Ideally, Nervous System Regulation shouldn't be a desperate action we take for temporary stress relief. When we understand how our organised and predictable Autonomic Nervous System works, regulation becomes a conscious and continuous act of self-love for optimal physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
When we are in a regulated state, our bodies and minds have one thing in common: We lack resistance.
We aren't focusing our creative energy on aversions and attachments, either pushing against what we don't like (like disapproval) or holding on for dear life to what we want (approval). In fact, we almost couldn't care less, but in a welcoming way. It's a delightfully neutral space when we are up close and personal with our intrinsic selves, and basking in the warmth of a self-generated internal furnace of self-acceptance.
This is your body's happy place, its natural home: Ventral Vagal State of Rest/Digest Flow. The circuit of your Vagus Nerve that innervates your face and heart, and communicates "I am safe and I am ready to connect with the world". Here, we are mentally, emotionally, intuitively and physically open to possibilities and expansion. Our physiology is running smoothly. Our breathing rate is between 12 and 22 breaths a minute. Our heart rate is efficient, pumping at about 60 to 100 beats a minute. From our cells to our thoughts we are in balance or homeostasis.
We feel optimistic, turned on by life, we daydream, we rest easily. We connect non-verbally with others, if not through a smile, we certainly do it with our eyes, and the lines that surround them. Our primary desire here is to function from a Higher Consciousness, where we are happy to be seen as we are, and to see others, as they are - and what all of us can be.
This optimal state of being is a potent window of opportunity to fine-tune your Autonomic Nervous System health and Vagal Tone yet we overlook it and wait until we are in the survival states of Fight/Flight, Dorsal Shutdown and Freeze to reach for tools and techniques to feel better. Yet, the more you regulate your autonomic system when you're high, over time you'll lessen the need to regulate for the lows... because your autonomic intelligence will begin to interrupt the cycle of dysregulation on your behalf.
Here are my top 5 reasons why regulating when you're high is one of the best habits you'll ever build (links to exercises and more info are at the end of the blog)
YOU'LL QUESTION THE BS
When in VV calm, we are functioning from the frontal cortex or Wizard Brain and it's where logical reasoning and common sense resides. When you're on a high, you're not going to buy into negative, unwanted and unhelpful unconscious stories eg. "I am the problem", "I can't get it right", "I am stupid." In Ventral Vagal, you're functioning from the cortex/conscious brain, and it is the one that shines a light on the shadows of the unconscious Belief Systems and with logic on its side, is in a better position to neutralises it and see it for what it is: BS.
DO THIS: Purposely bring to the surface your unwanted belief/opinions/negative self talk about yourself and your situation right now.
"Am I really this, or do I just feel like this, sometimes?"
"Can I say with 100% certainly that this is 100% true for me?"
"Will this belief actually hurt me in the next five seconds?"
"Can I let it go... Would I let it go... When?"
2. YOUR BODY WANTS TO PLAY
What better time than to tone your Vagus Nerve when you're feeling relaxed, confident and calm? Your Vagus Nerve runs your Parasympathetic Nervous System's Shutdown State via the Dorsal Vagal pathway. When in its regulated state, the DV runs our digestions but when in survival mode, it takes us out of awareness and into shutdown. So, when you're energised and optimistic, take the opportunity to stimulate your Vagal Tone with:
DO THIS:
Dance and Shake - A fantastic way to shake off excess Sympathetic Stress and the strapped energy of Freeze/Shock. Check out TRE for specific Tension and Tremor Releasing Exercises.
The Voo - Make the sound of a foghorn and do it as deep and as long as you can. You really want to feel the vibration below the diaphragm - that's where your Dorsal Vagal Circuit controls the show. You can also do some hands-on belly percussion and activations.
3. YOU CAN OPTIMISE YOUR BREATH
In our calm state, we are not holding our breaths, nor are we taking shallow breaths from a contracted chest. Our bellies are soft and relaxed. This is the perfect time to get to know your diaphragm and its important role in your breathing patterns. Make the most of your relaxing time to practice soft belly, diaphragmatic breathing, by expanding your belly as much as you can on the inbreath, and dropping it gently on the out. The more you practice it, the more natural it will become, so much so that during stressful times, you'll start to notice your contracted abdomen and breath straight away.
4. YOUR POLARITY PROBABLY ISN'T IN REVERSE
No system in your body works alone. Getting outside, barefoot on Mother Earth, swimming in the ocean or walking in a forest will regulate you in more ways than one. Your ANS communicates directly with your body's numerous energy circuits. Take your calm body outside and stay there for as long as possible so your body's energy polarity also gets a chance to strengthen its flow. Mother Earth can nurture and support you way better when your feet are magnetically south.
5. YOU'RE IN POSSIBILITY-MODE
When you're high on life, set your End Results. What do you really want? Get creative with this process - either start to build a vision board, journal - just write it down. When we commit mind to paper, we are well on our way to materialising what we want. When you write down what you desire, tension will inevitably rise up, because our minds will convince us of all the egoic reasons why we can't have it. Go back to the first reason to regulate when you're in this state and use that tool!
When we choose to consciously regulate when feeling balanced, optimistic and calm, we become a self-regulating force that bounces back from stressful events much more efficiently. This way, we begin to spend more time in the landscape of Ventral Vagal connection and creation.
Integrate moments of nervous system regulation into your happy moments and watch your body love you back with autonomic resilience you didn't realise you had!
Quick Links to take you there:
Join me on a 6w Autonomic Nervous System Reset that dives deeper into these themes and more. I offer it in small groups and private sessions on the Sunshine Coast or join me from anywhere, online. Parents and kids are welcome too! Contact me to find out more.
Comments