Why you feel lost and left behind..

Trauma can disrupt our life’s path, making goals seem distant and leaving us stuck in survival mode. It’s like being lost in a fog, unsure of the next step forward.

At Survivor School™, we understand how trauma impacts not only your past but also your future. To explore how we can reconnect with our purpose and navigate the path ahead, we spoke with brain-based strategist Sonja Pemberton, MA-OMD. Her work focuses on helping people quiet the mental clutter and rediscover their "Inner Compass."

How Trauma Disrupts Our Inner Guidance System

"Trauma can hijack our sense of direction," Pemberton explains. "It overwhelms the brain with fear-based responses, making it difficult to distinguish between real threats and imagined dangers. This survival state consumes mental energy, leaving little room for goal-setting or envisioning a positive future."

When we're in survival mode, our brains focus on immediate safety rather than long-term goals and desires. Trauma narrows our perspective, creating a cycle of reactive thinking that makes even small decisions feel overwhelming.

Why We Lose Sight of Our Goals

One of the most insidious effects of trauma is how subtly it disconnects us from what matters most. "People often come to me saying, 'I don’t know what I want anymore,'" Pemberton shares.

"That’s because trauma shifts our mental priorities. Our brain becomes fixated on avoiding pain rather than pursuing purpose."

This mental fog can lead to a profound sense of disconnection from ourselves. We might second-guess decisions, avoid new challenges, or struggle to see possibilities beyond our immediate struggles.

Getting Unstuck: Reclaiming Your Sense of Self

We all know the feeling of being stuck—watching others move forward while we feel left behind. It feels like we are working twice as hard but only getting half as far as our peers.

Sonja explained that the root of this problem isn’t a lack of knowing what to do next—it’s losing touch with who we are.

Survivors often struggle with self-doubt, limiting beliefs, and a lack of confidence fueled by past trauma. Thoughts like “Yeah, but...” echo in the mind, creating a cycle of hesitation. Trauma heightens hypervigilance, making it hard to trust ourselves or see new possibilities.

Pemberton explains,

"The reality is, the person we spend the most time with is ourselves, making our inner relationship one of the most powerful influences in our lives."

Activating Your Inner Compass

This is why it's so important for us to reconnect with ourselves after trauma and learn to distinguish between the trauma voice, and our inner compass. We asked Sonja exactly how she does this with her clients, and she gave us a 4 Phase framework:

Phase 1: Explore - Identify the beliefs, habits, and perspectives keeping you stuck. Recognize patterns and uncover what’s ready for change.

Phase 2: Embody - Begin practicing new perspectives and responses. Through guided exercises, these insights become lived experiences.

Phase 3: Empower - Strengthen your ability to act on your truth with confidence, using self-compassion and personal responsibility as your foundation.

Phase 4: Emerge - Step into a life aligned with your authentic self. Reflect on progress and move forward with clarity and purpose.

Sometimes we need a guide to help us find ourselves, so we have asked Sonja to join us for a Survivor School Masterclass where she will guide participants through this practical, step-by-step process designed to help them break free from mental fog and rediscover their true direction.

Register here: https://www.arcigrey.com/innercompass-reg