Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa

Breaking the Cycle of Stagnation

If you’ve been working so hard for your next breakthrough but it feels like it never comes, your nervous system may be holding the brakes.
In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, trauma-informed life strategist Elyssa Smith unpacks the hidden patterns that keep high-achieving women stuck—especially the “hero daughter” identity. This role, often formed in childhood, teaches you to earn love, safety, and worth through constant productivity and managing others’ needs. The problem? That same programming can make rest, ease, and abundance feel unsafe. Elyssa shares how to spot these deep-rooted patterns, how to gently rewire your nervous system for safety, and why even a 1% upgrade in your daily life can trigger massive change over time. If you’ve been waiting for “the other shoe to drop,” this conversation will show you how to finally put both feet on steady ground.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
Why your next breakthrough may feel “stuck” despite hard work
The hero daughter identity and how it shapes your adult life
How childhood programming impacts procrastination and perfectionism
Why rest and ease can feel unsafe for high achievers
How your nervous system rejects abundance without realizing it
Why survival mode gets triggered even when things are going well
How to create a track record of safety with small daily changes
What a “1% upgrade” is and how it rewires your patterns
How to care for yourself in ways your younger self never saw modeled
🕒 Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Breaking the Cycle of Stagnation 03:09 – The Hero Daughter Identity 05:57 – The Impact of Childhood Programming 08:50 – Navigating Adult Life with Old Programming 11:52 – Creating a Track Record of Safety
🎁 Get a Free Call with Elyssa: Feeling stuck in a loop of hard work without progress? Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks focus call with Elyssa and uncover the nervous system patterns that are keeping you from your next breakthrough. 👉 Book here
📌 Follow Elyssa for More: 📸 Instagram: @elyssacsmith 📘 Facebook Group – The Stressless Lounge

Unlocking Your True Self: The Journey of Mapuana Reed

What if the key to your next breakthrough isn’t doing more—but becoming more of who you really are? In this empowering episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith sits down with Mapuana Reed—photographer turned podcast host and founder of Malama Rituals. Mapuana shares her brave journey of pivoting from a successful career in photography to creating a life that honors her intuition, creativity, and emotional well-being. They explore what it truly means to evolve, the subtle ways self-sabotage creeps in, and how daily rituals can help women reconnect with themselves. If you’re in a season of transition or craving more authenticity, this episode will inspire you to listen in, trust your inner voice, and take gentle steps toward the life you actually want.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
Why becoming your truest self is the real work of growth
How to recognize when it’s time to pivot in your career or life
Subtle forms of self-sabotage and how to move through them
The power of small boundaries to reclaim your time and energy
Why authenticity and embracing your age is deeply empowering
How tuning into your intuition leads to aligned decision-making
The role of daily rituals in cultivating gratitude and inner peace
What it means to leave something you love while still honoring it
How boundaries teach others how to treat you
Ways to create emotional safety through self-care and reflection
🕒 Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Mapuana Reed 01:37 – The Journey of Becoming 04:15 – Recognizing the Need for Change 07:02 – The Concept of Journey on Becoming 10:14 – Overcoming Self-Sabotage 13:43 – Embracing Age and Authenticity 15:39 – Setting Boundaries and Choosing Happiness 19:29 – Listening to Your Intuition 21:10 – Journey of Self-Discovery 22:46 – The Power of Daily Rituals 25:42 – Gratitude in Everyday Life 29:43 – Setting Boundaries for Self-Care 33:58 – Reparenting the Inner Child 36:12 – Finding Balance and Resetting
🎁 Get a Free Call with Elyssa: Ladies—book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks focus call with Elyssa to get to the root of why you're stuck playing small and discover your next steps. You’re just 15 minutes away from the clarity that will set you free! 👉 Book here
📌 Follow Elyssa for More: 📸 Instagram: @elyssacsmith 📘 Facebook Group – The Stressless Lounge
 

