
Hosted by Elyssa Smith · EN
You know you are meant for more, but you keep getting stuck in the same frustrating cycle!
I see you.
I’ve been there.
And I’ve got you!
I’m Elyssa Smith, a trauma-informed executive coach and the host of Unlock Your Blocks Podcast. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by triggers, stuck in survival-mode, and cycles of self-sabotage.
The great news is that you can overcome all of this! I know firsthand how to follow the roadmap to freedom. You can rewire your survival brain, heal the trauma holding you back, and unlock the next level of success and confidence!
On Unlock Your Blocks, I’ll teach you the exact tools and strategies to break free from self-doubt, regulate emotions, and finally be able to follow through with your biggest goals!
Subscribe now! Let’s get you the right keys to unlock your blocks and create the life you were made for!

What if fear wasn’t something to fight, but something to befriend? In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa sits down with Priya Patel, a coach and podcast host, to discuss the journey of self-trust, overcoming fear, and stepping into confidence. Priya opens up about her struggles with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the fear of being 'othered', sharing how she has learned to navigate these obstacles with self-awareness and intentional growth. Priya also reflects on the lifestyle shifts that have helped her prioritize solitude, joy, and self-nurturing, as well as the inspiration behind her podcast, I Wish I Knew That Earlier. If you’ve ever held back on your dreams because of fear or self-doubt, this episode is a must-listen! What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why self-awareness is the key to recognizing and addressing fears Why befriending fear leads to more sustainable growth The power of gentle curiosity in overcoming internal blocks How connecting to a bigger vision can push you past self-doubt The importance of taking action, even when afraid How joy, solitude, and self-nurturing play a crucial role in confidence-building 🎧 Chapters & Key Moments: 00:00 – Introduction to Priya Patel and Her Journey 02:57 – The Coaching Era: Helping Others with Big Ideas 05:58 – Facing Challenges: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome 08:57 – The Role of Self-Awareness in Personal Growth 11:50 – Understanding the Fear of Being Othered 15:11 – Befriending Fear: Strategies for Moving Forward 18:10 – Embracing Opportunities: Taking Action Despite Fear 21:27 – Building Self-Trust and Overcoming Fear 24:34 – Nurturing Self-Awareness and Lifestyle Changes 27:28 – The Birth of a Podcast: I Wish I Knew That Earlier 32:51 – Advice for Overcoming Blocks and Embracing Patience 📌 Resources & Links: 🎙️ Check out Priya’s podcast I Wish I Knew That Earlier 💬 Loved this episode? Share it! If this conversation inspired you, send it to a friend who needs to hear it! And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps us continue bringing empowering discussions to you. 📌 Follow Elyssa for More: 🌍 www.elyssasmith.com/focus 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook Group: The Stress Less Lounge

In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith takes a deep dive into the hidden patterns driving self-sabotage for women who grew up as the "good girl," the "helper," or the "responsible one." If you’ve ever felt burned out from constantly putting others first, struggled with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or negative self-talk, this episode is for you. Elyssa explains how childhood roles shape adult behaviors, introduces the concept of the "family mobile," and unveils the hidden force working against your best efforts: the inner rebel. Key Takeaways: The "Good Girl" Identity: If you were the responsible child, always helping and keeping the peace, you likely developed habits that now contribute to burnout, procrastination, and self-doubt. The Family Mobile Effect: Families function like a mobile hanging over a crib—when one person shifts, the whole unit adjusts. As a child, you learned to stay in your role to keep the family balanced, often at the cost of your own needs. How Thought Patterns Form: Your survival brain adapted by instilling beliefs like "I must keep others happy to be safe" and "My needs don’t matter." These subconscious scripts now fuel self-sabotaging behaviors. The Inner Rebel: A hidden part of you that pushes back when you’ve over-given and ignored your own needs for too long. It manifests as revenge bedtime procrastination, doom scrolling, perfectionism, and resistance to structure. Breaking Free: Recognizing these patterns is the first step to reclaiming your time, energy, and identity. Elyssa shares practical ways to start shifting your mindset and stepping into a healthier, more balanced version of yourself. Listen & Subscribe: Tune in to Unlock Your Blocks for more insights on nervous system regulation, mindset shifts, and personal growth. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with anyone who needs to hear it! 📌 Follow Elyssa for More: www.elyssasmith.com/focus Instagram Facebook Group – The Stress Less Lounge

In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa sits down with Trisha Camacho, a seasoned pattern maker and costume designer with over two decades of experience. Trisha shares her journey from working behind the scenes in live entertainment to becoming a successful online teacher and entrepreneur. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, shifting her business during COVID-19, and the importance of self-care. The conversation dives deep into money mindset, limiting beliefs, and the transformative power of inner child work. Plus, Trisha gives an inside look at PatternCon, her exciting new convention dedicated to pattern making and community building. Key Takeaways: Imposter syndrome is a common challenge, but recognizing it is the first step to overcoming it. Redefining success means aligning personal values with business goals. Money mindset plays a crucial role in achieving financial success—identifying limiting beliefs is key. Investing in yourself is one of the most powerful ways to grow personally and professionally. Building a supportive community fosters learning, growth, and lasting impact. 📌 Follow Elyssa for More: 👉 www.elyssasmith.com/focus 👉 Instagram 👉 Facebook Group: The Stress Less Lounge 📌 Connect with Tricia: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/creative.costume.academy/ 👉 https://www.creativecostumeacademy.com

