Have you ever noticed how some days flow easily and feel manageable, while other days feel impossibly hard? A big part of that has to do with your nervous system state. If you’ve ever wondered why you feel so different from one day to the next, this post is for you. It’s polyvagal theory explained in simple, everyday language.
Learning to understand and work with your nervous system can make a huge difference in helping you spend more time feeling calm, connected, and grounded.
One of my favorite tools for understanding the nervous system is Polyvagal Theory. In the video below, I’ll explain it in a simple way so you can start applying this knowledge in your own life.
Watch the Video
The Stoplight Metaphor for Your Nervous System
Your nervous system is always scanning for safety or danger, most of the time without you even realizing it. Depending on what it senses, it shifts into one of three main states.
I like to explain this using a stoplight metaphor:
- Green Light Zone (Safe & Connected):
In this state, your nervous system feels safe enough. You’re calm, grounded, able to think clearly, and open to connecting with others. - Yellow Light Zone (Fight or Flight):
When your system senses danger, you shift into fight-or-flight. Blood flows away from the thinking part of your brain and toward your muscles so you can fight or run. You might feel anxious, irritable, defensive, or just on edge. Many people spend a lot of time here, never really feeling settled or at ease. - Red Light Zone (Shutdown or Freeze):
If fight or flight doesn’t resolve the sense of danger, your system may drop into shutdown. Here, you might feel overwhelmed, withdrawn, or numb. It can feel like depression, exhaustion, or disconnection from life.
The truth is, all of us move in and out of these states every day. But the more time we spend in the green zone, the better we feel, the clearer we think, and the more connected we are.
For much more information on Polyvagal Theory, click here.
Want to Spend More Time in the Green Zone?
This is exactly what we’ll be working on in my upcoming group, Regulate & Restore.
Together, we’ll:
- Learn to identify your nervous system states
- Build a personalized roadmap for returning to calm and connection
- Strengthen the “muscles” that help you shift back into balance
- Create more moments of joy, clarity, and ease in your daily life
Click here to learn more and join the waitlist for the next group.
I’d love to have you join us if this calls to you.