Unlocking the Perfectionism Trap

Do you overthink everything, aim for perfection, and still feel like it's never enough? You’re not broken—you’re protecting yourself.
In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, trauma-informed life strategist Elyssa Smith (not Alissa 😅) breaks down the perfectionism-overthinking loop that keeps so many high-achieving women stuck. She unpacks how these patterns often originate from childhood environments where safety and love were linked to performance, people-pleasing, or doing everything just right. Elyssa explains how perfectionism isn’t about high standards—it’s about emotional safety. And more importantly, she shares how to start breaking the cycle with compassion, curiosity, and small, body-based shifts that rewire your nervous system for peace, not panic. If you’ve been trying to "fix" yourself with more discipline and hustle, this episode is your permission slip to do the opposite.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
Why perfectionism and overthinking are often trauma responses
How childhood environments shaped your relationship with achievement
Why overachievers often fall into self-sabotage cycles
The role of emotional safety in making meaningful change
Why high standards aren't the problem—but fear is
How analysis paralysis keeps you stuck in inaction
Simple ways to nurture your nervous system and reduce overwhelm
How to create internal safety to move forward with confidence
The truth about “dysfunctional” families and why it’s not your fault
Practical strategies to rewire old patterns for more freedom and peace
🕒 Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Understanding Perfectionism and Overthinking 07:08 – The Impact of High Standards on Life 12:04 – Strategies for Letting Go and Moving Forward
🎁 Get a Free Call with Elyssa: Feeling stuck in a cycle of self-sabotage, burnout, or overthinking? Book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks focus call with Elyssa and get to the root of what’s keeping you stuck. 👉 Book here
📌 Follow Elyssa for More: 📸 Instagram: @elyssacsmith 📘 Facebook Group – The Stressless Lounge
 

Unlocking Your Clutter: A Trauma-Informed Approach with Valerie Huard

Is your clutter more than just “stuff”? It might be a trauma response.
In this transformative episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith sits down with Valerie Huard, a trauma-informed decluttering expert and creator of the Do Well method. Valerie opens up about her personal journey with clutter and how unhealed trauma shaped her environment—and her stress.
Together, they explore how clutter goes beyond physical objects, touching on emotional overwhelm, mental clutter, and self-sabotaging patterns. Valerie offers powerful, practical tips to help you declutter not just your space, but your mind and nervous system, too.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
How trauma affects your ability to manage clutter
Why emotional and mental clutter must be addressed first
The truth about procrastination and perfectionism in decluttering
How the Do Well method reduces stress before organizing
Why creating emotional safety is the first step to change
How to use gloves to lessen overwhelm when sorting items
The importance of celebrating small wins
How clutter can serve as a hiding place
Transformation stories that show what’s possible when you declutter from the inside out
🕒 Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction to Trauma-Informed Decluttering 02:25 – Valerie's Journey to Trauma-Informed Decluttering 07:55 – Understanding Trauma and Clutter 09:29 – Self-Sabotage and Clutter 12:22 – The Impact of Trauma on Home Management 18:15 – The Do Well Method Explained 22:53 – Creating Sustainable Change 27:47 – Transformation Stories 32:26 – First Steps to Decluttering 33:50 – Practical Tips for Decluttering 36:10 – Favorite Pump-Up Songs and Self-Care
Connect with Valerie: https://up.dowellht.com/7secrets-es
Get a free call with Elyssa:​​Ladies - book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks focus call with Elyssa to get to the root of why you are stuck playing small and help you discover your next steps. You are just 15 minutes from the clarity that will set you free!
Book here: https://elyssasmith.com/focus
📌 Follow Elyssa for More: 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook Group – The Stressless Lounge
 

Unlocking Your Capacity: A Path to Productivity

Ever feel like you're running on empty… even when you're trying your best?
In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, trauma-informed life strategist Elyssa Smith dives deep into the idea of capacity problems—what they are, where they come from, and how they can quietly sabotage your productivity and motivation. Hint: It's not that you're lazy—it's that your nervous system might be maxed out.
Elyssa shares how childhood experiences shape our emotional bandwidth, and introduces her "Three S’s" framework to help you manage overwhelm, make space for peace, and grow gently from the inside out.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
Why capacity issues, not laziness, are often behind burnout
How your nervous system learns what’s “safe” from childhood
The connection between emotional overwhelm and productivity
How to reprogram your mindset for personal and professional growth
Why creating space for yourself is essential
The power of the Three S’s framework for managing stress
Practical ways to engage your five senses to self-soothe
How to take gentle, sustainable steps toward well-being
The importance of surrounding yourself with supportive people
🕒 Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Understanding Capacity Problems 02:59 – The Roots of Productivity Issues 05:38 – Reprogramming Your Mindset 08:33 – Creating Space for Yourself 11:20 – The Three S's for Overwhelm 13:47 – Taking Gentle Steps Forward
 
