In times of high stress and changing concerns do you need to recalibrate your threat sensors?
And how do you do that?
It can be so challenging to deal with the sense of threat... and the stress that comes with it.
And when the situation is changing day-to-day, with new information, new rumors, new worries... The survival part of our brain can get frozen and overwhelmed.
The problem then is that our "fear" gauge can get stuck on high, and the constant stress and worry we feel can stress our bodies and minds badly.
Our systems are not designed to be in constant Flight/Fight/Freeze... We're supposed to have at least moments of calm when we can enjoy the sunshine and the taste of strawberries.
For many of us, with the uncertainty of current times, it may be hard to have those quiet moments of repose...
And we're being bombarded with information about potential dangers... Health, economic, availability of resources, the well-being of friends and family, limited freedoms, and uncertainty on how to stay safe and what will happen next.
And being frozen means we may not have the focus or resources to deal with actual needs. We've worn ourselves out with potential threats and often have that deer-in-the-headlights response to new information.
When we help our survival (primitive) brain unfreeze, we give it and ourselves more choice and an ability to respond to changing needs more easily.
Those moments of peace, in our recalibrated space, help us recharge and find joy in life again.
If you'd like help calming your survival brain and recalibrating your threat sensors... We have a special gift for you.
Rick and I were talking about how we want to support you and what the biggest challenges are, and Rick suggested we help you recalibrate your threat response. In fact, we'll all do it together!
Please join us for this free (donations are welcome and not required - we want you to have new resiliency in these tough times) 1 hour coaching webinar where we'll cover the 3 Steps To Recalibrating Our Threat Sensors!
~ Listen and Tap Along with Us ~
3 Steps To Recalibrating Our Threat Sensors
3 Steps to Recalibrating Our Threat Sensors
"The fact that you're here—I think that's a beautiful gift you're giving yourself and those you interact with."
We know it’s awkward out there—humans can feel scary, the world is noisy, and our internal meters can get stuck on high alert. We’ll walk this together, heart‑to‑heart, through three practical steps that have helped us—and countless clients—reset our threat sensors so we can meet the moment with steadier bodies, clearer minds, and gentler hearts.
Step One — Reading the Meter
"It’s not about being accurate—it’s a sense of relativity."
Let’s start exactly where we are. Right now, as you read, check your own internal scale from 0 = deeply relaxed to 10 = climbing the ceiling. No judgment, no gold stars for chill. On the live call Rick clocked in at a “six”—enough activation to feel the collective “let me out of the stall!” energy while still sensing the bedtime stories being read in the next room. Cathy reminded us there’s no status in pretending we’re zen when our shoulders are around our ears.
Take a breath. Notice your feet, the air around your toes, the support under your seat. Jot your number. That simple act of awareness is the first recalibration.
Step Two — Honoring Our Primitive Brain
"Hey primitive brain, you’ve been working really hard."
Our survival brain is powerful—think loyal puppy with a megaphone. It tries to run, fight, or freeze long before our thinking mind catches up. When threats are invisible (hello, virus) the poor pup never gets proof that we’re safe, so it stays wound tight.
Instead of scolding the puppy, we appreciate it. That’s where EFT Tapping shines. Follow along; feel free to change words so they ring true for you.
EFT Tapping Round — Appreciating the Primitive Brain
Side of Hand: Even though my survival brain is pretty activated right now, I’m taking pretty good care of myself anyway. Even though my survival brain’s not sure how to keep me safe, I’m here doing this silly tapping thing with these other people, and they say it could help me recalibrate. Even though my survival brain has been really activated for a while, I’m open to examining what’s scary and letting myself relax when it’s appropriate.
Top of Head: My survival brain is pretty activated.
Eyebrow: It hasn’t relaxed in a while.
Side of Eye: Hey primitive brain.
Under the Eye: You’ve been working really hard.
Under the Nose: I really appreciate how much you care.
Chin: Thank you for watching out for me.
Collarbone: I really appreciate how much effort you put into keeping me safe.
Under the Arm: I am here with you now, and in this moment we’re surprisingly safe.
Top of Head: I appreciate you, primitive brain—you’re not alone in this.
Eyebrow: We’re gonna figure this out.
Side of Eye: We can do it together.
Take a slow breath. Notice any objections popping up; jot them for later tapping.
Step Three — From Reaction to Response
"I want to be responsive rather than reactive."
