There's nothing wrong with you. Really.

It's easy to think there's something wrong with you when you find yourself stuck in old patterns - overreacting, self-soothing with technology or food, behaving a certain way, even though you know better.

What if those behaviours you think are "bad" are actually just your nervous system doing what it's supposed to do?

Your body is always giving you information. (Yes, you've heard me say that more than a few times!)

When you feel your buttons are being pushed ...
When you find yourself snapping at someone you love ...
When you reach for the phone instead of the person beside you ...

You. Are. Not. Broken.

Your nervous system is giving you information - that something difficult or unexpected is happening and the situation is asking for more brain energy than usual; or you're simply tapped out and need some time and space to recharge and refuel.

It's not a surprise to us when we feel tired or sore after a workout or strenuous physical activity. We intentionally stress our bodies to grow stronger, and we don't label those after-effects as bad. We actually plan for them, and give ourselves what we need to recover.

When we stress our nervous systems with the demands of work, relationships and 21st century life, it's completely normal for the stress response to show up in our bodies, minds and emotions. (And when we decide there's something wrong with us for feeling stress, we create a whole new level of stress.)

Think of a time over the last day or so when you overreacted, said something you wish you hadn't, behaved in a way you now regret - -

• How did you judge yourself?

• What else was going on in that moment?

• What was your body trying to tell you?

• What if that is simply information?

What would change if you believed there was nothing wrong with you?
How would that change the way you think about stress?
How would you support yourself differently?

If that sounds great, but feels too hard, a conversation might help - no pressure, no obligation - just 30 minutes to start to look at things differently.