Regulation as a Form of Activism

When we reflect upon the state of the world, it is understandable why we may feel anxious, angry, depressed, or despondent. There’s a shortage of affordable homes. Wages aren’t keeping up with the rising cost of living. Social unrest and political violence are escalating. Wealth and power are concentrated in the hands of the few. The insatiable news cycle inundates us with stories of relentless tragedy. Social media has eroded our collective attention span, sense of self-worth, and the manner in which we communicate. Artificial Intelligence has disrupted entire job markets and its overuse is limiting our capacity to think critically or creatively. And if all that wasn’t enough, we’re in the middle of a global climate crisis that poses an existential threat to life on this planet. If thinking about any of these issues causes you to feel a sense of overwhelm, dread, or hopelessness, that is an appropriate response to these times and you’re not alone. 

What do we do with all of this? How does one function given all the cues of danger that we’re constantly bombarded with? You may have a desire to make a difference in some way, but it might feel like a Sisyphean task. The challenges we face are enormous and complex. Individually, how can we hope to make a positive impact on the world and help nudge humanity in a more favourable direction? 

In these times of chronic collective dysregulation, one of the greatest gifts that we can offer others is a regulated nervous system. As highly social creatures, we have a profound influence on the internal states of those that we interact with. Emotions are contagious and this helps explain why we often feel unsettled around those who are nervous, overwhelmed, or angry. Being in their presence can lead us to feel a similar way. Similarly, when we feel safe and grounded within ourselves, we signal to other people that they can relax too, at least momentarily. This exchange is known as co-regulation.

So much of our societal distress can be explained by people reacting unconsciously from a place of fear. Many people live in a perpetual state of dysregulation and are making decisions that are not ultimately beneficial on a personal nor a collective level. When we’re in various states of overwhelm, our creative, innovative, and altruistic ways of thinking become inaccessible. When we are afraid for our safety, it’s hard to think about anything else. 

We make our best decisions from a place of regulation because it is in this state that we have access to all the cognitive capacities of our mind. If you want to help others, and by extension the world, you can spend some time considering the ways to help you stay regulated. What activities, objects, practices, places, and people help you to feel safe, grounded, present, calm, and connected? Before you interact with a dysregulated person whether that be your child, partner, relative, friend, co-worker, stranger, etc., how can you first bring a sense of regulation to your own nervous system? 

It can be daunting to think about the colossal challenges we face when we consider how tiny we are in comparison. But how we carry ourselves ripples outward and influences everyone and everything that we’re connected with. Your calm and grounded presence may help someone shift out of an overwhelmed state enabling them to make decisions that positively impact those around them. A regulated nervous system is a potent form of activism in a dysregulating world.