Calm Bracelet

5 Beads = Name 5 things you can see.

4 Beads = Name 4 things you can touch. Touch them.

3 Beads = Name 3 things you can hear.

2 Beads = Name 2 things you can smell. Smell them.

1 Bead = Name 1 thing you can taste. Taste it.

Take a slow, deep breath.

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We never really see that world as it is because we all are forced to look at it through the lens of our nervous systems.

In our office, the nervous systems we encounter each day are set to ‘high alert’! Sista-boss (which is the survivors’ nickname for our director) expects high quality products and this means pointing out mistakes and asking for products to be redone. We’ve noticed newer artisans can respond with tears or erupt in defensive anger at even the kindest critique. When criticism in the past came paired with physical or emotional abuse, their responses make total sense.

But, you don’t have to be a trafficking survivor for your nervous system to get stuck in fight, flight, or freeze; you just have to endure a season of prolonged stress.

There is a part of all our brains’ whose sole job is to ask: “Am I safe?” “Am I in danger?” “Am I in life threatening danger?” And, unfortunately, this part of our brain cannot always tell the difference between criticism from Sista-boss and fist flying at our face. “Danger!” our brain screams, and stress hormones flood our bodies. Survival mode is underway!

Now, it’s up to our prefrontal cortex, our thinking brain, to tell our body: “This is just criticism. You are safe.”  When that doesn’t happen, we ‘flip our lid’. Once we've 'flipped our lid' we're REACTIVE and not in control. We might yell, curse, cry, or slam a door! This is because our body has shut off all systems that are not necessary for survival, including our logic center. Our goal at Not I But We, is to help our artisans notice what it feels like when they are about to ‘flip their lids’ and give them practices which bring their thinking brain back online.

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” Viktor Frankle

The beautiful thing is that our nervous systems can be retrained and rewired. No one is doomed to live on ‘high alert’ forever, constantly 'flipping their lids'.

In fact, at Not I But We, we teach that we all must rewire our nervous systems toward Love, for our own sakes and for the sake of all those we share life with.

The Sensory Inventory is one practice we offer that helps you bring your thinking brain back online before you ‘flip your lid.’ Consider this practice much like lifting a weight at the gym: Building muscle takes repetition and time, so does rewiring your nervous system with Love.

Suggested Uses:

-Do the sensory inventory whenever you feel overwhelmed by anxiety or anger.

-Try it with your kids.

-Use it to become more awake, aware, and grateful of the world around you.