Traumatic Experiences Community Daily Check-in Tuesday 19th December 2017

Good morning to you all!

Really good to be back here with you in our wonderful and supportive community..... missed you heaps.. and looking forward to catching up again.

While away on my travels, with long flights and big busy airports,lots of people, noise and stress, it was all a bit too much for a simple country girl. The cumulative effect was in becoming more and more "wired" but I didn't really become aware of this until I couldn't sleep, meditation wasn't working and anxiety was increasing.By now very much in the reactive mode of my brain. What Rick Hanson would describe as a state of homelessness.. I needed to come home.

In contrast is the responsive mode of the brain which is the resting state we return to when not rattled. This is home where we feel safe, satisfied and connected.Where our heart beats more slowly, blood pressure is reduced,and nutrients from food more easily digested. He says that our deepest nature is peace, love and wisdom. That our body and mind want to come home. That the responsive mode of our brain can be activated, encouraged and reinforced through mindfulness, meditation and being in the present moment. Spending time at home helps us to spend more time there..

In this holiday season of the year,when the stresses often increase, I want to share some words from Rick Hanson with you ...."Each time you rest in your brain's responsive mode it gets easier to come home again. That's because neurons that fire together wire together. Stimulating the neural substrates of calm, contentment and caring strengthens them . This also makes it harder to be driven from home: its like lengthening the keel of your mental sailboat, that no matter how hard the winds of life blow, you stay upright, not capsized, and keep on heading towards the lighthouse of your dreams."

How is your day going? How is this relevant for you? Wondering how preparation for a daunting experience may help. Or pop in to say hi! This is your space and a safe place. Love to hear from you. x