When we quiet the alarm bells, we can hear the whispers of genuine guidance. Rick loves the feel of drawing his sensor‑circle in close—embracing the 23 beating hearts on the call instead of the whole planet. Cathy likens it to learning to drive: on a freeway you watch the cars right around you, with only light awareness of the distant lanes.
EFT Tapping Round — Choosing Responsiveness
Side of Hand: Even though a part of me is reacting to so many things and I’m not always sure what my response is, I’m asking for my own clarity in each moment.
Top of Head: A part of me is reacting.
Eyebrow: It’s reacting to so many things.
Side of Eye: I want to be responsive.
Under the Eye: Reactions aren’t good for me.
Under the Nose: When my anxiety spikes it’s so hard on my system.
Chin: I want more ease.
Collarbone: I intend to have more clarity.
Under the Arm: It’s okay for me to feel into me.
Local Focus, Global Heart
"Hey Universe, draw my attention to those you would have me help."
We care, deeply—but we can’t carry the whole world. Turning the rest over to the Universe (or Source, God, Life—use your word) frees our bandwidth to serve where we’re truly called.
EFT Tapping Round — Turning It Over
Side of Hand: Even though there’s a lot out there I could worry about and I want to take care of everybody, there’s only so much I can do in my space, and me being stressed out isn’t actually helpful. What if I relaxed, took care of myself and those I’m guided to serve, and turned the rest over to the Universe?
Top of Head: Hey Universe—I’ve been trying to do it all.
Eyebrow: I do that a lot.
Side of Eye: This is definitely bigger than me.
Under the Eye: Would you help, please?
Under the Nose: Draw my attention to those you’d have me help.
Chin: And I turn the rest over to you.
Collarbone: Please help me keep my focus where you’d have me keep it.
Under the Arm: Give me moments of calm and peaceful love so I can recharge and recalibrate my threat sensors.
Grace in the Awkward Dance
"Maybe we’ll step on each other’s feet once in a while—and maybe we aren’t doing anything wrong."
Masks, no masks; sanitizer drips; six‑foot sidesteps that feel like a tango with invisible partners. Our primitive brain wants everyone to follow our choreography so we can be sure we’re right. But certainty isn’t required for safety—or kindness.
EFT Tapping Round — Releasing Judgment
Side of Hand: Even though some people feel so irresponsible and others so over‑reactive, I want to be clear about what’s right for me and accept that it may be different for them.
Top of Head: Some people are just so irresponsible!
Eyebrow: And some are totally over‑reacting.
Side of Eye: My primitive brain gets noisy about that.
Under the Eye: It’s been that way for ten‑thousand years.
Under the Nose: I’m learning to stay in balance for me.
Chin: I can speak a boundary without going into reaction.
Collarbone: Awkward is okay.
Under the Arm: I choose responsiveness over reactivity.
EFT Tapping Round — The Awkward Dance
Side of Hand: Even though this is really strange and totally awkward—the music keeps changing—I’ll follow my own inner guidance, use the best information I can find, and love and accept myself (and others) as much as I can.
Top of Head: This is really strange.
Eyebrow: And totally awkward.
Side of Eye: I don’t always know what to do.
Under the Eye: Maybe we’ll bump into each other.
Under the Nose: I’ll follow my guidance day‑to‑day.
Chin: Maybe we’re not doing anything wrong.
Collarbone: I choose to love and accept myself anyway.
Under the Arm: And offer others the same grace.
Moving Forward Together
We’re grateful you showed up for this exploration. A one‑percent shift—one notch down on your meter, one extra breath before reacting—changes your trajectory. Calm is contagious. As you reset your own sensors, you open a doorway for others to down‑regulate out of fear and into choice.
If you hit a snag, write it down and tap. If you want deeper support, our Reprogram Your Primitive Brain series walks you step‑by‑step through releasing old traumas and strengthening resilience. And if insights bubble up, share them with us at support@thrivingnow.com—together we amplify the wisdom of our circle.
With appreciation for your courage and your presence,
Rick & Cathy
If you want more in-depth support, sign up for Reprogramming Your Primitive Brain. This proven 6-module coaching and tapping course can give you a resilience and healthy responsiveness that feels SO GOOD compared to knee-jerk reactions that keep triggering fears and anxiety. Sign-up here now!
If you have questions, email us at support@thrivingnow.com or simply ask in the comment section below!
Thanks for being with us!
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Thanks to all those who co-created this session! Questions and shared wisdom welcome here!