The Deliberate Exchange - Navigating Stress, Sobriety & Self-Trust — One Deliberate Step at a Time
Chelsea Powell
56 episodes
12 hours ago
In this episode, I get real about spiritual gaslighting, nervous system fawning, and the moments that test your integrity the most. From being told I was “shaming” others for speaking truth about alcohol culture, to receiving an email that questioned my professionalism under the guise of compassion, to the one painful comment that still stung long after—I share stories that expose how spiritual bypassing, projection, and people-pleasing show up in healing spaces. You’ll learn how to recognize...
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In this episode, I get real about spiritual gaslighting, nervous system fawning, and the moments that test your integrity the most. From being told I was “shaming” others for speaking truth about alcohol culture, to receiving an email that questioned my professionalism under the guise of compassion, to the one painful comment that still stung long after—I share stories that expose how spiritual bypassing, projection, and people-pleasing show up in healing spaces. You’ll learn how to recognize...
In this episode, I get real about spiritual gaslighting, nervous system fawning, and the moments that test your integrity the most. From being told I was “shaming” others for speaking truth about alcohol culture, to receiving an email that questioned my professionalism under the guise of compassion, to the one painful comment that still stung long after—I share stories that expose how spiritual bypassing, projection, and people-pleasing show up in healing spaces. You’ll learn how to recognize...
Ever wondered why you kept drinking, even when part of you knew it was holding you back? In this episode, I talk about the truth behind alcohol and smallness: how drinking can become a subconscious form of protection that keeps women safe, hidden, and disconnected from their full power. I unpack why staying small can feel safer than being seen, what happens in the body when we use alcohol to manage discomfort, and why real healing begins when we learn to expand safely, through nervous ...
Let’s talk about the part of sobriety no one prepares you for: the people part. The awkward silences. The defensiveness. The friends who ghost because your growth makes them look at their own habits. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what really happens to your relationships after you stop drinking or after any big identity shift. From losing friends to outgrowing circles, from lonely Friday nights to rebuilding connection from scratch, I’ll share what it looks like to b...
In a world saturated with coaches, experts, and influencers, how do you actually know which advice is right for you? In this episode, I share a grounded framework for developing discernment and reconnecting to your inner authority — so you can stop outsourcing your power and start trusting your own wisdom. I cover: How nervous system regulation supports clear discernmentWhat “embodiment” really means (and how to spot it in others)The difference between resistance and misalignmentRed flags and...
This short Thanksgiving weekend episode is a heartfelt reminder to slow down and notice the good. I’m sharing how a simple morning gratitude ritual can literally rewire your brain, lift your mood, and build lasting resilience, even when life feels hard. Take a few minutes to breathe, reflect, and come back to what’s working right now. Support my work: buymeacoffee.com/Thedeliberateone Learn more about breathwork and nervous system tools at www.thedeliberateone.com Stress is the doorway...
There are moments when all the tools, the breathwork, the awareness — they just don’t seem to be enough. You’re tired. Reactive. Snapping at people you love. Projecting . And underneath the surface, you can feel something deeper trying to get your attention. In this episode, I share a real story about when I hit that point — too depleted to show up, too aware to numb out. It became a masterclass in what self-leadership actually looks like when you’re in it: messy, emotional, and h...
Do you find yourself filling every hour of the day, always making plans, or reaching for a glass of wine just to avoid the silence? You’re not lazy, broken, or “bad at being alone”—you’re likely caught in a stress response. In this episode, I share how I used to outsource all my needs through busyness, bars, and bottles of wine, because being alone felt unbearable. And I’ll show you what shifted once I learned the truth about my nervous system. We’ll cover: Why busyness can actually be a surv...
Do you ever feel like you’re having the same fight with your partner on repeat? The same arguments about unspoken expectations, the same resentment building when your needs aren’t met? Here’s the truth: it’s not really about them. These fights are repeating assignments—patterns designed to show you where you’ve been outsourcing your needs and validation instead of meeting them within yourself. In this episode, I break down: ✨ What repeating assignments are and why they happen ✨ Ho...
Ever picked up The Power of Now and felt like it was a little too dense to really apply? In this episode, I break down the juiciest lessons from Eckhart Tolle’s classic and show you exactly how to use them in your real life. You’ll learn: How to recognize when your pain-body is running the show (and how to shift back into presence).Why your stress responses keep you stuck in old patterns — and how to start to rework them with the breath.A simple way to stop believing every thought your inner ...
This episode is a vulnerable reflection on one of the lowest chapters of my life—2017 through 2019—when over-giving, over-doing, and self-abandonment left me exhausted, lonely, and numbing with wine. I unpack the limiting beliefs and stress responses that kept me stuck, and share the small but powerful steps that helped me crawl out of the lows: therapy, quitting drinking, movement, journaling, and curiosity. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning under expectations or coping pa...
