How often do you think about your nervous system? If you’re anything like most people, the answer is probably, not much. You’re in your nervous system 24/7 and it’s constantly talking to you and influencing you. But most of us don’t listen. And most of us don’t have an understanding of how to use your nervous system to change your experience of life.
Why is the nervous system so influential?
Because of the impact on our bodies of being in fight/flight/freeze. This is the sympathetic nervous system responding to a perceived threat. It will save your life if you’re being chased by a lion. And it will make your life a lot harder if you’re just opening a feedback email from your boss. That’s because fight/flight/freeze is survival mode. And when your body enters into survival mode it draws all its resources to ensure you survive. Which means blood is pumped to the arms and legs to help you run, fight or play dead. And in order for that to happen that blood has to come from somewhere. And it comes from the places like the parts of the brain you need to get perspective on a situation, the guts and the sex organs. Hence, gut issues, low libido, being unable to think clearly when you’re in fight/flight/freeze.
If this is all new to you the best place to start is to begin noticing what your nervous system is doing at any time. Where are you right now – fight/flight/freeze or calm and soothed? FYI, the first sign of fight/flight/freeze is feeling annoyed.
How can your nervous system make you rich?
- Being able to bring yourself out of fight/flight/freeze means you can make good decisions, think clearly and not get stuck in overthinking when you’re faced with financial challenges.
- Your nervous system plays a big role in healing shame, which we store in our body. Shame is unhelpful when it comes to money and can block wealth accumulation. For example, it can be the ick that stops you selling.
- Nervous system self soothing tools provide an effective way to overcome anxiety and fear. That might be finding some calm before a presentation, allowing you to find the courage to ask for the pay rise or to pitch your business idea.
- Breaking negativity and limiting beliefs. Your mind can be your own worst energy when it comes to money, especially because we are surrounded by negative ideas about money like “it’s a struggle to make money.” Getting out of your mind and into your body through nervous system work can give you the freedom to see negativity and limiting beliefs as what they are – thoughts that you can change.
- Nervous system self-soothing on a regular basis builds trust with yourself and helps create feelings of safety. Self-trust is the foundation of the confidence that you need to take risks and be audacious. And that feeling of safety is the place where we feel able to explore our brilliant ideas, innovate and create change.
- Learning how to soothe your nervous system creates space from automatic choices that aren’t helpful. Right now you might have automatic responses with money that keep sending you down the same path. Emotional spending, ignoring bills, allowing yourself to be overcharged, giving in to inequality etc. What self-soothing creates is a moment to pause, break the connection with anxiety and with negative habits – and take an intentional next step that is aligned with your money goals.
When we think of building wealth we rarely look at the nervous system and the role it plays. But it’s hugely influential. Just as emotional regulation, core beliefs and mindset stories also have an incredible impact (all part of the resilience coaching process). These are the underlying factors that have created your current financial reality. And they are the things you can use to create a new one too. If you’d like me to show you how book a free intro call.