Welcome back to another episode of Unlock Your Blocks with Elyssa Smith! Today, we're diving deep into the world of self-sabotage—what it is, how it manifests in our lives, and most importantly, how to break free from its grip. In This Episode: What is self-sabotage? A breakdown of how procrastination, perfectionism, people-pleasing, imposter syndrome, and negative self-talk are all forms of self-sabotage. How self-sabotage is rooted in survival mode—your nervous system reacts to stress as if you're being chased by a wild animal, making rational thinking and higher-level decision-making difficult. The biological response to stress: why your brain shuts down digestion, immunity, and logical thinking in favor of survival instincts. The impact of chronic stress and how modern-day triggers keep us in a perpetual state of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. How self-sabotaging behaviors act as protective mechanisms developed in childhood to keep us "safe." The key to overcoming self-sabotage: recognizing these behaviors as signals that your brain feels unsafe and responding with self-compassion instead of self-criticism. Real-life client examples of how self-sabotage shows up and practical steps to shift out of survival mode. The importance of working within your window of tolerance to make lasting change without triggering more stress. Key Takeaways: Self-sabotage is a survival response. Your brain is trying to protect you from perceived threats, even if those threats are just work deadlines or social media expectations. Noticing your coping mechanisms is the first step to change. Whether it's doom-scrolling, staying up too late, or avoiding important tasks, awareness is key. Self-compassion is the antidote. When you catch yourself engaging in self-sabotaging behaviors, pause and acknowledge that your brain is feeling unsafe. Change happens within your window of tolerance. Trying to force big changes can trigger more resistance—gentle, incremental shifts are more sustainable. Resources & Next Steps: Take Elyssa’s Self-Sabotage Quiz to identify your biggest blocks: elyssasmith.com/quiz Join the Next Level Membership for expert guidance and community support: elyssasmith.com/membership 📌 Follow Elyssa for More: www.elyssasmith.com/focus https://www.instagram.com/elyssacsmith/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestresslesslounge Thank you for tuning in! If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps more women unlock their blocks and step into their power. See you next time!

In this episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa sits down with marketing strategist and coach Ina Coveney to explore the emotional and strategic challenges of entrepreneurship. From overcoming imposter syndrome to setting boundaries and navigating people-pleasing tendencies, this conversation dives deep into the mindset shifts required for personal and professional growth. Elyssa and Ina discuss how self-awareness plays a crucial role in success, the impact of comparison on self-worth, and how business owners can build confidence—even with a small audience. They also unpack emotional triggers, toxic relationship patterns, and the physical effects of stress, offering actionable insights on self-validation and boundary-setting. Whether you're struggling with self-doubt, feeling stuck in people-pleasing tendencies, or looking to create a thriving business while staying true to yourself, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Key Takeaways ✅ Self-awareness is crucial for success in business. ✅ Imposter syndrome can block progress and self-acceptance. ✅ Vulnerability in business fosters connection and growth. ✅ Mindset shifts accelerate personal and professional growth. ✅ Emotional triggers reveal deeper personal patterns. ✅ Self-validation is a practice that requires multiple strategies. ✅ Seeking support from trusted individuals is a strength, not a weakness. Episode Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to Unlocking Potential 02:14 – The Journey of a Business Coach 04:40 – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 09:59 – Navigating Vulnerability in Business 11:55 – The Challenge of People-Pleasing 18:54 – Setting Boundaries and Self-Awareness 29:25 – Navigating Emotional Arrows 32:46 – Recognizing Toxic Patterns 34:02 – Understanding Panic and Physical Reactions 38:21 – The Journey of Self-Validation 41:38 – Empowering Through Expert Support 48:05 – Building a Business with Confidence 📌 Follow Elyssa for More: 👉 www.elyssasmith.com/focus 👉 Instagram 👉 Facebook Group: The Stress Less Lounge 📌 Connect with Ina Coveney: 👉 https://www.realsuperhumans.com/ 👉 https://www.instagram.com/inacoveney/

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a cycle of procrastination, perfectionism, or people-pleasing? You know what you want to do, but somehow, life keeps getting in the way—and the things that matter most keep getting pushed to the back burner. In this introductory episode of Unlock Your Blocks, Elyssa Smith breaks down the sneaky ways self-sabotage shows up—and why it’s not your fault. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your to-do list, struggled with imposter syndrome, or second-guessed yourself at every turn, this episode is for you. 💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✔️ How the “3 P’s” (Procrastination, Perfectionism, and People-Pleasing) work together to keep you stuck. ✔️ Why high-achieving women, especially “responsible daughters,” are more prone to self-sabotage. ✔️ The truth about negative self-talk and why it’s not just a bad habit—it’s a coping mechanism. ✔️ The first step to recognizing and breaking free from these patterns. ✨ If you’re ready to stop playing small and start unlocking your potential, hit play now! 📌 Follow Elyssa for More: www.elyssasmith.com/focus https://www.instagram.com/elyssacsmith/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/thestresslesslounge