Health and wellness occurs when our nerve system properly adapts to stressors internally and externally, moment by moment so that we function with effortless ease. When we fail to adapt in a proper or timely manner, we shift to a state of dis-ease. In every moment, our nerve system assesses the world around us and the world inside of us and responds to one vital question: Am I safe?

This is a function of the sympathetic nerve system and a function of our innate intelligence to keep us safe from harm or danger. Some refer to this function as “fight or flight” and some refer to it as our “defence physiology.”

It is my experience that someone who is in “defence physiology” is trapped in survival and therefore, cannot grow. Defence physiology can come from stress, anger, confusion, frustration and uncertainty and it never serves us to grow or prosper.

You go to defence physiology when you feel attacked, alone, unprotected and afraid. These all may help you survive, but they will never let you grow and expand. Defence physiology forces the body to respond in many ways including tensing your muscles, dilating your pupils, slowing down your metabolism and weakening your immune function. Being trapped in defence physiology lowers your quality of life, your level of wellness and clearly affects us physically, emotionally and mentally.

I have discovered these truths about defence physiology:
A. It is an innate survival mechanism.
B. When you are trapped in it, you can survive but you cannot grow.
C. There are three ways to get out of defence physiology so that we
can once again be in a position of growth and well-being. This
should be everyone’s goal and objective.

The three ways to get out of defence physiology are:
1. Becoming aware that you are trapped in it and no longer wanting to be in it. Yes, awareness and consciousness are critical.
2. Remembering who you are … a child of God, fully equipped, destined for greatness, unique, special, gifted and blessed. By reclaiming your identity, you can once again relax and trust both yourself and the universe and put yourself in a position for growth.
3. Deciding to raise your energy, by having an empowering morning routine, by committing to an exercise program, by getting adjusted more regularly, by eating better, by writing in your success journal each day, by being on time, by demanding more out of yourself, by telling the truth, by raising your standards and by removing your tolerations. You get out of this no-growth trap by reclaiming your purpose and passion.