Working with our central nervous system/s
Our central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is how we receive, process and respond to sensory information. Our approach is informed by American psychologist and neuroscientist Stephen Porges' work on Polyvagal Theory. Polyvagal Theory explores how our bodily state influences how we experience the world, and how we can cultivate physiologies of calmness and safety, through our individual bodies, in groups and through our social systems.
Put simply, Polyvagal Theory frames our physiology through three responses – a relational response from our essential self (ventral vagal), fight or flight response from our activated self (sympathetic), and freeze response from our numbed, overwhelmed self (dorsal vagal). All of these are intelligent and adaptive responses, and more than one can be in play in any situation.
We have developed the image below to show how we can understand and work with our central nervous systems more skilfully in system change work. We seek to operate from and design our systems from a place of mauri ora (connection, life force and wellness), by resourcing ourselves to feel calm, safe, connected and relaxed.
We are a sea of sensations with these fluctuating states all the time. If we can start to bring awareness and love to them we can be a healing agent in life.
