Am I Safe?

If we aren’t in physical danger, why do our bodies and minds feel locked in survival mode?

Half the battle is understanding the unseen processes that drive our responses to life. Are our responses appropriate and proportionate? Are they conscious or subconscious?

It’s not that the stress we feel isn’t real. It is the new reality we created in response to our thoughts, emotions, memories, beliefs, associations, and perceptions.  

There’s a theoretical basis to this that’s encoded in our evolutionary biology. We might call it a ‘design flaw’. Any perceived threat, whether real or imagined will have the same effect. Though differing in degree, the dynamic is fairly constant.

The positive news is the process is reversible. We may not be able to change the current situation immediately (that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive for healthier workplaces) — but we do have strategies in how we respond to it.

Micro practices can be used throughout the day to ground us and help reset our perspective on a situation.

Ask the question. Wait. Breathe. Did you notice a shift, however slight?

It’s subtle at first but over time, you’ll develop an awareness of every time the survival instinct kicks in. You’ll feel it and recognise it. Now the choice is yours. Step in? Step back? Or perhaps just choose to watch it all, no pushing or pulling. You’re safe.