Vagus Nerve Reset
Day 9- Trust

Trust

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Coming back to trust.

A big trigger of stress is a lack of trust. Lack of trust in yourself, your capabilities, inherent qualities and abilities. Lack of trust in those around you, to ensure your safety, to love and treat you well. And a lack of trust in whatever it is you believe in- the Universe, God, Source.

Fear and mistrust can build up over time in a response to challenging circumstances. Then we may form beliefs about ourselves and the world that may be difficult to shift.

Sometimes we are just ready to trust again. We have done the work, we are ready to surrender into the unknown, what is out of our control. And sometimes we aren’t ready, and that’s okay too. Holding the intention to trust more, to let go more so you can easily flow with life is a beautiful way to bring peace into your heart.

Today’s Activity:

Cultivating Trust

SOLO

Today’s activity will depend on what type of trust you’d love to enhance.

Journaling prompts;

  1. Do I trust myself? Why or why not?

  2. When are some examples of times I have believed and trusted in myself and it has paid off?

  3. Do I have trust in my relationships? Delve deeper into any specific relationships that are coming up for you.

  4. Do I trust in the Universe/ God/ Source/Spirit (whatever you believe) to support and guide me?

If you have your own spiritual practice, take some time today in this place. You may choose to pray, light a candle, recite mantras or simply reconnect with nature or your own breath.

WITH YOUR KIDS

Have a chat to your kids about how they trust themselves. Cultivating a growth mindset, meaning that they believe in their own ability to try, persist and overcome rather than needing to be talented or smart from the get-go is so important. 

When we have a deep trust in our own ability to figure out obstacles and challenges and seek out help and support when we need it there are infinite possibilities.

Bonus Tips…

Vagus Nerve Reset Exercise

This exercise directly stimulates the vagus nerve pathways to initiate calm and relaxation in your body.

You can do this exercise laying on your back or seated upright.

Today’s video describes how to do the exercise.

To begin;

1. Interlace your fingers and place your hands behind your head, some fingers resting on your upper neck, some on the base of your skull.

2. Let the weight of your head rest comfortably on your interwoven fingers.

3. Keeping your head in place, look to the right, moving only your eyes, as far as you comfortably can.

4. After about 30-60 seconds you will yawn, swallow or sigh indicating your nervous system has relaxed.

5. Bring your eyes back to looking straight ahead.

6. Repeat the exercise looking to the left.

Prayer

Studies have shown that reciting rosary beads in prayer increases vagus activation, enhancing cardiovascular rhythms such as diastolic blood pressure and HRV.

The reading of the rosary takes approximately 10 seconds, thus causing readers to breathe at 10 second intervals which increases HRV and vagus function.

How and if you pray is completely personal to you, aside from the rosary other options include;     

  • Using mala beads for chanting or a mantra.

  • Write a story about your ideal life and what you would manifest, written in the present tense and read it aloud to yourself.

  • Write and read a gratitude list. Simply searching for things to be grateful for shifts us powerfully in the direction of ease and happiness.