Autonomic states allow for different types of behavior
Autonomic states allow for different types of behavior

Autonomic states allow for different types of behavior

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We can live out what we want to see in the world
We can live out what we want to see in the world
True diplomacy = safety
True diplomacy = safety
We have to decide what work is ours.
We have to decide what work is ours.
The world we build will need a greater focus on care
The world we build will need a greater focus on care
Saying no is saying yes to your work, to what you need and what you want.
Saying no is saying yes to your work, to what you need and what you want.
Sometimes curiosity doesn’t feel safe; just opening the news…
Sometimes curiosity doesn’t feel safe; just opening the news…
Life provides some cruel limits
Life provides some cruel limits
Overwhelm shuts us down
Overwhelm shuts us down
Example - we’re not here to service the machine
Example - we’re not here to service the machine
Curiosity just requires that you turn your head an inch
Curiosity just requires that you turn your head an inch
Disrupt the common scripts
Disrupt the common scripts
Maybe images of cheese will help you sleep?
Maybe images of cheese will help you sleep?
What if being off the map is the POINT?
What if being off the map is the POINT?
3 min.→ 1 idea and 10 bullet points to capture an idea
3 min.→ 1 idea and 10 bullet points to capture an idea
Art = experience → something
Art = experience → something
It takes all of our attention to capture other people’s attention
It takes all of our attention to capture other people’s attention
We make art to experience becoming, to make our souls grow.
We make art to experience becoming, to make our souls grow.
Resting is doing something.
Resting is doing something.
Aim to carry both the terrible and the beautiful
Aim to carry both the terrible and the beautiful
Every time I share something, I ask for someone’s attention. In a world where everything is vying to steal our attention, it’s important to ask if what we have to share is worth stealing someone’s attention for.
Every time I share something, I ask for someone’s attention. In a world where everything is vying to steal our attention, it’s important to ask if what we have to share is worth stealing someone’s attention for.
Adding structure is like deciding what to do with a pile of groceries in order to make a dinner.
Adding structure is like deciding what to do with a pile of groceries in order to make a dinner.
To witness is just to be there, to remain with eyes open. It is a way of seeing.
To witness is just to be there, to remain with eyes open. It is a way of seeing.
To go big, we need the capacity to step beyond the rules we know
To go big, we need the capacity to step beyond the rules we know
If you build/write/make it, they will come.
If you build/write/make it, they will come.
Build it and they’ll come
Build it and they’ll come
Midlife crisis = transition = healing. It’s an opportunity, not a challenge.
Midlife crisis = transition = healing. It’s an opportunity, not a challenge.
The Semmelweis Reflex can help us understand when people—an entire society, profession, or community—reject new information and instead choose to observe outdated norms.
The Semmelweis Reflex can help us understand when people—an entire society, profession, or community—reject new information and instead choose to observe outdated norms.
We have to aim to create an environment where learning/growth can occur.
We have to aim to create an environment where learning/growth can occur.
We have to deprogram our old ways in order to move forward.
We have to deprogram our old ways in order to move forward.
Confidence can be understood as the energy of being right.
Confidence can be understood as the energy of being right.
What if certainty isn’t the goal? What if the POINT is to be off the map?
What if certainty isn’t the goal? What if the POINT is to be off the map?
Our minds know before our bodies can know, and most times, our bodies take awhile to integrate the new information.
Our minds know before our bodies can know, and most times, our bodies take awhile to integrate the new information.
Accumulation of stuff begins as a response to a loss of trust.
Accumulation of stuff begins as a response to a loss of trust.
Release fairness and live based on what is possible, without regard to what others are doing
Release fairness and live based on what is possible, without regard to what others are doing
Staying exhausted hides things
Staying exhausted hides things
We are wired for connection.
We are wired for connection.
Beethoven provides an example of what you can do when your inputs are limited.
Beethoven provides an example of what you can do when your inputs are limited.
PVT explains adaptive changes to challenge
PVT explains adaptive changes to challenge
PVT is a lens or a perspective that can help to frame our inquiry. It is not however a static theory.
PVT is a lens or a perspective that can help to frame our inquiry. It is not however a static theory.
PVT offers a way of understanding how autonomic function relates to behavior.
PVT offers a way of understanding how autonomic function relates to behavior.
