Your Nervous System Won't Let You Succeed (Until You Do This)

What if the reason your goals keep falling apart has nothing to do with discipline, motivation, or willpower?

In this powerful and practical episode of Midlife Strategies for Badass Women, Sue Willoughby welcomes somatic practitioner and intuitive Liz Potter back to the show to talk about why most New Year’s goals fail and what actually works instead.

Liz breaks down the nervous system science behind resolutions, burnout, and what she calls functional freeze. Together, Sue and Liz explore why setting goals from overwhelm, pressure, or social conditioning almost guarantees self-sabotage and how learning to listen to your body changes everything.

This conversation introduces Liz’s SAFE framework for goal setting, which prioritizes safety, alignment, felt sense, and embodied receiving. It is a radically kinder approach that helps women move forward without forcing, collapsing, or burning out.

If you are a midlife woman who feels stuck, exhausted, or frustrated by goals that never seem to stick, this episode offers relief, clarity, and a grounded way forward.

In this episode, we cover:
Why resolutions fail when they are driven by pressure or culture
The difference between goals and intentions and why language matters
What functional freeze looks like and why so many women live in it
How overwhelm disconnects the brain from the body
Why your nervous system must consent to your goals
Liz’s SAFE framework for sustainable goal setting
Why accountability partners often backfire
When sharing goals can actually drain momentum
How rest, timing, and seasonal energy support real change
Why safety can never be the collateral damage of growth

Resources mentioned:

Liz’s website:
https://theselfresourced.com/

Previous Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Chapters
[00:00:00] Introduction and guest re-introduction
[00:03:12] Resolutions vs intentions; social pressure
[00:06:38] Nervous system consent and steps
[00:12:05] Somatic communication and SAFE framework
[00:22:01] Iterate; avoid functional freeze; rest
[00:38:59] Preparing during the pause; boundaries
[00:52:23] Safety first; cues, wrap-up, promos

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Thanks to my amazing Producer and Editor Jess Grace Garcia (they/them) of Springwood Productions. https://www.springwoodproductions.com/

If you want to start your own podcast feel free to reach out to us. Jess and I would love to help you on your journey to sharing your story and passion.

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🔥 Welcome to Midlife Strategies for Badass Women 🔥

I’m Sue Willoughby—Badass Midlife Strategist, life coach, and your partner in breaking rules, rewriting the script, and thriving unapologetically after 40.

This channel is for women who are DONE playing small. If you’re ready to ditch the “shoulds,” reclaim your power, and live a bold, joyful, purpose-driven life—you’re in the right place.

Each week, you’ll get real talk, raw stories, and badass strategies to help you:
✨ Smash through self-doubt and limitations
✨ Reclaim your confidence and clarity
✨ Build resilience and embrace reinvention
✨ Create a midlife that feels authentic, aligned, and f*cking powerful

This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a movement. A community of women who are tired of waiting and ready to step into their next-level life, unapologetically.

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