Have you ever entered a room and immediately felt at ease, or conversely, sensed that something was off without understanding why? This subtle, instinctive awareness is known as neuroception. It is our nervous system's ability to detect safety or danger without conscious thought.

What is safety

Safety can be defined as the feeling of security that enables participation and connection. A key aspect is that we experience safety through various cues. Our nervous system is constantly scanning the environment for these cues to determine whether we are safe. All of these cues can be summarized under the term "neuroception." Neuroception is a completly unconscious and automatic process.

Our nervous system continually scans for cues of safety and threat in three main areas: inside, in-between, and outside. When we refer to the "inside," we are talking about our intuition, subtle perceptions of others, and physical sensations such as hunger, fatigue, or thirst. The "in-between" area relates to our interpersonal interactions, including conversations, emails, and text messages with others.

Finally, the "outside" pertains to our environment and what is occurring around us. Our nervous system constantly checks whether or not what is in our environment is safe. For example, signs of a threat in our environment could include a person in the street acting aggressively, a dog that seems intimidating, or an encounter with a snake in the garden. On the other hand, signs of safety might be cozy music in a coffee shop, the sound of people talking and laughing, or a calm yoga studio.

Neuroception and survival mode 

If our nervous system constantly perceives danger, it becomes challenging to access our feminine essence. There could be two reasons for constantly perceived danger: the first one is that the reality we experience presents real threats, for example, a situation of violence in a relationship, a situation of mobbing at work or long-term illness (in that case, the clue is an "inside" clue). The other cause of constant perceived threat by the nervous system is a body stuck in survival mode, which means a body that can't find its way to a safe nervous system state, even when the outside reality is safe. This is, for example, the case when there is a history of trauma. Traumatic experiences profoundly shape how the nervous system operates. However, it is essential to note that the nervous system can also be recalibrated to safety.

In both scenarios, when in survival mode, the nervous system prioritize protection and control, making it complicated to fully embody the qualities of feminine energy. To learn more about this, check out this article where we go deeper into what hurts feminine energy.

Using neuroception to increase safety

We can enhance our perception of safety by focusing on cues that promote feelings of security in three key areas: inside, in-between, and outside. 

• Inside: in this area, we should identify cues of comfort and well-being. This includes for example the pleasure of confortable clothes or feeling warmth enough. 
• In-between: when we are with loved ones, we can concentrate on the positive interactions we share. This includes noticing the smiles we exchange, the laughter in their eyes, and the encouraging words we offer each other. 
• Outside: we can choose to spend time in environments that nurture our sense of security and intentionally notice these aspects. Nature usually helps regulate our nervous system, and cues of safety in this area might include hearing birds singing, observing the rhythm of waves, or admiring the colors of flowers. 

By becoming more aware of safety cues and focusing on them, we allow our nervous system to recalibrate. Over time, this practice helps us experience the world as safer and more welcoming, ultimately benefiting our connection to our feminine essence.

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