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Living in the state of creation is living in balance (relaxation mode). Whereas living in the state of survival is living in stress (stress mode). What is stress? It’s when the body is knocked out of homeostasis/balance. Scientific evidence reveals that most people spend 70% of the time living in survival. It’s how we are wired. Many people may not realize they are living in survival as it has become their new normal/familiar state of living. If a person is living continuously in stress mode, then the body does not have the needed resources for growth, regeneration and repair. For the most part, 75 to 90 percent of every person that walks into a health care facility in the western world walks in because of psychological or emotional stress. That's pretty much four out of five people. What's really causing their health condition is that they're emotionally stressed and emotionally out of balance. Dr. Joe Dispenza explains that the emotions that are connected to the stress hormones include: anger, hatred, violence, frustration, competition, control, judgement, envy, jealousy, insecurity, fear, anxiety, worry, angst, hopelessness, powerlessness, guilt, shame, and unworthiness. The hormones/chemicals of stress can become addictive and so a person living in chronic stress will use the conditions and problems in their life to reaffirm their addiction or conditioning to that emotion. So basically, they can be addicted to their own thoughts. This allows the inner critic/ego/unconsciousness to run the show and perpetuate drama and stress. The hormones of stress also cause incoherence in the heart and brain. Scientific evidence also reveals that we hold the power within us to change our brain/body chemistries and rewire our neurological circuitry of who we think we are. This occurs by thinking differently in helpful and healthy new ways, which then shifts our beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. Doing this with consistency and repetition is key to creating/building new neural networks. I feel having an understanding of the basics of the science of stress is very helpful and important. This is so individuals have the knowledge of how their mindscape can affect their physiology, and the processes that take place when the body’s stress response is triggered. And also what occurs when the relaxation response is triggered. Having an understanding of these processes helps to better recognize and break free from patterns that lead to stress. And so it helps one to empower their health and well-being. Having helpful tools is also key to learn how to regulate the nervous system and support the body. I’ll share some effective tools in this blog post, on how to connect with the inherent power that is within us all (Love/Spirit/Presence/true Self) to break the habit of living in survival/stress mode and into living in creation/relaxation mode. So let's first look at what occurs when the body’s stress response is triggered. The autonomic nervous system is involved mostly with actions that are automatic like breathing and digestion. Its focus is on the body's inner organs and has 2 parts which are the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The Sympathetic Nervous System and the Stress Response The sympathetic nervous system activates the stress response, also known as the fight, flight, freeze, fawn response. This response is triggered by stressful events and it gives us a boost of energy and the focus needed to escape danger or physical threat. The body activates the stress response to re-establish homeostasis. The physiological changes that occur in the body when the stress response is triggered include:
This survival system helped our primitive ancestors thousands of years ago, to deal with threats like being chased by a wild animal, harsh environmental conditions, and starvation. As human life has evolved over time, some of the new perceived threats in today’s world that are not easily handled by fighting or fleeing, might include stressors such as: worrying about health, finances, or work deadlines, or relationship challenges. A stressor is anything that disturbs the body's normal chemical balance. The stress response can be triggered just by thinking of these. So, ruminating about past upsets and/or worrying about the future are also enough to trigger the stress response. We are designed to experience short-term stress responses when needed and then return back to homeostasis. However, we are not designed to live in constant long-term stress which can lead to dis-ease. When the sympathetic nervous system is constantly activated by chronic stress and anxiety, psychological, physiological, and behavioral effects can result in the body. We'll examine that in a moment, but first let's look at the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the other part of the autonomic nervous system. The Parasympathetic Nervous System and the Relaxation Response The parasympathetic nervous system triggers the relaxation response and relaxation mode, which is also called rest and digest mode. Rest and digest mode is the opposite of the fight, flight, freeze, fawn response. It helps to replenish our systems and conserve energy especially after being in stress mode. When the rest and digest mode is triggered, the following occur in the body:
When we are in rest and digest mode, the body can focus its energy on processes like immunity, reproduction, and digestion. It helps to normalize and calm the system after being in a state of stress. Effects of Living in Survival/Stress Mode Living in stress mode for an extended period of time can cause psychological, physiological and behavioral effects. Included below are just a few of these such as:
Again, the great news is that we always have the power within to change the brain/body in helpful ways simply by thinking in new ways as neuroscience has proven. New helpful ways of thinking lead to healthy new attitudes, beliefs and behaviors. This is possible no matter one’s age.  Bridging Science and SpiritualityThe body, as well as everything and everyone that seems to be outside of the self, is a reflection of one’s mindscape. The body can hold onto the past until there is a willingness to look inwards and make healthy and helpful shifts. Self-Inquiry What is your mindscape like? What theme(s) have been present in previous years that have been unpleasant or unhelpful that are still affecting you today? What beliefs do you continue to hold onto about yourself/others/the world that are not helpful and based in fear/illusion/separation consciousness? Reflecting on these questions with curiosity, non-judgement and non-attachment to the beliefs can provide valuable insight. And from the perspective and remembrance of who you/we/all truly are as wholeness. In other words, identifying as the true Self, Consciousness, and the formless deeper essence of our being, which is unchanging and eternally perfect, whole, and complete. Rather than identifying as the personal/separate self and body (the form). It's from this remembrance and acceptance of our wholeness and the Love that we are, that deep transformation occurs. Being in the practice of living with conscious awareness of the thoughts running in the mind, our feelings, emotions, attitudes, and behavioral patterns with loving kindness, self-compassion, non-attachment and without judging ourselves is key. This also automatically quiets and withdraws power from the inner critic/ego (which is the false belief in separation) and helps to break free from unhelpful subconscious patterns and addiction to the hormones of stress. Joining with/living as the true Self/Awareness/Presence/Consciousness brings insight and realization. Also, real solutions and guidance, including any helpful shifts we can make to best support our well-being and health, arise from this space of inner Stillness and Awareness and not from the frantic, chaotic, and scattered energy of the inner critic. Living with mindfulness in this way also triggers the relaxation response. ~The present moment is where all possibilities exist~ Instead of conditioning the body to a state of stress and anxiety with habits of chronic worrying, focusing on what is unwanted and worst-case scenarios, (which is not being loving and kind to the self) building helpful and healthy emotional/mental/behavioral patterns and habits, help condition the heart/brain/body to a state of calm, coherence and order. Coherence is when the heart, emotions, and mind are in vibrational harmony and alignment. It's a state in which the heart and brain rhythms, breathing, hormonal response and body systems are in sync with each other. This then helps to support the body in carrying out its vital functions. Helpful Tools to Support the Body and Shift from Living in |
