Being Balanced in Chaos
It’s common to experience being overwhelmed in a world that is changing quickly. As a result of our bodies being designed for survival, we go into survival mode when we perceive a threat, whether genuine or imagined. We switch off the portion of our autonomic nervous system that makes us feel secure, connected, grounded, and in control. We engage one of two survival mechanisms: mobilization, which gets us ready to “fight or flight” and can manifest as anxiety or rage. Also, our most primal reaction is immobility, which strives to keep us safe by making us “invisible.”
Remembering that our perception of the environment is based on our autonomic state is crucial. As a result, when we’re under stress, we’ll see the world as a danger and act accordingly. In a collapsed state, we will feel that the world is overpowering and most likely won’t be capable of making any decisions at all since we wish for the “bad things” to end. However, suppose we are in a balanced state. In that case, we have access to the executive regions of our brain, which can aid in our ability to reason, reflect, be imaginative, show empathy, and form connections with others. To flourish or survive, in other terms. Also, remember that maintaining balance or moderation does not entail living a zen-like existence or always smiling like a Buddha.
Self-awareness, the cornerstone of emotional intelligence, is the first step in anything. The only way to control one’s system is to be conscious of how it is at all times. One of the few bodily functions we have conscious control over is our breath. That is why it is a gateway for self-regulation in many different cultures. Sometimes all it takes is taking a deep breath at the proper time to give us the inches of control we need to reclaim our sanity. More exercises are needed; numerous studies demonstrate the value of movement and body-mind integration for healing trauma and our health and well-being.