Your Nervous System Isn’t Just About Stress— It’s Your Secret Superpower
When you hear “nervous system,” what comes to mind? For most people, it’s two things: stress and anxiety. After all, “nervous” is right there in the name. When we’re running on coffee fumes, feeling wired and on-edge before a big meeting, or lying awake buzzing with anxiety, we think of our nervous system. It’s something to regulate; something to keep under control… and that’s where the story ends.
But here’s the thing: your nervous system is so much more than just a “Stress-O-Meter” that flips on and off. It’s not some untouchable, mysterious force of nature that you just have to live with. And it’s definitely not a part of yourself to dread or resent. Your nervous system is actually your secret superpower. You can get to know it, shape it, and influence how it works and responds.
Find Your Starting Point
The key to working with, not against, your nervous system is to understand your starting point. Knowing which state(s) your nervous system primarily uses to communicate with your mind and body is key. When you know which state is calling the shots, you can make more conscious choices. You can move forward with clearer goals for your physical, social, spiritual, and psychological well being.
We can’t avoid or eliminate dysregulation completely, and we shouldn’t. It’s how our body alerts us to legitimate safety/stability threats.
So when is it time to change how you relate to your nervous system?
Your reactions tend to sabotage your life goals, not serve them.
You feel like you’ve abandoned what makes you “you”.
You (and people you trust) see patterns in your life and relationships that are out of character for you.
Your negative thoughts happen far more than negative circumstances do: they dominate. Holistic Care: Our Hearts and Minds Matter
If your self-care involves fitness and wellness goals, you know how strongly our minds and bodies are linked, and therefore, it’s no surprise that incorporating our inner life into our self-care can help us achieve our health and body goals.
In fact, according to LearnToLive and the JAMA network,
“Good mental health reduces healthcare costs because it promotes positive physical health behaviors, prevents or manages chronic illnesses, and reduces the need for costly medical treatments and ongoing care.”
With the costs of health care today, putting some of our self-care resources toward caring for our minds and hearts can make a big difference in the long run… including the positive impact it can have on our stress levels, our negative thinking, and other patterns that drag us down and leave us feeling stuck.
Empower How You Operate
We’d never own a phone or computer for years without updating it. But many people go decades without thinking about how they react to life and engage with others (and why they’re wired that way).
Your nervous system is your operating system. Yes, it alerts you to triggers with stress and anxiety. But that’s far from the whole story. So let’s flip the script.
Here are three empowering truths about your nervous system:
It’s dynamic, impressionable, and constantly adapting.
It doesn’t have to be passive/reactive. You can steer it and shape it.
You can nurture and guide your nervous system to greater balance.
The decisions you make have ripple effects, and their impact depends on which nervous system “state” you’re in. That’s why understanding and attuning to our nervous system is so empowering. How you show up in relationships, how you handle challenges, and how you bounce back from setbacks: it can all shift. You can change it all for the better, and for the long haul.
Instead of a runaway train you’re stuck on, your nervous system can be a dial you turn down, shifting you from high alert to calm connection. When you embrace that opportunity for transformation, your nervous system becomes your superpower, keeping you on the path to an intentional, balanced life.
You’re not stuck with the nervous system you have, but it is on autopilot until you make adjustments. If your body’s operating system needs an upgrade, there’s no need to go it alone.
Every Hero Needs a Guide
Every superhero needs a trusted guide: someone to remind them of their Why, remove obstacles to their success, and help them rediscover their strengths. If you’re ready to act and react from a place of greater calm and empowerment, counseling and coaching can keep you on the path forward. Complete this form to request a free discovery call, and start your journey toward a more balanced life.
