Why You Cannot Think Your Way Into Calm

Why You Feel Like a Stranger in Your Own Body and The Five-Minute Tool That Calms Rage and Helps You Actually Sleep Have you been waking up lately and feeling a little off? You are getting everything done, but somewhere in there you lost the version of you who felt steady and clear and easy to be around. In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Long, a certified trauma informed breathwork facilitator and certified menopause coaching specialist. We talk about why so much of how you feel comes from your body first, before your thoughts ever get involved. That is a different starting point than most of us were taught when it comes to fixing stress, fog, or feeling stuck. Jessica explains why so many of us breathe in a way that quietly tells our nervous system something is wrong, even when we are just sitting at our desk or scrolling our phone. We also talk about a skill called interoception. That is your ability to feel what is happening inside your own body. So many women lose touch with this skill without ever realizing it, and it is part of why you might feel disconnected from yourself. This conversation is for any woman who has thought, "I just don't feel like myself anymore," and wants to understand why, and what to do about it. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why your body sends safety signals to your brain, not the other way around What the vagus nerve is and why it matters for feeling calm Why shallow chest breathing can signal danger to your nervous system without you noticing What interoception is, and why losing touch with your body can leave you feeling foggy and disconnected A few small ways to build a breathwork habit, even if meditation never stuck for you before How breathwork before bed can help you fall asleep faster How a calmer nervous system gives you more room to pause before a craving takes over Key Takeaway Feeling calm and feeling like yourself again does not start in your head. It starts in your body. When you give your nervous system a clear signal of safety, something as simple as your breath can do this, everything else gets a little easier. That includes the food noise in your head and how often you find yourself thinking about food. You do not need an hour or a perfect routine. You need a few minutes and a little bit of practice. Listen If You've Ever Thought... "I just don't feel like myself anymore." "I know what to do, so why can't I make myself do it?" "I've tried meditation a hundred times and it never sticks." "Why do I want to eat the second I finally sit down at night?" "I'm too in my head to relax."   Learn More About Jessica Long Jessica’s FREE Sleep Breathwork Session  https://your.belongwellness.com/sleep Next-Level You Waitlist: A 3-month breathwork program for the woman who’s done white-knuckling through life  https://www.belongwellness.com/work-with-me Jessica’s website  https://www.belongwellness.com/ Instagram @heyjessicalong  https://www.instagram.com/heyjessicalong Midlife Advice Podcast  https://www.belongwellness.com/podcast   Want More? If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to subscribe to The Confident Body Podcast. Every week we talk about the mental and emotional side of weight loss, the part that diets never cover. We cover things like sustainable weight loss, emotional eating, self-trust around food, and how to break free from diet rules that have never worked long term. Because the goal isn't just to lose the weight. It's to become someone who knows how to keep it off and feel good while doing it. Leave a review if this episode helped you. It only takes thirty seconds and it helps other women find the show.   Get the book my new book LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss Check out my new Substack page! You’ll get bonus articles, inspiration, and wisdom. Plus some extra goodies I’ve got rolled up my sleeve. Check it out at: https://substack.com/@coachlizziemerritt   PS: Ever had that moment when you just WANT it?  Your brain doesn’t care if you’re hungry. It just tastes SO good and you just want it.  If that’s you, then download the guide I JUST WANT IT. IT TASTES SO GOOD at: confidentbody.coach/wantit   Also, check out my first book: You Are A Miracle