Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Healing + Human Potential
Host: Alyssa Nobriga
Episode: Why The Fear Of Being Seen Is Blocking Your Potential
Date: October 31, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special edition of Healing + Human Potential, Alyssa Nobriga delivers a transformative session recorded live during her “Self Doubt to Sold Out” challenge. The focus: tackling the fear of being seen, moving from playing small to standing in your full power, and dissolving the inner blocks holding you back from authentic visibility. Alyssa brings together themes from psychology, spirituality, and somatic coaching to offer practical processes and mindset shifts for listeners to overcome comparison, procrastination, inner criticism, and judgment. The session includes an in-depth, live coaching demonstration, community exercises, and actionable practices to help listeners feel safe stepping into their potential.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Visibility & Fear of Being Seen

[00:00–09:00]

• Alyssa introduces the core theme: letting go of fear of judgment and stepping into authentic self-expression.
• The desire to be seen is natural and innocent—judging it only distances you from your own needs.
  • Quote: “When you start judging that part of you that's looking to be seen, you’re missing the experience—you’re further moving away from giving yourself the nourishment that you really are desiring.” (07:25)
• External validation is normal, especially rooted in childhood needs for attachment—but the deeper goal is learning to see and accept yourself.
• The root of pain isn’t others’ opinions; it’s when their judgments match your own insecurities.
  • Quote: “It’s not other people’s opinions that hurt you, it’s when their opinion matches an insecurity—that’s when it hurts. The power is in you, not the situation or the person.” (12:05)
• Authentic communities and safe relationships help you practice being seen, accelerating personal growth.

2. Four Patterns Blocking Authentic Expression

[17:00–41:00]
Alyssa outlines four core safety strategies or patterns that keep people playing small:

A. Playing Small

• Perceived as a strategy for safety, but in reality creates discomfort and unfulfillment.
• Fear is projected onto the unknown; questioning the real “safety” of playing small is crucial.
  • Quote: “Does playing small actually keep you safe... or does it cost you your fulfillment?” (18:04)

B. Procrastination

• Often rooted in “I’m not ready yet;” used to avoid uncomfortable feelings like failure or unworthiness.
• Procrastination can also be a rebellion against internalized “shoulds.”
  • Quote: “Ready isn’t a feeling—it’s a decision.” (24:20)
• Rather than willpowering through, learn to get curious about the wisdom inside procrastination.

C. Comparison

• Tends to arise as an unconscious attempt to motivate, but ultimately highlights a belief that you can’t have what others have.
• Reframe comparison: see what is being mirrored back as something you desire for yourself too.

D. Inner Criticism & Judgment

• Judging patterns locks them in place—compassion is the “medicine” that’s actually productive.
• Explore how the critic is trying to help (often aims for improvement, though ineffectually).
  • Quote: “If you’re judging your inner critic, your critic is judging your critic—it’s just another layer of criticism.” (27:40)
• Approach: Move above the level of judgment with self-compassion and curiosity.

3. Understanding & Transforming Safety Strategies

[41:00–43:00]

• All these patterns are attempts to avoid deeper feelings (e.g., unworthiness, rejection).
• Key practice: “Insourcing” safety, i.e., thanking the strategy for trying to help, then bringing acceptance to the vulnerable feeling underneath.
  • Quote: “You bring safety to the part of you that’s scared—not by using the old strategy, but by going direct.” (43:25)
• Alyssa guides a somatic experiment: listeners identify a holding pattern, acknowledge it, and breathe safety into the underlying feeling.

4. Live Coaching Demonstration

[28:45–41:22]

• Alyssa coaches a community member (B) through the fear of being seen:
  • B expresses feeling “small and not safe,” particularly in the throat and chest.
  • Guided through somatic inquiry, B is encouraged to welcome rather than resist the feelings.
  • As B brings compassion and acceptance to the vulnerability, the tension shifts and lightens.
  • Quote (Alyssa): “To feel the safety you seek is less about managing how others see you and more about how you’re with this energy in your own body. That’s your power. That’s the paradox of transformation.” (36:51)
• The demo illustrates how quickly inner freedom can be reclaimed by welcoming rather than fighting inner experience.