Get a free call with Elyssa:​​Ladies - book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks focus call with Elyssa to get to the root of why you are stuck playing small and help you discover your next steps. You are just 15 minutes from the clarity that will set you free!
Book here: https://elyssasmith.com/focus
📌 Follow Elyssa for More: 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook Group – The Stressless Lounge
 

Unlocking Your Visibility: A Journey with Munira Zahabi

What’s the real reason you’re still playing small?
In this empowering episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa sits down with Munira Zahabi—better known as the Niche Navigator—to explore how visibility, storytelling, and self-worth are deeply connected in business and life. Munira shares her personal journey of feeling invisible for years before finally stepping into her power as a marketing strategist and author. Her story is a blueprint for anyone who’s ever struggled with imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, or fear of being seen.
Together, Elyssa and Munira unpack what it takes to own your unique value, share your story without shame, and build relationships that actually matter. You’ll walk away with practical steps for identifying your niche, getting visible with confidence, and learning how to rewire the self-sabotaging habits that hold so many women back.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your story matters—this episode will answer that with a resounding yes.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
How to identify and communicate your unique value
The hidden link between self-sabotage and visibility fears
Why most women hesitate to “brag” about their accomplishments—and how to reframe it
How building real relationships is the key to sustainable success
Simple ways to start discovering your niche and voice
How music and self-care can shift your mindset instantly
Why sharing your story can unlock your next opportunity
🕒 Episode Chapters:00:00 – Introduction to Visibility Challenges02:16 – The Importance of Niche and Self-Promotion10:35 – Overcoming Fear and Self-Sabotage17:03 – Transitioning from Corporate to Coaching22:46 – Building Genuine Relationships and Impact24:40 – The Power of Listening and Mentorship26:36 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome29:59 – Recognizing Your Unique Value32:49 – Advice for Women Facing Self-Doubt36:32 – Identifying Your Skills and Talents41:30 – Finding Motivation Through Music42:17 – Self-Care and Perspective Shifts
 
Get a free call with Elyssa:Ladies—book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks focus call with Elyssa to get to the root of why you are stuck playing small and help you discover your next steps. You are just 15 minutes from the clarity that will set you free!👉 Book here: https://elyssasmith.com/focus
📌 Follow Elyssa for More:📸 Instagram📘 Facebook Group – The Stressless Lounge

Unlocking Self-Sabotage: The Key to Your Success

What if your procrastination was trying to protect you?
In this eye-opening episode of Unlock Your Blocks, trauma-informed life strategist Elyssa Smith explores the deep roots of self-sabotage, especially for high achievers and perfectionists. She explains how self-doubt, shaped by early life experiences and trauma, fuels cycles of procrastination, overthinking, and burnout.
Elyssa introduces self-validation as a powerful tool to build true self-confidence—the kind that doesn’t depend on external approval. If you've ever felt stuck in a loop of trying harder but getting nowhere, this conversation offers a path out rooted in compassion, awareness, and healing.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
Why self-sabotage isn’t laziness—it’s a protective pattern
How childhood experiences shape beliefs about worth and safety
Why perfectionism and procrastination often go hand-in-hand
The difference between external validation and self-validation
How to begin rewiring your brain for emotional safety
Why co-regulation and community support matter
How self-trust builds real confidence over time
Practical mindset shifts to break free from self-defeating cycles
🕒 Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Understanding Self-Sabotage and Its Roots 02:51 – The Role of Self-Doubt in High Achievers 05:40 – The Importance of Self-Validation for Confidence 08:21 – Breaking the Cycle of Procrastination and Perfectionism
📌 Keywords: self-sabotage, self-doubt, perfectionism, self-confidence, validation, trauma, mental health, personal development, procrastination, emotional safety
📲 Follow Elyssa for More Support and Growth: 📸 Instagram: @elyssacsmith 👥 Facebook Group: The Stressless Lounge
 

