Module Three
Lets get things clear - this course isn’t all about trying to create a life of balance… life (if you haven’t noticed) is rarely “balanced” but in a constant state of “flux”. What we are wanting is the possibility of experiencing life in a way that feels healthy and achievable to us. I believe by learning to recognise when you are “activated” or “shut down” it can help you to become aware of when you might need to look to create SAFETY and stability with in yourself - so that you can respond appropriately to the stresses that life might bring to you.
how to create safety?
We are all unique and have a different spectrums as to what safety and stability really means and feels to us - but bringing awareness to the outside world and then slowly bringing it inwards can be very effective. Our brain is constantly using information around us to let us know where we are in the world, what to do and so on - bringing in the outside world (if its safe to do so) can have a very organising effect on it.
For me creating a home environment that feels safe has also been very important - again this links back to the organising effect it has on the brain. Surrounding yourself with plants and nature will also amplify these feeling.
Also starting to make friends with that internal voice, reassuring it that its done a wonderful job at keeping you safe - can over time make you feel more interanalling capable
orientation
Orientation the practise of bringing your mind and body back to the present moment - connecting to the environment, your senses, sound, temperature, smells. It can involve looking around, moving your neck slightly and becoming aware to your external environment.
EXAMPLE
This is where I believe cooking can be a very useful tool.
For example we made sourdough last week together. This process of creating, touching and engaging with the ingredients can have a wonderfully settling effect on the Nervous System. Creativity and connecting to your senses can be the perfect partnership for bringing mind and body back into balance - your mind finds it very difficult to be in a negative bias if creating - so get creative!
Our brain has an inbuilt negativity bias. This is actually a protective action to keep us safe (think about when we used to forage thousands of years ago - you needed to be more pessimistic than optimistic as the stakes were high if you got things wrong). By becoming aware of your internal dialog this can really help take first steps towards change. Going further.. are you able to distinguish if you are overwhelmed (or going out of your window of capacity) in your internal or external world.
When we are stuck in a negative bias it can become almost addictive and very hard to get out of - so finding ways to literally tether you back to your SAFETY can be hugely effective and the kitchen can be a wonderful space for this.
Really engaging in the act of cooking - feeling the slicing, stiring, tasting things, squeezing, smelling - all help to connect you to your senses, distract you from your thoughts and allow you to engage with loved ones whilst eating together.
“Orientation feeds your nervous system with stabilising information that supports its return to ventral” James Dowler.
Obviously it doesn’t all need to be around the kitchen and cooking - getting outside can be wonderful - anything that can help to ground you in the present moment and with your senses
If you can find this, you can anchor yourself in Ventral, then from there you can begin to expand your Window of Capacity - this is explained in the next section
SHINING A LIGHT ON PRIMITIVE REFLEXES AND NERVOUS SYSTEM HEALTH
Primitive reflexes are a set of involuntary movements we have from birth which the body creates to keep us safe (startle, rooting etc) – they are the first part of the brain and central nervous system to develop and normally disappear within the first year of life – however if these primitive reflexes are not intergeated as a baby the more advanced parts of the brain struggle to develop which can lead to – startling easily, difficulty with spacial awareness, poor hand eye coordination etc and this can be taken into adulthood.
Neurodiverse people usually have one or a few of these that remain.
Why am I adding this into the course? Because although it is very neiche it was a huge game changer for me finding out this information with regards to my son and the excersies we used to help integrate his reflexes more, as well as helping me understand why I startle so much and ways to help with this.
If you are new to this concept I would highly recommend visiting a chiropractor to help determine if you have any “retained reflexes”. They should be able to perform a few simple actions to see if any reflexes are still retained.
Sally Goddard Blythe is a leading expert in reflexes and behavior and talks about how if various reflexes are retained from a young age they can create issues later down the line. Becoming aware of these reflexes and if you have any retained can really help you to focus on them more, research them in deeper detail and also do exercises to help strengthen this connection.