Welcome.
Today we're going to do a nervous system state check-in.
This is a daily practice for identifying current nervous system state.
This practice helps you develop fluency in reading your body's signals and understanding which nervous system state you're in right now.
Find a comfortable position and take a moment to arrive.
There is nowhere else you need to be and nothing else you need to do right now.
Imagine your nervous system as a three-story house.
We're going to visit each floor and notice which one feels like home right now.
Top floor,
Safe,
Social.
First,
Let's visit the top floor.
You're safe in social state.
When you're here,
You feel calm,
Curious,
Open.
Your breathing is easy,
Your heart rate is steady.
You can think clearly and feel connected to others.
Take a moment to recall a time when you felt this way.
Perhaps with a dear friend,
In nature,
Or doing something you love.
Let that memory settle into your body.
What does this state feel like in your chest,
Your shoulders,
Your belly?
How does your breath move when you're here?
Middle floor,
Fight or flight.
Now let's visit the middle floor,
Your fight or flight state.
This isn't wrong or bad.
It's your nervous system's way of giving you energy to meet challenges.
Here you might feel alert,
Energized,
And maybe anxious or excited.
Your breathing might be quicker,
Your heart rate faster.
You might feel urgency,
Restlessness,
Or the need to move or act.
Can you recall a time when you felt this activation?
Maybe before an important presentation,
During an argument,
Or when excited about something.
When does this energy feel like in your body,
And where do you sense it the most?
Bottom floor,
Shutdown state.
Finally,
Let's gently visit the bottom floor,
Your shutdown state.
This is where your system goes to conserve energy when things feel too overwhelming.
You might feel numb,
Disconnected,
Heavy,
Or foggy.
This state isn't wrong either.
It's your body's wise ways of protecting you when things feel too much.
If you've ever felt really overwhelmed,
Or just wanted to retreat,
Or felt emotionally numb,
You know this state well.
What does shutdown feel like in your body?
Heavy limb,
Difficulty concentrating,
A sense of being far away from yourself.
Finding your current state.
Now,
With curiosity and without judgment,
Notice which floor feels most familiar right now.
Where is your nervous system currently living?
You might be primarily in one state,
Or moving between states.
You might feel elements of more than one at a time.
All of this is valuable information.
There's no right or wrong state to be in.
Your nervous system is always doing its best to take care of you based on what it's sensing.
So place a hand on your heart,
And offer yourself appreciation for this incredible system that works tirelessly to keep you safe and alive.
And when you're ready,
Gently open your eyes,
Carrying this awareness with you.
