“We live a story that originates in our on autonomic state, is sent through autonomic pathways from the body to the brain, and is then translated by the brain into the beliefs that guide our daily living. The mind narrates what the nervous system knows. Story follows state.”
- Deb Dana, The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy
“The mind narrates what the nervous system knows.” <— 🤯
And the fastest way to access the nervous system? The breath.
As Dana also says, “Breath is a direct, easily accessible, and rapid way to shape the state of the nervous system.”
Change your breath —> change your state —> change your story.