In this episode of Paddle Forward: Navigating Life’s Currents, host Anacani Walters shares a deeply personal moment from motherhood that became a powerful reminder about self-trust, fear, and nervous system regulation.

After feeling pressure to override her instincts when her three-year-old son fell during a hike, Anacani noticed something important: she was apologizing for her nervous system instead of trusting it. By pausing, acknowledging her son’s emotions, and helping him regulate, the moment resolved quickly, and revealed a deeper truth about alignment, intuition, and emotional safety.

This episode isn’t about parenting “right.”

It’s about trusting yourself when judgment is loud, in motherhood, business, relationships, and life.

In this episode, Anacani explores:

1. Why discomfort and fear are data, not dysfunction
2. How regulation works faster than suppression
3. Why aligning with yourself creates safety, for you and for others
4. How acknowledging emotions can shorten stressful moments
5. What happens when you stop overriding your instincts to avoid judgment

She also reflects on insights from Inner Compass work shared by Panda Hershey, which helped her better understand how different people process stress, embarrassment, and connection, especially children who are wired for relational safety.

“Sana sana” is a comforting phrase commonly used in Latin households when a child is hurt. It’s often paired with gentle touch or reassurance and serves as a moment of emotional acknowledgment and care, helping a child feel seen and safe, rather than dismissed.

00:00 – Introduction: Trusting Your Nervous System

00:29 – Welcome to Paddle Forward

01:07 – Parenting, Pressure, and Fear of Judgment

05:05 – Why Acknowledgment Leads to Regulation

07:15 – Three Key Takeaways on Self-Trust

11:23 – Final Reflections on Fear and Alignment

12:29 – Closing Encouragement

1. Your nervous system isn’t wrong — discomfort is communication.
2. Regulation is faster than suppression — what we fear will “make it worse” often shortens the moment.
3. You don’t need to override yourself to be respected — alignment builds safety and trust.

The next time you feel the urge to override your instincts because someone is watching:

Pause.

Ask yourself: “What is my nervous system telling me right now?”

Then respond from that place, not perfectly, just honestly.

If this episode resonated with you, you can help Paddle Forward grow by:

1. ⭐ Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
2. 🔁 Sharing this episode with someone who needs it