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Your Nervous System Is Running the Show - Whether You Like It or Not

There is no amount of strategy, mindset work, or productivity hacks that can override the fact that your body is always speaking to you.

So what happens when life happens? When stress, illness, or emotional upheaval collide with the fact that you still have a business to run?

Most entrepreneurs push through. They force themselves to “power through” fatigue, ignore exhaustion, and suppress their emotions to stay productive. But this is not resilience—it’s self-abandonment.

True resilience is not about pushing harder - it’s about working with your body, not against it.

In this two-part series, we’re diving into how to build a body-led business - one that honours your capacity while still allowing you to grow sustainably.

Today’s focus: Internal strategies - understanding your nervous system so you can build resilience from within.

Next week: External strategies - how to structure your business to support you during seasons of stress and change.

Why This Matters (And Why I’m Sharing This Now)

I’ve guided countless clients through this process, but today, I’m speaking from personal experience. Right now, my body is speaking louder than my mind.

I’ve been navigating cortisol dysregulation, bouncing between chronic fight-or-flight and shutdown. It has impacted my energy, my ability to show up, and how I hold my business.

And yet, I’m still here, running my business in a way that supports my healing—not in a way that demands I ignore it.

Because I know that:

• You don’t have to push through to be successful.

• You don’t have to ignore your body’s signals to grow.

• You don’t have to burn out to build something sustainable.

And that’s what I want to share with you today—so you can learn to listen, regulate, and build a business that honours YOU.

Understanding Your Nervous System (The 3 Main States)

Your nervous system is always responding to its perception of safety or threat.

By learning to recognise what state you’re in, you can support yourself in a way that actually works—instead of fighting against your body’s needs.

According to Polyvagal Theory, your nervous system moves through three primary states:

1. Ventral State (Regulated & Connected)

• You feel clear, grounded, creative, and social.

• Business feels easy, aligned, and exciting.

• You can make decisions confidently and take inspired action.

💡 Key Regulation Tools: Connection, play, intuitive movement, deep breathing, co-regulation with others.

2. Sympathetic State (Fight-or-Flight Mode)

• You feel anxious, overwhelmed, reactive, or scattered.

• Everything feels urgent like you’re constantly “behind.”

• You might overcommit, overwork, or experience racing thoughts and physical tension.

💡 Key Regulation Tools: Movement (shaking, stomping, running), grounding breathwork, EFT tapping, progressive muscle relaxation.

3. Dorsal State (Shutdown & Freeze Mode)

• You feel exhausted, foggy, disconnected, or frozen.

• Business feels impossible, and you struggle to take action.

• You zone out, procrastinate, or feel numb to your goals.

💡 Key Regulation Tools: Gentle activation (Tai Chi, stretching, rhythmic movement), grounding techniques, breathwork, nature exposure.

You Can’t Regulate Your Nervous System If You Don’t Know What State You’re In

One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs make? Trying to use the wrong regulation tools for their nervous system state.

For example:

• If you’re in sympathetic mode (fight-or-flight) and you try to meditate, your body will resist it. What you really need is a movement to discharge energy first.

• If you’re in dorsal mode (shutdown) and you try to push yourself into intense exercise, it will feel impossible. What you really need is slow, gentle activation.

So before you try to “fix” your energy, pause and ask yourself:

❓ What state am I in right now?

❓ What does my body need to feel 5% safer?

When you work with your body instead of against it, regulation becomes effortless—and burnout becomes avoidable.

Why Your Business Feels Harder Than It Should

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still struggling to keep up—it’s not about motivation.

Your business requires you to hold space for yourself, your clients, and the unknowns of entrepreneurship.

But your nervous system dictates how much you can hold.

And if you’re constantly pushing past your body’s limits, it will force you to stop—through exhaustion, burnout, or illness.

The goal isn’t to “get rid” of stress. The goal is to create a business that allows you to navigate it without breaking down.

Reflection Questions to Build a Body-Led Business

1️⃣ What state does my nervous system default to when I’m under pressure?

2️⃣ What regulation practices actually work for me? Which ones feel forced?

3️⃣ What is one small shift I can make today to support my capacity?

If you want a business that honours your body, you have to start by honouring where you are right now.

Next Steps:

This is just Part 1. Next week, we’re talking about how to build external business strategies that support your nervous system, so your business can hold you through every season of life.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to connect with me on Instagram (@jessica.read.ilc) and tell me:

👉 What was your biggest takeaway from this?

👉 How do you currently support your nervous system in business?

And if you’re ready to go deeper, stay tuned for Part 2.

💡 Your nervous system is not your enemy—it’s your greatest business asset. Learn to work with it, and everything changes.

Join The Expansion Code:

If you’re ready to bridge the gap between where you are and the version of you who moves with certainty, join me inside The Expansion Code. This is an energetic activation, not just another workshop—where you’ll feel the shift in your body, not just in your mind.

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