Expanding capacity in your nervous system is a foundation for building more Self-Trust.

It’s a crucial direction on the Self-Trust Compass to explore because it’s really difficult to trust your intuition when your nervous system is dysregulated. If you’re constantly operating in survival mode, it’s hard to feel connected to the subtleties of your inner voice. 

That’s why it’s not as easy as the common advice of “just trust your gut” makes it seem. 

There’s likely a good reason you disconnected from your body and your intuition in the first place. Maybe it was initially out of protection + survival. And then, maybe you learned to stay disconnected. It might have started to feel safer operating in the world from your head and from external guidance. 

Reconnecting with your body can feel really scary and intimidating. Especially if you’ve been disconnected for a while.  

It takes time. And. It’s worth it.

But, how do you ACTUALLY do this?

Start with the basics. Give yourself the gift of a solid foundation before moving onto deeper nervous system regulation practices that are all over TikTok.

These are the 5 areas I encourage people to start with: 

• Fuel (food + water)

• Movement

• Sleep

• Sunlight

• Connection (others + nature)

Sounds simple, right? Maybe even a little boring? #sorrynotsorry 

No shiny reel-worthy magic. But this actually IS the magic.

Choose one of these areas to focus on for the next week. 

Just one.

 What is one small shift you can make in this area to get you closer to where you want to be?

• Get 5 minutes of sunlight when you wake up. 

• Hug someone every day for 10 seconds. 

• Find the most nutrient-dense foods available to you. Eat one of them. 

• Put your feet in the dirt. 

• Disconnect from technology early so you can sleep better. 

• Take a 30 second dance break. 

Add this item to your To-Do List each day. And then do it. Every day. 

Remember: Small commitments. Small follow throughs. 

It’s also helpful to look at these areas on a spectrum. Are you getting “too much” or “too little” in any of the areas? Adjust accordingly. 

Mantras for Nervous System Regulation:

• I will care for my body, mind, and soul. 

•  I will listen to myself to better understand what I need. 

• I will connect with my aliveness.