Importance of Resources

Building Your Window of Tolerance

When we are healing from trauma, access to safe resources is not a luxury—it is a necessity. Resources are the foundational qualities of safety and trust that help us commit to our recovery.

By working with the right resources, we cultivate the ability to self-regulate our reactions and build a wider window of tolerance, allowing us to move through the world feeling more grounded and connected. 

4 Essential Resources for Regulation

To learn how to retrain your nervous system, focus on integrating these four types of resources:

1. Cultivate Supportive Relationships

Being with someone who feels safe and soothing helps your nervous system feel settled and connected. Seek out people who respect your boundaries and are supportive of your personal journey.

2. Work with a Trauma-Trained professional

Working with a professional (therapist, life coach, sound healer, reiki healer, acupuncture practitioner, etc) you can trust who is skilled in understanding the relationship between trauma and the body. They can provide the right guidance to help you better understand and connect with your nervous system.

3. Practice mindfulness

Being mindful and paying attention to how you feel—at different times of the day, around certain people, and during specific activities—helps you map where your ‘window of tolerance’ is. This self-awareness is essential for understanding your trigger points and their influence. 

4. Get in tune with your body

Allow your emotions to be heard and be kind to your body. Only by listening to it will you understand the root cause of the distress. For example, when you feel stress, take a moment to notice:

• Where do you feel the stress in your body?

• What does it feel like?

• What is it trying to tell you?

If focusing on the distress directly feels overwhelming, focus only on a small part of the stress instead. Allow yourself to fully experience this small portion for as long as you can. This practice of listening is key to understanding and soothing your nervous system.