Let’s retrain your nervous system to respond the way you want it to. Article 2/2

by Sharn Somasiri
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In part 1 of this article, we learned to interrupt an unhelpful reaction from our nervous system or an intrusive thought. That should allow you to bring your mind and body back to a calmer place.

Now, from that calmer place, let's get curious.

Think about that moment from this weekend. Work through these questions honestly and without judgement.

When that tricky moment came, before the event you anticipated happened:

? What did you think was going to happen?
? Why did you think that?
? Where did that belief come from?
? How did that thought make you feel in your body, and in your mind?


After the event:

? What actually happened?
? Did any of your initial fears play out?
? How do you feel now, looking back?

Here's what you're building.

Every time you do this, you are collecting evidence. Evidence that your thoughts are not facts.

Just because an anxious thought arrives, just because your nervous system fires an alarm, it does not mean the situation will play out the way your mind predicts. Anxiety is a story. A very convincing one. But it is not the truth.

You are building a case file, one experience at a time, that proves you are more capable and more safe than your nervous system believes yet.

Now, let's close with intention.

Use what you've just uncovered to decide how you will respond next time that thought shows up.

Anchor to that. Write yourself two affirmations. Statements that are true, that you can return to when the spiral starts.