Did you know that curiosity is key for healing your nervous system? As children, we are curious about everything. Exploring this curiosity, asking questions, and seeking answers, all help us grow and develop a regulated nervous system. However, if you grew up in an environment that didn’t feel secure, you may not have had the opportunity to grow in ways that are necessary for establishing a regulated nervous system. Let’s dive into the role that curiosity plays in a healthy nervous system and how you can rewire your nervous system as an adult if necessary.

Not only does curiosity play a key role in the healing of your nervous system, it also plays a key role in the development of your nervous system. Ideally an infant's brain and nervous system develop through the process of curious exploration and experimentation with the foundation of safety and security from their primary caregivers. However, without a foundation of safety, engagement with the world is filtered through the lens of survival instead of curiosity. Your foundation plays a huge part in nervous system health and development as you grow up.

Your foundation is everything. Whether you were raised in a secure environment or an environment that felt less safe will affect the way that your nervous system processes information. Like in home building, if the foundation of your nervous system was built upon shaky or insecure ground, coming to a state of stability or regulation will be more difficult. A crumbling foundation will not pass the test of time. Growing up in a less secure environment, you may have felt on edge, or unable to “let go” and indulge in the curiosity that came with being a child. This is typically because you had to expend more energy in conservation mode, making sure that you were safe or aware of your surroundings at all times. 

Conversely, a secure environment will provide you with the freedom to ask questions and be curious. In a secure environment, you grow up feeling safe and taken care of. This sense of safety gives you the freedom to be curious without having to worry about instability because rather than having to constantly be aware of your safety and surroundings, you’re able to relax.  

Did you grow up in a less secure environment? Were you too focused on surviving or keeping the peace to get to experience the curiosity that comes with being a child? If the answer is yes, then you may need to spend some time learning how to require your nervous system as an adult. 

Just because you didn't grow up in a nourishing environment as a child doesn't mean that all hope is lost. Establishing a healthy nervous system after childhood is still possible. As an adult, you can use the curiosity that was lacking in your neurodevelopment to rewire your nervous system now. In order to do this, it is important that you learn to filter your experiences through curiosity instead of judgment. By doing this, you will change the way that you experience and process information. That way, instead of your physiology constantly bracing for an imminent threat, it can begin to unwind patterns. This will help you move towards a greater state of regulation.

If you would like to learn more about nervous system regulation or rewiring your nervous system, be sure to check out my blog. And if you’re ready to commit to healing your nervous system but feel like you could use some extra help or a bit of guidance, I invite you to join me in my new Nervous System Reset program. In it, I will teach you how to create a healthy and fulfilling life. Click here to sign up for the waitlist and to learn more!

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Best of luck on your healing journey–