free quiz, “What’s Keeping You Stuck,” will equip you with free tools and a personalized guide to better understand your nervous system specific to you.Click below to get started:https://bit.ly/yms-sp-quiz Build a toolbox for regulation inside Nervous System Essentials:Ready to make tangible shifts in your life? Sarah’s brand new introductory course, Nervous System Essentials, is packed with science-backed tools to help regulate your nervous system, so that you can experience more freedom and ease on a daily basis.Click below to join:bit.ly/sp-nse Connect with Sarah on:Email Community - bit.ly/yms-sp-newsletterInstagram — instagram.com/sarahbcoachingWebsite — sarahbaldwincoaching.com Submit a Question:sarahbaldwin1.typeform.com/podcast
You Make Sense is a manual to understanding your human experience, so that you can navigate the world with freedom, ease, and empowerment. Using the latest neuroscience and trauma research, this podcast will equip you with powerful somatic tools to help you get unstuck and create the life you desire. Sarah Baldwin, SEP, is an expert in trauma resolution, attachment, parts work, and nervous system regulation. But before she was a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and trained in Polyvagal interventions, she first came to this work as someone struggling to find relief. It was through her own healing that led her to become a trained professional, now helping thousands of people across her programs, courses, and classes to do the same.
New Zealand