I'm taking an episode (or two) to get real about what life is life 5 years into my own recovery from C-PTSD using nervous system regulation. Kind of like a before and after as I reflect on 10 of the more obvious (for me) insights and distinctions. 1. Survival Mode Can Look Like Success You can be sharp, fast, productive — and still be running entirely on stress hormones. Just because it's working doesn't mean it's well. 2. You're Not Broken — Your Nervous System is Braced The exhaustion, disconnection, and inability to "bounce back" aren't flaws. They're signs your system is over-capacity and doing its best to protect you. 3. Burnout Isn't a Mindset Problem You can't mindset your way out of nervous system depletion. More grit, more goals, and more gratitude lists won't fix a body that's stuck in overdrive. And holy gawd did I ever get the t-shirt on the mindset effort. 4. Rest Is Not a Reward It's not something you "earn" once everything's done. Rest is a biological need — and the gateway back to creativity, clarity, and joy and.. more productivity. Who knew? 5. Emotional Intelligence Isn't a Skill — It's a State EQ isn't something you do. It's something you Be. It's a by product of a healthy nervous system. Dysregulated = disconnected. 6. You Don't Heal by Thinking — You Heal by Feeling (Safely) No amount of insight replaces what your nervous system needs to feel. Healing is about experiencing safety in your actual nervous system. That stringy bit of anatomy is what needs to feel safe. 7. Boundaries Aren't Walls — They're Regulation Tools Saying no isn't selfish. It's how you teach your system that you matter too. And when you do, your Nervous System can trust you and start to relax. 8. You Can't Cope Your Way Into Aliveness Coping got you here — and that matters. But at some point, surviving becomes its own kind of stuck. Aliveness needs capacity, not just coping strategies. 9. Your (Body) Nervous System Isn't the Enemy — It's the Compass It's not trying to ruin your life — it's trying to keep you alive. Learning to speak its language is the most powerful thing you'll ever do. 10. You're Allowed to Build a Life That Doesn't Require You to Abandon Yourself to Succeed That's not weak. That's wisdom. That's leadership. That's freedom. ____________________________________________________________________ Shannon Eastman Shannon Eastman is a business growth strategist fluent in both boardroom dynamics and nervous system regulation. With 25 years of experience scaling businesses across tech, finance, and regulated industries worldwide, she brings a systems-thinking approach to performance, leadership, and wellbeing. After five years studying the neurobiology of trauma, Jungian psychology, and polyvagal theory, Shannon now integrates nervous system intelligence into the way business gets done—through corporate pilots, strategic partnerships, and a global network of innovators driving this shift. Her work bridges performance and wellbeing, laying the groundwork for a more human, sustainable way to lead. www.shannoneastman.com Follow Shannon on LinkedIn > ______________________________________________________________________ NEW: Nervous System Economy™ You'll hear us refer to the Nervous System Economy™ — a industry level educaiton initiative committed to integrating Nervous System Intelligence into business and leadership. You'll find more about this over here: www.nervoussystemeconomy.com _______________________________________________________________________ A Note on Safety Your mental health, wellbeing, and sense of safety matter deeply. Working with a trauma-informed practitioner can make a significant difference. While this podcast shares insights, reflections, and tools, it is not a substitute for professional support. If you're seeking a qualified practitioner, visit the Directory on our website. Our community includes psychologists, psychotherapists, and psychiatrists who work through a trauma-informed lens — often with a special interest in supporting professionals aged 40+ or working within organisations. _____________________________________________________________________ #WTTLO #WhoTurnedTheLightsOn #NervousSystemEconomy #CPTSD #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #40PlusProfessionals #Anxiety #TraumaRecovery #NervousSystemRegulation #WellbeingAtWork #Edutainment #NervousSystemBasics #NervousSystemInformedApproach