The Authentic Path with Dr. Vanessa Calderón
Sep 6, 2026 · 21 min · 10 segments
### **The 2-Step Practice That Helps You Stop Being So Hard on Yourself** You know that voice that says you should be handling this better. That you should be able to do it all. That you shouldn’t…
Vanessa CalderonHost
And I want to say that again, because nervous system regulation seems to be a very hot topic, especially over the last couple of years.
And everyone on all social media platforms are talking about how to regulate your nervous system.
And I'm honestly thrilled and really happy that people are talking about it because I do think it's incredibly important and we all need to be doing it.
I also want to make sure that you have really great tools, techniques that are evidence-based to support you when you are working through your own growth because it does require nervous system regulation.
So again, what we're talking about today is a practice of self-compassion that's going to support you in regulating your nervous system.
I'm not talking about self-compassion in the way people talk about the greeting card version, or I'm talking about it through the lens of your actual nervous system.
So I'm talking about it in a way that will actually determine whether you grow through the hard parts of your life, or if you spend years sort of white-knuckling your way around everything that feels hard.
And here's the truth I want to offer you, that when your soul comes into this life, it didn't come here for a life of only sweetness.
And so the roles you've outgrown but keep holding on to, friendships or the marriage that really needs tending to, the versions of yourself that you know you're ready to become but haven't stepped into yet, What's happening is your nervous system may be working overtime right now to keep you exactly where you are.
Because some part of you has quietly decided that staying stuck is safer than change or than growth.
So today we're going to talk about why that happens in the body, not just in the mind, but in the body.
And I'm going to walk you through what I call compassionate redirection, compassionate awareness.
It's a simple two-step practice you can start using today to help your nervous system feel safe enough to let you let go of things that no longer serve you so that you can grow.
And I want to say that again, because nervous system regulation seems to be a very hot topic, especially over the last couple of years.
And everyone on all social media platforms are talking about how to regulate your nervous system.
And I'm honestly thrilled and really happy that people are talking about it because I do think it's incredibly important and we all need to be doing it.
I also want to make sure that you have really great tools, techniques that are evidence-based to support you when you are working through your own growth because it does require nervous system regulation.
So again, what we're talking about today is a practice of self-compassion that's going to support you in regulating your nervous system.
I'm not talking about self-compassion in the way people talk about the greeting card version, or I'm talking about it through the lens of your actual nervous system.
So I'm talking about it in a way that will actually determine whether you grow through the hard parts of your life, or if you spend years sort of white-knuckling your way around everything that feels hard.
And here's the truth I want to offer you, that when your soul comes into this life, it didn't come here for a life of only sweetness.
And so the roles you've outgrown but keep holding on to, friendships or the marriage that really needs tending to, the versions of yourself that you know you're ready to become but haven't stepped into yet, What's happening is your nervous system may be working overtime right now to keep you exactly where you are.
Because some part of you has quietly decided that staying stuck is safer than change or than growth.
So today we're going to talk about why that happens in the body, not just in the mind, but in the body.
And I'm going to walk you through what I call compassionate redirection, compassionate awareness.
It's a simple two-step practice you can start using today to help your nervous system feel safe enough to let you let go of things that no longer serve you so that you can grow.
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