Be like a sloth
My niece got really into sloths a few years ago (thanks to Zootopia), and she taught me that sloths move so slowly because they have a slow metabolism, they are vegetarians, and they live in a hot, humid environment. All of these factors force them to conserve their energy, which is why they are champions at listening to their bodies and slowing down.
I was reminded of this yesterday when my house was 90 degrees inside and my poor cat, Phoebe, was languishing about and barely moving. My first instinct was to try to motivate her to get up, and then I paused and realized that she had exactly the right idea.
Our bodies are built to seek balance. When it is hot out, we really should slow down, rest more, seek the shade, hydrate, and avoid things that turn up our internal heat. When we don’t, we add unnecessary stress to our nervous system. Depending on the health of the nervous system, this added stress can either be absorbed, or can fan the flames of the fire.
Being able to adapt to our environment is one of the hallmarks of a healthy nervous system. When the nervous system is well-regulated, we can tolerate greater deviations from the norm. When the nervous system is maxed out, we have little room to accommodate to change and are more easily provoked.
Do you find yourself feeling less patient, more irritable, or easier to provoke on hot days? This is a sign of excess fire in your system, but it is also a sign of a stressed out nervous system. If you are in that boat right now, the antidote is lots of grounding, rest, and space.
We live in a world that doesn’t always allow us to slow down. I know it can feel impossible to rest sometimes when you are holding so much. It is going to be close to 100 degrees in Vermont today, so it would be a good day to take inspiration from the sloths and chill out. Even if that isn’t fully possible, your invitation today is to find pockets of ease. Close your eyes and take seven breaths with long, luxurious exhales, or lie on your left side for 10 minutes after lunch to help your nervous system rest and digest. If you have 20 minutes to rest, here are two free practices to support your nervous system.
Need more support? Let’s connect! I specialize in healing the nervous system so that you can be flexible and resilient.
