The Real Work with Maggie Sterling

Most nervous system advice is missing something critical — and it kept me stuck for years. If you've tried everything (the breathing exercises, the tapping, the vagus nerve resets, the meditation) and nothing seems to work… you're not broken. You might just be using the wrong tools for where your system actually is. In this episode, I'm breaking down the difference between a dysregulated nervous system and a sensitized nervous system — and why that distinction changes everything about how you heal. Take the quiz to find out if your nervous system is sensitized or dysregulated Join the waitlist for my new program, Soft Regulation for Sensitized Nervous Systems

You're doing all the "right" things — the breathing exercises, the meditation apps, the journaling — and you're still anxious. Still wired. Still can't relax. Here's the thing: some of the habits you think are helping are actually keeping your nervous system stuck in survival mode. In this video, I'm sharing 3 things to stop doing if you actually want to feel calm. These aren't obvious mistakes. They're the subtle patterns that keep you in the loop of trying to fix yourself — which is the exact energy that keeps your nervous system on high alert. If you've tried everything and nothing seems to work, this might be why. Soft Regulation System Waitlist  

You've heard that acceptance is the key to healing. But when you try to "accept" your symptoms, nothing changes. That's because acceptance isn't something you do—it's what happens when you stop doing. In this episode, I'm breaking down what acceptance actually looks like in practice (hint: it's not saying affirmations or trying to feel calm). I'll share why your "fix it" energy is keeping you stuck, what to remove before you add anything new, and how to know if you're actually accepting or just using acceptance as another tool. Hw If you've been asking "but HOW do I accept this?"—this one's for you. Soft Regulation System Waitlist  

I used to have one anxious thought hijack my entire day. Now it passes in about 7 seconds. In this episode, I'm sharing the shift that made this possible—and it's not a breathing technique or a hack. It's understanding the difference between being "anxiety free" and being "free from anxiety." One keeps you stuck. The other is where the suffering actually drops. I'll tell you about a moment I had recently while sick—a scary thought popped up about post-viral symptoms—and what I did differently this time that let it pass in seconds instead of spiraling for hours. If you've been doing all the things and still feel trapped by anxious thoughts, this one's for you. Soft Regulation System Waitlist  

For years, I was doing everything therapy told me to do… and somehow, I was still getting worse. More panic. More symptoms. More fear. More confusion. It didn't make sense. Until it finally did. In this episode, I'm sharing the part of healing that talk therapy never explained — the piece I didn't even know I was missing. If you've been in therapy, doing the work, trying your best… but nothing is changing, this conversation is going to make something click. Soft Regulation System Waitlist