This is one of the most useful concepts I learned from Nancy Napier, LMFT while studying Somatic Experiencing(TM). The metaphor refers to the choices we can make when the fire of a fight or flight response gets ignited in our nervous system. We can feed the fire by adding logs of agitation. Or we can dampen the fire by choosing to not engage in inflammatory activities as well as resourcing ourselves a la the "Resilient-You" audio program. Years later, I consciously choose on a regular basis to "not add logs to the fire", and teach my clients to do the same.
For me this means that when I'm feeling vulnerable, I intentionally avoid certain activities and people that tend to agitate me. For example, something I did during the Boston Marathon bomber aftermath to help my nervous system stay regulated, was I avoided TV coverage and only followed the news through written journalism, the radio or what someone told me. That way I could stay informed and compassionately involved, but not dysregulated by fearful dramatic TV reporting.
Click here so you too can learn more about this from Nancy. She further illustrates "not adding logs to the fire" through a shared personal experience and includes an extremely helpful "experiment in conscious living" for you to explore.
For me this means that when I'm feeling vulnerable, I intentionally avoid certain activities and people that tend to agitate me. For example, something I did during the Boston Marathon bomber aftermath to help my nervous system stay regulated, was I avoided TV coverage and only followed the news through written journalism, the radio or what someone told me. That way I could stay informed and compassionately involved, but not dysregulated by fearful dramatic TV reporting.
Click here so you too can learn more about this from Nancy. She further illustrates "not adding logs to the fire" through a shared personal experience and includes an extremely helpful "experiment in conscious living" for you to explore.
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