Self regulation of our nervous systems is key to how we experience our lives, from managing stress, energy, focus, emotions, thoughts, and reactions. When are nervous system is overstimulated our decision making part of the brain shuts down, and we become less able of being aware of ourselves, and our behavior. It is challenging enough to be mindfully self-aware on any particular moment, but even harder when the executive part of the brain shuts down.
Nervous system regulation can allow us to let go of stress, slow down, become more present and aware. Without self-regulation we are can become a reaction between the circumstances of the external world and our learned behavior perpetuating the same cycles of experiences over and over again despite any changes that we make to either our circumstances or our desired thinking.
As a parent I see my nervous system regulation as key to helping my child regulate and learn how to self-regulate. We can only teach what we know how to do because children learn from observing our actions not so much our words. I cannot expect my child to regulate their nervous system especially if my own nervous system isn’t regulated.