Life can feel overwhelming, especially when you're dealing with anxiety, stress, a dysregulated nervous system, or constant overthinking.
But here's the good news: you're not alone, and relief is possible.
I'm Leah Davidson, a nervous system resilience coach and speech-language pathologist, and I'm here to help you navigate life's ups and downs by teaching you practical tools for nervous system regulation.
On this podcast, you'll learn how to manage anxiety, reduce stress, stop overthinking, and support a healthier, more regulated nervous system.
Together, we'll share inspiring stories, practical tips, and compassionate support to build resilience and create a life filled with purpose, joy, and connection.
Ready to befriend your nervous system and reclaim your peace? Let's get started!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Life can feel overwhelming, especially when you're dealing with anxiety, stress, a dysregulated nervous system, or constant overthinking.
But here's the good news: you're not alone, and relief is possible.
I'm Leah Davidson, a nervous system resilience coach and speech-language pathologist, and I'm here to help you navigate life's ups and downs by teaching you practical tools for nervous system regulation.
On this podcast, you'll learn how to manage anxiety, reduce stress, stop overthinking, and support a healthier, more regulated nervous system.
Together, we'll share inspiring stories, practical tips, and compassionate support to build resilience and create a life filled with purpose, joy, and connection.
Ready to befriend your nervous system and reclaim your peace? Let's get started!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What if the most resilient people aren’t the ones who bounce back quickly—but those who allow themselves to break, feel, grieve, and still move forward?
In this heartfelt episode, we explore tragic optimism—a powerful reframe introduced by Viktor Frankl—and how it allows us to hold both pain and hope without bypassing either. You’ll learn how real resilience comes not from fixing or rushing, but from the ability to live with the full truth of what is and keep going anyway.
We’ll explore:
• Why “bouncing back” is a cultural myth
• What tragic optimism really means (and what it’s not)
• The nervous system’s role in resilience and meaning-making
• The 3 Ps of pessimism—and how to unlearn them
• Practical tools to regulate your body, reframe your thoughts, and hold space for grief and growth at once
This is your invitation to stop striving to return to “how things used to be”—and instead, build capacity to bounce forward with wisdom, gentleness, and courage.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Resilient people aren’t the fastest to recover
06:55 – When Breath Becomes Air & the phrase “devastatingly beautiful”
10:14 – What tragic optimism really means (Viktor Frankl)
13:05 – Why it’s not toxic positivity (Brad Stulberg’s take)
15:15 – Introducing learned optimism (Martin Seligman)
17:32 – The 3 Ps of pessimism and how to flip them
20:18 – Why your nervous system must feel safe before optimism is possible
23:12 – You can’t access nuance from a dysregulated state
25:50 – The nervous system’s role in meaning-making
28:36 – Post-traumatic growth: Making meaning, not finding it
31:45 – What it means to hold both pain and hope
33:58 – How to actually practice tragic optimism
36:10 – Step 1: Reframe with “both/and” language
37:15 – Step 2: Befriend your nervous system, not fight it
38:48 – Step 3: Hold space for others with “Tell me more”
40:10 – What resilience really looks like: bouncing forward
41:50 – Why regulating isn’t about avoiding pain—it’s about holding it
43:30 – Final thoughts: You can be devastatingly beautiful too
📝 Get My Resilience Journal
A guided journal for emotional well-being and nervous system care
📌 Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aXvnLQ5iNMBUxzQYYcrgjg.AteqhnbvcWMthzgND7lwUxHbtn59LfW9Y7jqFUK9X-M&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mental%2Bhealth%2BJournal&qid=1751362532&sr=8-1&th=1
📌 Amazon CA: Buy Here:
https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F?th=1
🎓 Join the Nervous System Journaling Club
Doodle, journal, and heal in community:
https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1
Let’s Stay Connected:
Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoaching
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletter
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.