Triggers can feel inconvenient, even overwhelming, but I’ve come to see them as powerful clues pointing toward something deeper we need to notice.

In this episode, I’m sharing how emotional triggers can actually help us grow, especially as women in medicine try to find more grounding, clarity, and sustainable productivity. I’ll walk you through what’s happening in the brain during those reactive moments and offer some ways to pause, get curious, and shift the pattern.

Have you ever found yourself overcommitting or people-pleasing just to feel seen? Are there situations that reliably throw you off your game? I’ll introduce you to the Catalyst Archetypes, which are tools I use with my clients to better understand their nervous system responses and where their biggest growth edges are.

Self-care isn’t always pretty or convenient. Sometimes it’s the quiet work of paying attention to what’s underneath our habits. What might change if you gave yourself a little more space to feel before reacting? What could productivity look like if it came from a place of alignment rather than pressure?

Let’s explore that together!

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 How Everyday Triggers Reveal Deeper Patterns

01:29 Using Food Cravings to Understand Emotional Reactivity

03:39 What the Limbic System Can Teach Us About Self-Regulation

05:03 The Power of Sitting with Discomfort

11:05 How to Pause Before Reacting and Rewire Your Response

14:30 Catalyst Archetypes: Recognizing Your Default Patterns

15:01 Fervent Flame, Wise Wind, Reflective River, and Resolute Rock Explained

19:58 Turning Triggers into Tools for Grounded Self-Care

21:11 Your Catalyst Question: What Are You Avoiding?

Links

Brainstorm Session: https://drlarasalyer.as.me/discovery 

Catalyst Studio™ Mentorship: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst/#studio

Connect with Lara: 

Website: https://drlarasalyer.com

The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst

Instagram: @drlarasalyer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer

Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer

TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm