Hello Friends,

The state of our nervous system plays a crucial role in filtering and shaping our thoughts, perceptions, and self-concept. This dynamic process creates a personal narrative that defines how we understand the world and our place in it. Every story we tell ourselves, every thought we think, and every experience we undergo is intrinsically linked to a unique physiological and neurological motor pattern.

Some may wonder where the story originated in the first place. When your brain isn’t receiving enough data to properly sense the reality of a moment, it fills in the gaps and creates a story. Given that the past is a strong predictor of the future, the brain uses past experiences to comprehend the present. By comparing the present to the past and finding similarities, it concludes that if it was this way before, it must be that way now. Although this story may not accurately represent the present, it none-the-less fills the gap to make sense of things. We do this unconsciously, so our experience is such that "perceptions" ring true even if it's not.

This activation of the sympathetic nervous system not only creates stories, it can also influence memory and cognition. The heightened state of arousal can lead to the formation of vivid and long-lasting memories of the event, as the brain seeks to remember crucial details for future survival. The brain can also hide memories or never process them to long term as if it never happened. These memories, or lack thereof, in turn, contribute to your personal narrative, shaping your experience of the world and how you navigate it. Further, memories are fluid, meaning we remember things are they relate to our present. Thus, memories change over time.

When a physical sympathetic reflex is unleashed, for any reason known or otherwise, a past story unfolds in our present as if it were happening now. This holds true if the story is true or if the story is one we unconsciously created to make sense of a past moment. It may present as a memory, an emotion, a sensation, behavior, or a physical motor pattern. It colors and filters our understanding and experience of now.

A parasympathetic brain perceives differences, nuances, opportunities, novelties, creative solutions, and uniqueness. Conversely, a sympathetic brain sees only sameness.

If you change the neurological motor pattern, does the story change too?

So, what then is the real story?

Onwards, Amy