5. Practicing Positive Projections & Owning Your Qualities

[42:26–43:42]

• Alyssa invites listeners to name people they admire and identify what quality in them resonates.
• Tip: Find three grounded examples of how you already embody that admired quality in your own life.
• This “owning your greatness” transforms comparison into empowerment.
  • Quote: “Anything you see in them is also in you… this is the power of life as a mirror.” (43:15)

6. Embodying Your Vision & Somatic Integration

[43:42–46:00]

• A high-vibe visualization: Listeners are guided to embody the fulfillment of their vision—feeling in their body what it’s like to live their heart’s desires, radiate joy, and express openly.
• Encouragement to move and dance, using the body as a tool for liberation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On seeking to be seen:
  “Remember when you were a kid and you would have your friend’s parents come over and you’d be like, ‘look what I can do!’ It’s so sweet, so innocent. There’s nothing wrong with it.” (07:10)

• On what hurts about others’ judgments:
  “If someone calls me the worst astronaut in the world, does that hurt? No. But if they say something I already feel insecure about, the salt hits the wound.” (12:05)

• On procrastination:
  “Ready isn’t a feeling—it’s a decision. The ego is never now: ‘I’m too young’ or ‘I’m too old’—it’s just another delay.” (24:20)

• On compassion as productivity:
  “What feels good, does good. Compassion is actually productive.” (27:42)

• On transformation:
  “The thing I’ve been avoiding held the key to what I deeply desire.” (36:51)

• On owning your greatness:
  “Find three grounded examples of how you already have this quality. It’s way more effective than affirmations—you’re training your mind to see your own greatness.” (43:12)

• Coaching demo, participant realization:
  B: “I think I’ve just been hiding... flirting with being visible and then running away and hiding, and then trying it again.” (38:03)
  Alyssa: “If we’re scared to expose certain parts of us, it’s because we haven’t exposed them to ourselves. If we want acceptance in the world, we start with accepting that part of us that’s scared of being rejected.” (38:25)

Important Timestamps

• [00:00] – Introduction, context, and episode focus
• [07:00] – Normalizing the desire to be seen; inner child dynamics
• [12:05] – Distinction between hurtful judgment and self-insecurity
• [18:04] – Examination of “playing small”
• [24:20] – Reframing procrastination and readiness
• [27:40] – Unpacking inner criticism with compassion
• [28:45] – Start of live coaching demo
• [36:51] – The paradox of embracing vulnerability for authentic safety
• [41:00] – Exercises for identifying safety strategies and holding patterns
• [42:26] – The exercise of positive projection (“admiring others”)
• [43:42] – High-vibe visualization and embodiment practice
• [46:00] – Closing encouragement and next steps

Actionable Exercises for Listeners

• Somatic Experiment:
  Identify a pattern or behavior holding you back. Write down what you fear would happen if you stopped the behavior. Acknowledge it, thank it, and breathe acceptance into the underlying vulnerable feeling.

• Positive Projection Integration:
  Identify someone you admire, the quality you admire in them, and three grounded examples of how you already show that quality. Then, take one step to further express it in your life.

• High-Vibe Visualization:
  Close your eyes, imagine your dreams already realized, and let the gratitude, safety, and radiance move through your body; consider moving or dancing to embody your joy and confidence.

Closing Thoughts

Alyssa’s message throughout the session blends compassion, body-based awareness, and practical inquiry, urging listeners to stop judging their fears and patterns and instead welcome and understand them. Freedom doesn’t come from fixing, but from acceptance and presence with every part of ourselves. By feeling safe within, we unlock the ability to be seen authentically, to serve, and to create abundance and fulfillment—personally and professionally.

To go deeper or participate in upcoming sessions, Alyssa directs listeners to apply for her accredited coach certification or access the challenge replays via her website.