Why I won’t stop talking about the nervous system.

I recently had a conversation with another business owner, who I think is amazing and I respect. She suggested that I stop using the words '“nervous system” as I discuss my business. I thought about it for a bit, especially because marketing and selling is a new skill. I decided, I want to keep the words nervous system in my business. I think it is super smart for me to continue to cultivate words that talk about the results in a non-science way and words that aren’t just “calm”. For me, nervous system education is truly a pillar of my business. Let’s get into why…

I have been talking about and aware of the nervous system for years in my work as a pediatric occupational therapist. When I became a mom all of a sudden my own nervous system became front and center. I felt all the new mom stuff, especially as I headed back to work. The fluster getting out of the house, the feeling “over touched” while nursing, the fatigue (both physically and mentally) of trying to work, be a wife, be a mom and not go nuts. My first “tool” was exercise. I will be fully transparent here, at that time I was motivated to “lose the baby weight”. Exercise quickly turned into something more. On the days I moved my body I noticed I was more patient with myself and everyone around me. It wasn’t just patience, it was also that I was lighter, happier, better able to have fun. It was such a noticeable difference, that my husband would suggest I go workout when he noticed I was tense or cranky. We all know about endorphins and exercise, I initially chalked it up to that.

After having 2 kids, I still valued exercise, but it was harder to find those 45 minute pockets of time to get it done. I was really missing the after exercise feeling, especially navigating 2 kids and all of life. Initially it seemed I just needed to push through, be stronger, be better…white knuckle my way into regulation. And then I had an experience that CHANGED IT ALL. I was hanging with the kids on a Saturday afternoon while my husband was working. That night I was going out with my college bestie, which is a rare occurrence. It was also wash day (my curly girls get it), which means I needed a solid non-negotiable hour to do my hair. My husband called because he was running late and needed to stop and get lunch. My initial reaction was annoyance. Thoughts of “I never go out, it’s not fair, he always does this (which isn’t true)” came to the surface. Somewhere in the corner of my mind I decided to go for a walk and I threw on ankle weights. This is a strategy I use all the time with pediatric clients. It is a form of heavy work, which provides proprioceptive input, which releases serotonin (a feel good chemical) in the brain.

I walked for 15-20 minutes and EVERYTHING CHANGED. I realized my college bestie and I had never been on time for anything ever, this wasn’t a big problem. When we got back from our walk we sat with my husband in the backyard as he ate lunch and we got a bit of time together as a family. I washed my hair and had a great dinner. All of this change happened because I saw my nervous system, this time it was quite by accident. But that was the last time it happened by accident. I started seeing my nervous system in everything I did. It no longer mattered that I didn’t have the time for those long workouts, because I found ways to give my body what it needed in other ways. I also became more motivated to make time for movement as now I completely understood why the internal shift occurred. I started seeing my partner's nervous system which gave me more empathy for him as a human (versus jumping right into judgment and bickering). I started seeing my kid’s nervous system, which shifted my parenting (in the most supportive way). I became passionate about teaching them how to recognize and work with their nervous and sensory systems. And most magical of all, I started teaching this to other women and moms.

So yes I could just show you techniques and tools and strategies and you would get some results. BUT I want more for you. I want you to see your nervous system and those of your loved ones in everything around you. And to truly teach you that, I have to talk about the nervous system.

I am so glad you are here and you want to learn more too! Want to dive deeper? Hop over to my contact page and set up a free chat for us to get nervous system chatting!