Find ... A New Response to stress

We’re a beautiful blend of matter and energy, with our sense of self flowing along a spectrum—from the seemingly solidity of the body to the subtlety of our energetic systems.

A big player in how we navigate life and manage stress is our Autonomic Nervous System, which has two main parts. The Sympathetic Nervous System, which kicks in during moments of stress, helping us fight, flee, freeze, or fawn—survival instincts inherited from our ancestors. These responses flood the body with energy, prepping us to deal with whatever is coming our way.

And that's important.

But here's the thing—many of us are stuck in survival mode to some degree, unable to flip the switch to rest and thrive. That’s where the Parasympathetic Nervous System steps in, restoring balance by helping us rest, digest, and heal -critical components of stress management techniques.

When we’re constantly on high alert (and it’s tough not to be these days), our bodies are drenched in cortisol, even when there’s no real danger. This ongoing stress can leave us burnt out, sick, and emotionally drained. And while we know this, most of us haven’t been taught how to reduce the stress or shift out of it.

Here’s an idea…

In moments of stress, instead of getting stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, we can introduce a new “F” word - no, not that F word. I'm talking about FIND. Find a breath, find a friend, find a pen. These small, simple actions can help us shift our awareness, activate the parasympathetic system, and offer a new way forward. We don’t always have to react—we can find stress relief and solutions that give us space for clarity and choice.

This interplay between the two systems isn’t intended to be a battle, but a beautiful collaboration. Just as we need both the in-breath and the out-breath, we need a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems to fully engage in life in a healthy way.

Everything in nature works in cycles, with flow and seemingly opposing components keeping the harmony. We can’t live in constant stress, but we can’t live in total relaxation either—we need both to thrive. Just as our bodies need time to digest and rest, our lives thrive when there’s a balance between action and reflection.

So, the next time stress creeps in, remember—you have options for calming the nervous system. Stress is not the enemy. Choose FIND: Find your breath, Find your center, Find a friend, Find a crazy song to dance to, Find a pen (or paintbrush) and Find your way forward – use this simple, mindful stress relief technique to support your nervous system finding its balance.