TGIF | Resetting Isn’t Just Possible—It’s Essential
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Dear Community,
This morning, at an appointment, the practitioner described her process as “a reset of your nervous system.”
Hearing “reset” in the wild always makes me smile. When we named our practice, the word wasn’t exactly trendy. I’ll never forget overhearing someone in Plymouth’s Kellogg Park say, “Reset your brain and body? That doesn’t sound very pleasant.”
Fast forward, and the world is finally catching on. Resetting isn’t just possible—it’s essential. It’s how we move through life’s chaos with resilience. It’s how we ride the waves instead of getting pulled under. Let’s unpack what a reset really means, how to recognize when you need one, and what it can do for you.
Signs You Might Need a Reset
Let’s talk about how stress shows up in sneaky, everyday ways.
Do you feel like you’re constantly “on,” struggling to find an off switch? Maybe your mind is racing with endless to-do lists, or you’re stuck replaying every awkward moment from the past decade (thanks, brain). Perhaps you feel so exhausted and shut down that you’ve convinced yourself you’re not stressed.
Here’s the catch: Even if you don’t feel anxious, your body might still be stuck in a stress state. That’s because our autonomic nervous system doesn’t just handle fight or flight; it also has a freeze mode.
When we’re overwhelmed, our system might slam the brakes—leaving us frozen, numb, or detached. You might feel unmotivated, avoidant, or reclusive. It’s like your brain and body hit “pause,” but instead of relaxing, you feel stuck in limbo.
Sound familiar? If you’re constantly in fight, flight, or freeze, your nervous system is crying out for a reset.
Why We Feel This Way
As humans, we’re wired for connection and belonging—it’s baked into our biology. When we feel safe and loved, our nervous systems are calm. But when there are ruptures in that sense of safety, even from small or early-life traumas, our systems can get stuck in overdrive.
Sometimes, these “ruptures” come from subtle messages, like feeling unseen or unimportant as a child. Other times, they’re from major events that shake our foundations. Either way, when those needs for connection and belonging aren’t met, we develop belief systems to make sense of it all.
Maybe you tell yourself you’re unworthy, unlovable, or invisible. You might become a people-pleaser, striving to earn love through achievement, perfectionism, or being everything to everyone. Or, you might retreat into yourself, anticipating rejection before it even happens.
These beliefs aren’t your fault—they’re your nervous system doing its best to protect you. But they can leave you feeling disconnected from your true self.
Compensating Behaviors
When you feel unseen or unsafe, it’s natural to try to fill that void. This might look like chasing external validation—focusing on appearance, career success, material gains, or popularity. It’s as if achieving just one more thing will finally make you feel enough.
Or, you might shut down entirely. Maybe you’ve learned to numb all feelings—because if you don’t feel the bad, you don’t have to risk feeling the pain. But the cost is high: you miss out on the good, too.
Whether you’re hustling for worthiness or hiding from the world, these patterns can feel endless. And if this resonates, you’re not alone. These responses are so common because they’re how our nervous systems try to cope.
What Happens in a Reset
Here’s where the magic of resetting comes in. When we pause to calm our nervous system, we move from survival mode to a state of ease and possibility.
I’ll share a personal example. Recently, I spent an hour in therapy—not talking, just being. With soft music playing, I tuned inward. My therapist helped me notice sensations in my body, like tightness or heaviness, and the emotions hiding underneath.
In that calm, safe space, I started to let go. I observed old stories I’d been carrying—the fears, the shame, the untrue beliefs that had felt so overwhelming. And as I stayed present, something shifted. Those stories felt lighter, more manageable. My mind quieted, and I felt grounded again.
That’s the power of engaging your parasympathetic nervous system (your rest-and-digest mode). When you reset, you can see your thoughts and emotions for what they are—temporary visitors—not the defining truth of who you are.
My Go-To Reset Tools
Not sure where to start? Here are some tools that work for me:
Somatic Therapies:
These sessions are a game-changer. It’s an hour of quiet where I focus on my body and breath, with someone guiding me to stay present. No talking, no problem-solving—just listening to what my body needs.Nature Walks:
I make it a point to walk outside every day, even if it’s dreary. Without headphones, I tune into the sounds of the wind or the crunch of leaves. Nature’s stillness has a way of settling my nervous system.Journaling:
After quiet time, I love doing a “word dump.” Whatever surfaces, I write it down—no editing, no overthinking. It helps me process and integrate what I’ve experienced.Social Connection:
During COVID, I realized how much I need connection to feel regulated. Building community takes effort, but showing up consistently has brought me so much joy and belonging.Intensive Resets:
These are like hitting the reset button on a deeper level. They help me uncover and release old beliefs, making space for new, empowering narratives.
It’s Not You—It’s Your Nervous System
When your mind is racing or you’re stuck in inaction, remind yourself: It’s not you—it’s your nervous system. Your amygdala (I call her Amy G) is doing her best to keep you safe.
I like to say, “It’s not me; it’s Amy G.” Try singing it—it might make you laugh!
Your Turn to Reset
Resetting doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small:
Take a 10-minute walk.
Spend five minutes writing down your stream of consciousness.
Call a friend and share something meaningful.
When you reset, you give your brain and body the space to heal and grow. You shift from surviving to thriving—and that’s where the magic happens.
What about you? How do you reset? Your stories inspire me, and I’d love to hear from you.
This week’s Tools, Gratitude, Innovation, Feels
Tools
As mentioned above, somatic therapy is my go-to tool for shifting to my parasympathetic nervous system. I hope you can try it out with one of our therapists—just remember, it’s supposed to be uncomfortable. In a good, worth it, kind of way. That’s where growth and change happens. We assume therapy is always about talking, but there is so much merit in just being still. Consider it a gift to yourself—one hour of peaceful quiet. Or maybe just start with a few minutes in the room. You’ll get there, I promise.
Gratitude
I’m also grateful for how creative activities allow me to access my rest state. For me, that’s cooking—something that wasn’t calming with toddlers, but I rediscovered my rhythm in the kitchen. Playing music, drawing, coloring, and writing poems are all flow-state endeavors in rest mode.
Innovation
You probably can name the noisiest thing impacting your nervous system—social media. This once-innovative tool has become a major distraction to our health and well-being. Rather than being in silence, we cannot handle boredom or quiet, so we reach for our screens. After the election, I deleted all of my accounts, and whoa, it’s been amazing. Now, I’m learning French instead of scrolling! Win!
Feels
Last week, someone asked if our Intensive Reset is for adolescents. I paused—could they handle it? Are they ready for such a powerful experience? Will parents engage? After consulting with our team, the answer is yes: The magic of the Intensive Reset is for all our clients, 12 and up. I’m so excited to open the opportunity to our most malleable population. There is so much hope in helping them young.