How I Learned to Run My Business from a Place of Nervous System Safety
I used to think that success came from effort, output, and constantly pushing myself. That the only way to get ahead—especially in business—was to hustle harder, be more productive, say yes even when I meant no, and keep going no matter how I felt inside.
For a long time, it worked. At least, on the outside.
I had a strong background in psychology and years of experience supporting others through mental health challenges in hospitals and prisons. I was “the helper,” the one people leaned on. But behind the scenes, I was running on empty. My nervous system was in constant overdrive. I lived in a loop of anxiety, perfectionism, and chronic stress, unable to fully rest—even when I desperately wanted to.
Eventually, my body made the decision for me.
After years of ignoring the whispers—fatigue, brain fog, tension, and that gnawing sense of disconnection—I hit a wall. An autoimmune condition took hold, and I found myself bedbound, stripped of all the external markers of productivity. There was no more pushing through. Just stillness, discomfort, and a very loud message from my body: something has to change.
The Wake-Up Call
That season of stillness changed my life. It forced me to look inward, not with judgment or blame, but with curiosity. I began to ask, What if the way I’m approaching success—especially in my work—isn’t sustainable because it’s not regulated? What if I’ve been living in survival mode, and it’s not my fault, but it is something I can shift?
What followed was a deep dive into somatic healing—connecting with my body, learning to listen to it, and gradually creating a sense of internal safety I’d never truly known. I realized that nervous system regulation wasn’t just a “nice to have,” it was the foundation. Without it, I was building everything—my health, my business, my relationships—on unstable ground.
A Different Way of Doing Business
As my health began to return, I stepped into entrepreneurship with a new perspective. But old patterns crept in. Overworking. Measuring worth through results. Doubting myself during slow periods.
The difference? This time, I had the tools. I could catch the signs before they spiraled. I could pause, breathe, and recalibrate. I could ask my body what it needed and actually honor the answer.
And slowly, something remarkable happened—my business began to grow, not in spite of my softness and slowness, but because of it.
I found that when I approached my work from a regulated nervous system—when I felt grounded, nourished, and safe—everything flowed more easily. Ideas landed. Clients resonated. My creativity returned. Opportunities opened. The sense of pressure lifted. And joy? Joy became my compass.
Safety as a Success Strategy
It’s easy to think that being calm, centered, and regulated means being less effective or ambitious. I believed that for a long time. But now I see how deeply untrue that is.
When we run our business from survival mode, we burn out. We lose touch with why we started. We make decisions from fear, not intuition. And eventually, it costs us—our health, our relationships, and our clarity.
But when we run our business from a place of nervous system safety, we gain so much more:
Clarity to make aligned decisions without spiraling into overthinking.
Creativity that flows naturally when we feel safe enough to express.
Boundaries that support our energy rather than drain it.
Joy in the process, not just in the end result.
Sustainability in the long run—because we’re no longer running on fumes.
What It Looks Like in Practice
Running a regulated business doesn’t mean never feeling stress. It means noticing your patterns and having the capacity to meet them with care. It means letting your body lead sometimes, even if your mind wants to push ahead.
For me, it looks like:
Taking rest seriously, even during a launch.
Designing my workday around my energy, not the clock.
Using somatic tools—breathwork, movement, grounding—to reset between tasks.
Tuning in when fear or comparison shows up, and responding with compassion instead of force.
Celebrating pleasure and play as much as performance.
This way of working feels softer, yes. But it’s also stronger. Because it’s rooted in truth, not tension.
You Can Feel Safe in Your Work, Too
If there’s one thing I wish I’d known earlier, it’s this: You don’t have to choose between success and ease. You don’t have to sacrifice your nervous system in service of your mission. You can build a business that’s not just impactful—but embodied, expansive, and deeply nourishing.
Your body is wise. It’s always been trying to protect you. And when you learn to work with it—not against it—you unlock a whole new way of being. A way that honors both your vision and your well-being.
That’s the shift that changed everything for me.
And if you’re feeling the pull to find a gentler, more aligned path in your business, you’re not alone. There’s a whole new way waiting for you—one breath, one choice, one moment of presence at a time.
