08. A Recovery Year, A Return to Self: Healing, Slowing Down, & Trusting What’s Next

A Recovery Year, A Return to Self: Healing, Slowing Down, & Trusting What’s NextAs the year comes to a close, Elizabeth reflects on 2025 as a recovery year — one marked by nervous system healing, somatic therapy, slowing down, and learning to trust herself again.In this solo New Year’s Eve episode, she shares how stepping away from social media, reconnecting with her body, exploring intuition, and choosing softer systems over force led to unexpected alignment in both life and work. From starting Vitality Vignette, finding an office space that feels deeply supportive, to finally launching The High Functioning Hot Mess Podcast, this year was gritty and gentle — and deeply transformative.Elizabeth also looks ahead to 2026 with grounded optimism, sharing how she’s learning the difference between forcing and healthy expansion, and how she plans to honor her sensitivity while still pushing herself toward growth in her Feel Good Fit Era.This episode is an invitation to reflect, slow down, and enter the new year with trust instead of pressure.Why 2025 became a recovery year for mental health and the nervous systemHow somatic therapy helped rebuild a sense of safetyStepping away from social media and reclaiming creativityReclaiming intuition through workshops with Jesie SteffesLetting go of forcing and embracing aligned momentumWhat it looks like to honor sensitivity and growth going into 2026What has my body been asking me for more of this year?What worked for me this year — even in small or imperfect ways? (Think: habits that stuck, foods that felt grounding, routines that felt supportive.)When do I feel most nourished — physically and emotionally? What meals, rhythms, or environments support that?How does stress show up in my body?What helps my nervous system feel safest and most settled? What am I already doing that I want to protect?If this year were about support instead of pressure, what would change?If we zoom out 6 months from now, what would tell you that these things (actions, habits, routines) are working?✍️ Join the Vitality Vignette newsletter: (weekly reflections on slowing down, intentional living & nourishment) → Join here🎙️ Episode 3 with Jesie Steffes: → Listen here🌿 Seasonal Self & Workshops with Jesie: → Learn more here (Upcoming Body Image Workshops)The Seasonal Self✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider rating, reviewing, or sharing the podcast — it’s one of the best ways to help this space grow gently and intentionally.Here’s to a new year filled with softness, self-trust, and what’s meant for you. 💛Connect with Elizabeth: 💻 https://www.elizabethalicellc.com/ 📸 @elizabethalicerd on Instagram 💌 Subscribe to Vitality Vignette for cozy wellness musingsThis podcast is not medical advice.In This Episode, We Talk About:Journal Prompts Shared in This Episode:Links & Resources: