I love the internet.
There’s so much funny shit out there.
For example, take this piece of advice from someone’s “no-nonsense grandfather”:
“If you see a bear and don’t have time to run away, hug it. Bears cannot scratch their stomachs.” — My no-nonsense grandfather (Twitter @roseveleth)
Hmmm.
I don’t think I’ll test that one out 🤦♂️
Or what about this one:
“When I started learning how to drive, my dad, completely serious, said to me, “Always weave a little, and all the other cars will stay away from you.” (Karlen Stephensen Cocoa Beach, Florida)
In other words…
Drive offensively.
aka.
Drive in a way that scares the hell out of everyone else.
Hey, I’m not saying it won’t work… but there might be a better way to avoid killing yourself.
Like, um.. driving properly 🤨
#humansareweirdlikethat
Here’s another:
“Take a deep breath to calm down.”
It’s so common it sounds like good advice.
But is it actually good advice?
That depends who you ask.
In the world of nervous system healing, the answer is:
“It depends”.
Here’s why:
If you’re feeling stressed, you’re essentially in the “sympathetic” portion of your nervous system.
In simple terms, it’s the “make shit happen” portion of nervous system (as opposite to the “chillin’ like a villain” portion).
I know.
I like to use sofistikated language to impress you 🤷♂️
Now, here’s the problem with the “take a deep breath to calm down” advice:
If you take a deep breath when you’re stressed (ie. in the “make shit happen” part of your nervous system), you’ll drop yourself down into the “chillin’ like a villain” portion.
So yes, it WILL calm you down…
…but that’s not necessarily a good thing (if we want to be healthy, happy and whole).
See –
When we feel stressed, we feel stressed for a reason.
The body and nervous system has activated the “make shit happen” process – and in a perfect world, that process completes itself without interruptions.
That means the stress comes up and then down in it’s own time.
But if we force it down before it’s ready by taking a deep breath, we block the natural up-and-down process.
It’s kinda like damming up a river.
Sure, you can do it… but only if you’re prepared to flood the land near the dam.
Or since I love metaphors, here’s another:
It’s like going into the middle of NYC during peak hour with a stop sign.
Yeah, you can do it… but only if you’re prepared for one hell of a traffic jam.
This is one reason why stress gets stuck in our system.
Because we block the natural up-and-down process.
It can’t leave the system so it stays there… waiting in the wings for an opening to release.
As you know by now, that’s where Rageheart in.
It shows you how to open up your nervous system so all these old, stuck charges come out of you.
Once that happens, you feel pretty damn awesome.
Healthy, happy and whole.
Here’s where to make yourself whole-y:
If you’re already a member, maybe it’s time for another rage?
John Wood
P.S. What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received from someone?
Hit reply and let me know.
Bonus points for hilarity ⭐