Survival Instinct:
Many people who live in a constant state of stress are unconsciously activating the survival instinct also referred to as the flight-fight syndrome. A state of denial accompanies ongoing stress. This can make a person feel anxious, depressed and desperate. The choices that are made are largely unconscious and out of balance. They either willingly let go of control or lose the ability to retain control. Reacting or over reacting to circumstances and situations in life under this influence leaves much of the truth hidden in the dark.
An understanding of what is happening or what one is truly doing is outside their conscious awareness. The old pattern of either eliminating that which threatens their sense of survival or running away from the same keeps ones perception and personal power small and limited.
Survival Instinct ~ Action without Thought:
Survival instinct is not determined by thought. Action without thought is taken and felt to be necessary to survive. This has often resulted in an inability to truly save oneself from a perceived or real threat. If what is activating the constant stress is not recognized for what it is, it is in a state of denial. What is not recognized remains hidden in some way and continues to play itself out in ones life through debilitating patterns of behavior.
Regardless of whether a person is in real physical danger or not the survival instinct plays out the same. The flight-fight syndrome causes the pupils to dilate, and ones visual scope focuses in, decreasing the number of things a person will notice. What one fails to notice is unconscious to them at that time. It also impairs fine and complex motor skills as well, giving more energy to larger movement, such as lifting or running.
Other Physical Responses:
The survival instinct tells our brain to put the hypothalamus to work triggering the adrenal glands to release hormones including adrenaline and cortisol. In a more peaceful time the hypothalamus regulates hormone secretions for a well balanced healthy body.
Adrenaline boosts your heart rate and blood pressure, causes the liver to release stored energy in the form of glucose and sends blood to your large muscle groups. Cortisol tempers the bodily functions such as digestion and growth in order to aid the need to survive.
Continual release of stress hormones leaves a person physically and mentally exhausted. After the initial stress eases, your parasympathetic nervous system kicks back in to regulate those functions that the cortisol constricted such as digestion and growth. This entire process saps your strength, especially when it happens over and over again. Prolonged cortisol exposure can also promote depression. Once your mental state deteriorates, so goes your will to live.
Free Yourself:
Free yourself from the chains that bind you. They may be patterns of thought or habits that enslave you. Whatever the origin, should you intend to discover what sends your body and mind into survival, you will surely come to know it. When you come to recognize the survival triggers you can begin a conscious rise above the syndrome that plagues our society and brings illness and sorrow into the lives of so many. We are creating our reality. If we could but embrace the responsibility we have in creating our life I believe we would do a much better job of it.
Link Between the Root Chakra and Survival Instinct:
Located at the base of the spine is the root chakra. This chakra forms our foundation, is associated with the earth element and is therefore related to our survival instincts, stillness and to our sense of grounding and connection to our bodies and the physical world in which we live. When this chakra is balanced and operating according to the Divine plan it brings health, prosperity, security and a dynamic presence. Root Chakra Guidelines
With that said getting in touch with this chakra is fundamental to disarming the repetitive syndrome of sheer survival and activating the foundation of health and prosperity. A deep sense of connectedness creates waves of energy that resonates with a feeling of safety and peace.
Healthy Support System:
When we begin to trust the life we are given to be an expression of joy, we have expanded the territory of the root chakra. There must be a place for the seeds of our thoughts and ideas to land and take root. It is our responsibility to plant healthy creative thought seeds and then nurture them to full bloom.
We are not asked to do everything alone. As we make a conscious rise above survival we find ourselves with like-minded others that support our new growth. In the same way we are then given opportunities to support the healthy growth of others. A feeling and sense of brotherhood and sisterhood is born.
Take Time to Breathe and Meditate:
Making the choice to bring your attention to your breath has a magical way of bringing you to the present moment which often leads to the realization that what is before you is not a life or death situation.
You do not have to be any where special to bring your attention to your breath you simply have to make the conscious choice to do so. You can gently lower your eyelids and count your way through an inhalation, hold for a moment and then count your way through an exhalation. Doing this 3-5 times will shift the automatic activation of the survival function and bring clarity to your thoughts and presence to your position. You will find you can make choices that are aligned with personal power and healthy change. This in turn gives strength to your personal sense of safety. Meditation is always a good choice. It can begin as easy as “attention to breath” as I just mentioned. See video:Benefits of Meditation
Knowledge is Power~Take Action:
It has been said that knowledge is power. I believe that is true when the knowledge obtained is put into action. Take it upon yourself to make a Conscious Rise above Survival. We are meant to live fully not just barely survive. Rise above survival mode. Take action where you know you can and build upon those first initial steps. Sometimes the steps we need to take are a stepping back to observe and evaluate your life. Breathe* This is your life after all. Make it the best life ever! 🙂
Love, Astara
