Reclaiming the Nervous System
- Oct 2
- 3 min read
By Ariel Balfour
Have you ever noticed yourself snapping in a moment you swore you’d stay calm, or shutting down when you needed to speak up most? Those patterns aren’t random. They’re not weaknesses. They’re programming. Deep subconscious pathways.
From the moment we’re born, our nervous system records everything. Childhood experiences, family dynamics, even inherited generational trauma through epigenetics, all of it shapes how we perceive the world. Those early imprints build the lens through which we see life and silently dictate how we react as adults. Some key examples you may relate to are:
If love felt conditional, we may spend adulthood hustling for approval.
If safety felt unpredictable, we may lean into hyper-control or complete avoidance.
If failure wasn’t tolerated, we may sabotage ourselves before we even begin.
These patterns run deeper than willpower or positive thinking because they’re hardwired into the brain’s survival circuits. You can’t simply “decide” your way out of them. That’s why so many people feel stuck in the same loops no matter how hard they try to change.
Time to Reprogramming
Here’s the breakthrough: neuroscience proves the brain is plastic, flexible even. The pathways that keep us locked in old responses can be rewired. And when you get to the root cause of the programming, change happens rapidly, even if it’s covert.
One of the most effective tools for this is rREST® (Rapid Reprogramming of Emotional Stress Technique) a neuroscience-based method designed to resolve the stress imprints at their source. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which often circles the story, rREST works directly with the nervous system to dissolve the old pattern and replace it with a new success pathway. It’s brain surgery without the scalpel.
As one of only a handful of certified practitioners worldwide in active practice, I’ve witnessed people transform decades of reactive conditioning in a fraction of the time they thought possible. They walk away not just coping better, but free… able to step into clarity, calm, and sustainable success.
Practical Shifts You Can Start Today
Even without a formal session, you can begin to loosen the grip of old programming by practicing three key shifts:
1. Separate the Trigger
When you notice a reactive moment, pause and say: “This is programming, not who I am.” That simple awareness creates distance and begins breaking the loop. Take notes of when, where, why and how it shows up.
2. Interrupt the State
Your body and brain are connected. Movement, deep breathing, or even splashing cold water on your face, or hell screaming while flailing, interrupts the stress response and resets your nervous system.
3. Anchor a New Belief
Write down one empowering truth you want to embody (e.g., “It’s safe for me to succeed”). Repeat it during calm states so your brain accepts it as the new default. Add it to your phone screen saver or sing it in the shower on repeat.
The Bottom Line
Your reactions are not your fault, they’re the residue of past programming. But they are your responsibility to shift if you want to create a new future. No playing victim here if you want real change. With tools rooted in neuroscience, you don’t just manage stress, you rewire your brain for clarity, power, and success.
Your past may have shaped your patterns, but it doesn’t define your destiny. The choice to reclaim your nervous system is the choice to reclaim your life.
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