PVT gives us a context to understand movement “toward or away from people, places, and things”
PVT gives us a context to understand movement “toward or away from people, places, and things”
Joy makes ventral vagal more accessible!
Joy makes ventral vagal more accessible!
Autonomic states allow for different types of behavior
Autonomic states allow for different types of behavior
Focus on stimulus-response is typical, but what about intervening variables?
Focus on stimulus-response is typical, but what about intervening variables?
When individuals feel unsafe, they shift toward more protective mode, relying on adaptive survival responses.
When individuals feel unsafe, they shift toward more protective mode, relying on adaptive survival responses.
Build a library inside ourselves
Build a library inside ourselves
Just find the words to explain a tiny piece of how the world works
Just find the words to explain a tiny piece of how the world works
Blogs are a place to garden
Blogs are a place to garden
We make work that mirrors our own deeply held ideas about the world.
We make work that mirrors our own deeply held ideas about the world.
New ways of thinking with established technology
New ways of thinking with established technology
Sometimes NOT getting things done makes the most sense.
Sometimes NOT getting things done makes the most sense.
Dreams as portals
Dreams as portals
Educating at home is art
Educating at home is art
Stimulus-response is common paradigm
Stimulus-response is common paradigm
Safety allows for engagement
Safety allows for engagement
To move from a defensive autonomic state to safety, the ANS must be able to determine if risk is still present and if not, be able restrain mechanisms prepped toward defensive behaviors (fight, flight, or freeze).
To move from a defensive autonomic state to safety, the ANS must be able to determine if risk is still present and if not, be able restrain mechanisms prepped toward defensive behaviors (fight, flight, or freeze).
The autonomic nervous system has 2 branches of response, but polyvagal theory expands that to 3 potential hierarchal responses.
The autonomic nervous system has 2 branches of response, but polyvagal theory expands that to 3 potential hierarchal responses.
The ANS has the ability to bring calm, to spontaneosly engage with others, and to navigate threat responses through social cues.
The ANS has the ability to bring calm, to spontaneosly engage with others, and to navigate threat responses through social cues.
Neuroception distinguishes safe from dangerous
Neuroception distinguishes safe from dangerous
Working with our hands allows for thought
Working with our hands allows for thought
Working with your hands makes things happen in your brain
Working with your hands makes things happen in your brain
When we really face the weight of our current reality, we have to begin to ask what comes next. It creates new opportunities to make a new world.
When we really face the weight of our current reality, we have to begin to ask what comes next. It creates new opportunities to make a new world.
When we make art, we are exploring alternative realities.
When we make art, we are exploring alternative realities.
Attuned relationships include rupture and repair
Attuned relationships include rupture and repair
Groundwork is a way of “showing up” - even without feeling like it.
Groundwork is a way of “showing up” - even without feeling like it.
Seasons aligned with stages of maturity & creativity
Seasons aligned with stages of maturity & creativity
Being a maker is about collaborating with reality
Being a maker is about collaborating with reality
What I’m looking for to grow a seed into a sprout
What I’m looking for to grow a seed into a sprout
This is the safest, most dangerous time
This is the safest, most dangerous time
Criteria for collecting seeds for my garden
Criteria for collecting seeds for my garden
COVID happened to everyone; it’s causal, not co-occurring
COVID happened to everyone; it’s causal, not co-occurring
Imagination creates the limits of our world and we have to use our imagination to expand and improve things.
Imagination creates the limits of our world and we have to use our imagination to expand and improve things.
Community care will save us.
Community care will save us.
We can dream up new ways of being and care, to replace the systems of white supremacist capitalism.
We can dream up new ways of being and care, to replace the systems of white supremacist capitalism.
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Autonomic states allow for different types of behavior

Autonomic states allow for different categories of behavior. For instance, in the absence of safety, behaviors are more likely to take form as fight or flight. Or in presence of safety (increased vagal influence) may lead to social engagement.
 
 
 

← Sprouted from:

— Porges S. W. (2007). The polyvagal perspective. Biological psychology, 74(2), 116–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.009
 

Grew into →

Edlins, M. (2023). Exploring the Role of Felt Experience and the Autonomic Nervous System in Human Service Interactions. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 45(4), 294-313. https://doi.org/10.37808/jhhsa.45.4.4 (Original work published 2023)