Building a relationship with your nervous system by using your resources

A Resource is something that brings you back into the present moment and helps you stay in your body. Anything that you find useful to help you go through an activation. Warning: eating or binge watching Netflix when you are stressed is not a resource.

Your resources will be unique to you. And only you will know how and when to use them. Only you will know how a fight/flight state feels in your body. Only you can notice the signs of a shutdown creeping in.

When you start working with your resources, it’s like the beginning of a relationship. Just like dating, you start to experiment with what works and what doesn’t work for you as a resource. You start to notice when stress shows up and how it feels in your body. You collect data on what overwhelms you and on what is supportive.

In the beginning you may only notice afterwards. Hindsight. You will probably find yourself thinking often a version of : “I should have walked away from that situation.” “I should have used my resources sooner.”

But even hindsight is a huge progress. Whereas before you would have unconsciously give in to the unhelpful pattern, and not even notice any of the nuance, now you can see what went wrong and what you can do next time.

An important aspect of somatic healing work is the relationship you build with your own nervous system.

Baby steps.
Every step towards regulation counts.

Start now. By saving this post and by checking my Instagram highlights titled “ Resources”.