Do you know why I like to say “unleash the beast” when it comes to Rageheart and working with the nervous system?
Because the tools and techniques are simply ways to activate your natural animal instincts (ie. your “beastly” instincts) for regulating your nervous system and being healthy and happy.
Have you ever seen an animal meditate?
You know…
Sit cross-legged, set a timer for 20 minutes and then stay still the entire time with their eyes shut.
Have you ever seen an animal write in their journal?
Have you ever seen an animal think about what they’re grateful for? 🤔
I have.
There was this one time, at band camp, where I saw a cat making a list of what it was grateful for:
- mice
- head rubs from humans
- dead birds gutted on John’s bathroom floor with blood splattered on the walls and feathers everywhere
I joke 🤣
I’ve never seen an animal make a list of what it’s grateful for (I’ll let you know if it ever happens).
Point is…
Most self-help techniques aren’t natural to the animal kingdom.
We didn’t evolve to use these techniques to be healthy and happy.
We invented them.
But what if there was a better way?
What if we didn’t have to invent new tools but could instead just take our lead from animals?
Most animals are generally pretty healthy… even though they don’t meditate, journal, make gratitude lists or wear crystal necklaces 🔮
The question is…
How do animals stay healthy without the usual self-help tools?
That’s where Rageheart comes in.
Rageheart shows you how to activate your natural animal instincts for regulating your mind, emotions and nervous system… instincts that evolved over millions of years 💪
For example, take orienting.
Have you ever seen an animal orient to the environment around them? (where they literally look around to see if it’s safe)
I have… every single day.
Have you ever seen an animal orient defensively instead of exploratory or vice versa?
I have.
My cats do it all the time.
If they hear a loud noise, their whole body tenses and they look towards the sound.
That’s defensive orienting.
But other times, they lie on the grass in the garden and gaze around slowly, not looking at anything in particular, simply looking.
That’s exploratory orienting.
Have you ever seen an animal follow their impulse?
That is…
Have you ever seen an animal simply do what they want to do without thinking about what they should do or what other people think they should do?
ALL THE DAMN TIME (I’m looking at YOU Zeus 🐈⬛)
Well…
Orienting (defensive and exploratory), following impulse and even healthy aggression (another thing that animals kick ass) are ALL techniques that you discover, hone and master inside The Rageheart Academy.
That’s why I talk about “unleashing the beast” so much.
Because this path is literally about unleashing the “beastly” instincts inside you, instincts that have evolved over millions of years… instead of trying to force the nervous system into a certain configuration with invented techniques that aren’t found in the animal kingdom.
With that in mind, consider this your weekly reminder to BEAST 🦁
If you’re a member of The Rageheart Academy, consider doing another rage today:
Not a member yet?
Then play with the ideas and techniques I’ve shared in this email (and in all the others).
See what happens if you orient the way animals do and follow your impulse today (instead of operating from a script or story about what you should do).
These techniques ARE simple but don’t underestimate them.
3.5 years into my journey with the beastly nervous system approach and I still use these techniques every single damn day.
That’s because these instincts are hard-wired into the body. They’re not something you do once or twice and then forget about. They’re something that gets deeper, more profound and more powerful the more you practice and integrate them into your life.
So..
Unleash the beast inside you today 🥳
Get in touch with your animal self.
Maybe even try a few growls.
“Rageheart has given me a few EASY tools to use throughout the day to get from a DEFCON 5 to a 4… or a 3… without having to meditate for an hour.”
– Jack Campbell, Elevated Consulting
Cheers,
John Wood
P.S. Know anyone who needs better tools for regulating their mind, emotions and nervous system?
Refer them to The Daily Growl (this email newsletter) and give them a path to unleashing the beast inside them.