Feeling the pull for a reset? Fall is the perfect time to pause, release what’s complete, and create space for renewal. In this episode, I share a practical reset framework rooted in nervous system healing, breathwork, and values-based living—so you can refocus and reconnect, whether it’s fall or anytime you need to start fresh. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: → A step-by-step framework to reset your mind, body, and energy → How the nervous system guides your ability to let go ...
Have you ever pretended to be okay just to fit in — whether in the bedroom, at a party, or in your everyday life? In this raw and honest episode, I explore what happens when we stop faking it and start living in truth. I share a personal story about the temptation to “go along to get along,” and the deeper truth of why our nervous system craves belonging. We’ll dive into: Why social rejection lights up the same part of the brain as physical painHow your vagus nerve and social engagement syste...
Before you dive into manifestation workshops or try to “call in” your next level, there’s a deeper truth to understand: your nervous system sets the stage for everything you create. In this episode, I explore why chronic stress and unresolved survival patterns block your ability to manifest with ease, and how the real Universal Laws — beyond the buzzwords — are always shaping your life. You’ll learn how disconnection from your body and unhealed stress cycles can make “feminine flow,” “boss ba...
You’ve talked about it in therapy. You’ve journaled. You’ve forgiven. You’ve reframed. But years later, something tiny happens — and your body reacts like it’s all happening again. That’s an “open loop” — an unfinished survival response your mind might have moved on from, but your body hasn’t. In this episode, I share: What open stress + trauma loops are (and how to spot them)Why breathwork is uniquely powerful for closing themMy own story of finally letting go of a 25-year shame loopCl...
Are you living in alignment with what you say you value — or just hoping it’ll happen someday? In this follow-up to last week’s episode on building a solid foundation, I’m walking you through a practical, eye-opening values alignment exercise that will help you see exactly where your time, money, and energy are going — and whether they truly support the life you say you want. If you’ve ever said health, growth, or connection are important to you... but your daily habits tell a different stor...
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about foundations—not just in the house we built (which literally has 6 inches of concrete in the walls), but in my body, my health, my business, and my life. Because the truth is, for years, I was trying to build something meaningful on top of exhaustion, burnout, and survival mode. I wasn’t nourished. I wasn’t emotionally resourced. And I definitely wasn’t grounded. Everything felt hard because I didn’t have the basics in place. In this episode, I’m walking y...
This conversation would not have been possible without breathwork. Literally. Months ago, in a breathwork journey, I voice journaled about someone I felt was meant to cross my path. I didn’t know who it was, only that “their name starts with A.” Fast forward to an email on behalf of Anthony Abbagnano, founder of Alchemy of Breath… and here we are. Anthony is a pioneering breathwork expert and founder of Alchemy of Breath, the world's top-rated breathwork institute. He has helped thousands tra...
What if your evening glass of wine wasn’t “me time”… but actually your nervous system screaming for help? In this episode, I share the truth that most women don’t want to admit—but deeply feel: Alcohol is often less about enjoyment and more about endurance. Less about pleasure and more about survival. This episode is for the woman who: Is smart, high-functioning, and “has it all together”Drinks to unwind, cope, or turn her mind off at nightFeels emotionally stuck or shut down, even after doi...
You quit drinking. You’re proud of yourself. You’re clear, focused… maybe even riding the pink cloud. But then — something shifts. You feel anxious. Disconnected. Emotionally heavy. And you wonder: Why does life feel harder now that I’m sober? I unpack exactly what’s happening during the lesser-talked-about chapters of sobriety — including the fading of the pink cloud, the rise of the emotional backlog, and the real reason you're not broken… you're finally safe enough to feel. You’ll he...
You’re doing the mindset work. You’re trying to manifest abundance. You know what you want… so why does it still feel so far away? In this episode, we dive deep into why real change—healing, growth, sobriety, nervous system regulation, even calling in abundance—isn’t a quick fix… it’s a long game. You’ll learn: Why your nervous system might be resisting what you say you wantHow urgency, impatience, and “manifestation burnout” are signs of survival modeThe truth about nervous system regulation...
The Deliberate Exchange - Navigating Stress, Sobriety & Self-Trust — One Deliberate Step at a Time
In this episode, I get real about spiritual gaslighting, nervous system fawning, and the moments that test your integrity the most. From being told I was “shaming” others for speaking truth about alcohol culture, to receiving an email that questioned my professionalism under the guise of compassion, to the one painful comment that still stung long after—I share stories that expose how spiritual bypassing, projection, and people-pleasing show up in healing spaces. You’ll learn how to recognize...