Unlocking the Secrets of Self-Sabotage

What if procrastination, perfectionism, and people-pleasing weren’t personal flaws—but trauma responses?
In this powerful solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, trauma-informed life strategist Elyssa Smith explores the hidden roots of self-sabotage. She breaks down how big T, little t, and what she calls “tiny t” trauma shape our behaviors and belief systems—especially when those emotional needs go unmet in childhood.
If you've ever wondered why you keep getting in your own way, this episode will offer clarity, compassion, and tools for healing. Elyssa helps you uncover what your survival brain is trying to protect you from—and how to reclaim your power with rest, support, and rewired beliefs.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
The difference between big T, little t, and tiny t trauma
How self-sabotage is a protective mechanism of the survival brain
Why childhood programming can lead to adult patterns like procrastination and people-pleasing
What it means to ask: “What feels unsafe about this?”
Why rest is a biological need, not a weakness
How to begin rewiring beliefs that no longer serve you
The role of professional support in healing and growth
Why self-acceptance is a non-negotiable in mental and emotional health
 
Get a free call with Elyssa:​​Ladies - book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks focus call with Elyssa to get to the root of why you are stuck playing small and help you discover your next steps. You are just 15 minutes from the clarity that will set you free!
Book here: https://elyssasmith.com/focus
📌 Follow Elyssa for More:📸 Instagram📘 Facebook Group – The Stressless Lounge
 

Unlocking Healthy Habits: Your Path to Change

Struggling to stick with healthy habits? You’re not broken—your nervous system just needs a new approach.
In this uplifting solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith breaks down what it really takes to create lasting lifestyle changes. From battling perfectionism to finding your deeper “why,” she shares simple, science-backed strategies to help you build habits that actually stick. Whether you’re tired of starting over or just ready to feel better, Elyssa reminds you that progress doesn’t require pressure—it requires compassion.
This episode is packed with encouragement and practical tools for anyone on a path of wellness, self-improvement, or personal growth.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
Why your motivation must be tied to what matters most to you
How to make new habits the path of least resistance
The importance of removing barriers instead of adding pressure
How all-or-nothing thinking sabotages consistency
The role of nervous system regulation in habit formation
How to use play, joy, and ease to support lasting change
Why setbacks are data, not proof of failure
How to rewire your brain for long-term success
Get a free call with Elyssa:​​Ladies - book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks focus call with Elyssa to get to the root of why you are stuck playing small and help you discover your next steps. You are just 15 minutes from the clarity that will set you free!
Book here: https://elyssasmith.com/focus
📌 Follow Elyssa for More:📸 Instagram📘 Facebook Group – The Stressless Lounge
 

Navigating Burnout: A Path to Self-Discovery

Are you burned out—or just out of alignment?
In this empowering solo episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith takes a deep dive into the root causes of burnout for high-achieving women. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about doing too much—it’s about abandoning yourself. Elyssa explores how ignoring your own desires in favor of perfectionism, people-pleasing, or obligation leads to chronic exhaustion and disconnection.
She walks you through how to reconnect with your zone of genius, the importance of intrinsic motivation, and how small shifts can lead to big transformations in both your energy and your life.
✅ What You’ll Learn:
Why burnout often stems from self-abandonment, not just overworking
How to identify the disconnect between action and alignment
What your zone of genius is—and how to find it
Why perfectionism and people-pleasing amplify emotional fatigue
The importance of evaluating what drains vs. excites you
Why saying no is essential for self-preservation
How to reignite motivation through inspiration, not obligation
The power of tiny, joyful actions to build long-term resilience
🕒 Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Understanding Burnout and Self-Abandonment 02:58 – The Zone of Genius: Finding What Lights You Up 05:42 – Overcoming Procrastination and Perfectionism
Get a free call with Elyssa:​​Ladies - book your FREE 15-minute Unlock Your Blocks focus call with Elyssa to get to the root of why you are stuck playing small and help you discover your next steps. You are just 15 minutes from the clarity that will set you free!
Book here: https://elyssasmith.com/focus
📌 Follow Elyssa for More:📸 Instagram📘 Facebook Group – The Stressless Lounge