A short follow-up to last week’s deep dive on nervous system regulation. After six weeks of nonstop build mode in Madrid, I got invited to Denia Beach (in the region of Alicante) and the second I sat in front of the water, I remembered: this is the tool. The ocean isn’t just something I love. It’s the thing that pulls me out of spin-out and into presence faster than anything else.
This episode is a challenge: figure out yours.
In this episode:
Why six weeks of “go, go, go” mode made the ocean feel like a revelation, not a routine
The difference between something you enjoy and something that actually regulates your nervous system
Why proximity isn’t the point (I lived 10 minutes from the ocean in LA and rarely went)
How sound can be a backdoor to your tool when you can’t physically get there
Journal prompts to help you identify your own anchor
5 journal prompts to find your tool:
Where am I when I feel the most like myself; not performing, not producing, just being?
What activity or place makes me lose track of time in a good way?
When was the last time I noticed my breath naturally slow down without trying?
What did I love as a kid that I’ve quietly stopped making space for?
After spending time with what (or whom), do I feel most regulated for days afterward?
A few tips once you’ve identified yours:
Don’t wait until you’re depleted to use it. Most of us only reach for our tool after we’ve already spun out. Build in proactive access, even small doses, before the breaking point.
Find the backdoor version. You won’t always have access to the real thing. If yours is the ocean, save a wave-sounds playlist. If it’s a forest, keep a window seat with a tree view. The sensory shortcut is 70% as effective as the real thing and infinitely more available.
Stop confusing “things you like” with “things that regulate you.” A glass of wine, a scroll session, a shopping cart. Those are dopamine hits, not regulation. Your real tool leaves you calmer for days, not minutes.
Proximity isn’t the point. Intention is. I lived 10 minutes from the Pacific for 15 years and rarely went. You can be next door to the answer and still ignore it. Schedule it like a meeting.
Notice what makes you forget your phone. That’s usually the tool. If you naturally stop reaching for the scroll, your nervous system is already doing the work.
Connect with me:
Instagram: @themaxwellmethod
Website: www.themaxwellmethod.com
Work with me: www.themaxwellmethod.com/lets-talk
