Less is more for the nervous system

The survival brain often says:
"Try harder. Do more. Read more. Fill every moment with something productive."
And yes, it may bring a fleeting sense of control, hope, or efficiency, safety. It may even quiet the guilt, shame, or fear—but just for a moment.

When overwhelm from pushing enters, the nervous system can begin to feel under attack. And it is already holding so much. Adding rigid expectations and perfection only increases the weight, the pressure.

I was in that loop for so many years. And still, sometimes, it finds its way back. I meet it differently now. I welcome it, I hold it gently. I see the need behind it. The need for safety, for acceptance, belonging, respect.. Each of us will have different needs under that pushing. 

Imagine the nervous system as a runner. 

He’s running, and a voice from above calls out:

"Faster!"

He pushes harder.

"No, not enough—go even faster!"

He strains, forcing himself to keep up. Until his legs feel like wood, stiff and exhausted or maybe even injured.

 

This is what happens when we push past our limits. The nervous system still functions, but it becomes rigid, frozen, tired. It needs something else. Softness. Understanding. Rest. Space. Holding. Support. Trust. Safety. Attuenment.

Our nervous system starts to soften when it feels seen and heard, when it is nourished rather than forced. Like putting balm on blisters—again and again, with patience and care, giving that soft love over and over again to ourselves, hearing the harsh words of inner critic, but still holding ourselves with love.

And yes, this is hard. It means unlearning the voices that push us beyond our capacity. It means standing up for our inner child, for our authenticity, for our right to move at a pace that feels safe just for us.

And none of this can happen unless we listen to our bodies.
Unless we attune to the quiet whispers beneath the noise.

So, what do you need right now?
If there were no wrong answer, if anything were possible—what would that be?
And how could you give yourself even the tiniest bit of that? Even 0.0001%?

Because every bit counts.
And remember—less is more for the nervous system. Even with the good things.