How to Feel Good Again When Life Throws You Off Track: A Nervous System Approach

Feeling thrown off track? You're not alone. Life has a way of disrupting our momentum exactly when we're building it. Maybe someone in your life needs extra care. Maybe work threw you a curveball. Maybe your body needs something different, or life had a plot twist you didn't see coming.

When you've built beautiful momentum and then life challenges your capacity, you're left wondering: "How do I handle this curveball AND keep up with what I built?"

It can feel really hard to find your way back.

But here's what I want to offer you today: What if this moment isn't about getting back to where you were? What if it's about discovering what else is possible in the midst of the messy?

Why It Feels So Hard to Get Back on Track

When life disrupts your rhythm, it's not just about willpower or motivation. Something deeper is happening in your nervous system.

I want you to think of your nervous system like a bank account. That curveball life just threw at you? It's making withdrawals from your account, so your capacity is feeling thinner and thinner. That's why your momentum feels like it's lost its edge.

The Truth About Life's Curveballs

Here's what I'm recognizing in my own life right now (yes, I'm in this space too): I can't control the curveball that was put in my lap.

When life gets intense, some withdrawals are going to happen. I'm in full acceptance that this is happening and this deposit has been taken. I'm not spending energy wondering why this happened to me or resisting that it's happening.

But here's the empowering part: You get to be the one making deposits too.

So I'm focusing my attention on what I CAN control.

The Power of "Little Pockets of Yes"

I'm actively looking for what I call "little pockets of yes" - small choices I can make throughout the day that offer an experience of goodness, comfort, or joy.

These don't have to be big choices! Here's what I'm doing:

1. Making Tea with Intention

Taking a few minutes to make tea I love drinking and truly savoring it. Not rushing through it while checking my phone, but actually tasting it, feeling the warmth, enjoying the moment.

2. Creating Cozy Comfort

Lighting a candle while I work brings instant cozy comfort. It's such a simple shift that creates an entirely different atmosphere.

3. Dressing for the Feeling I Want

Wearing clothes that help shape the way I want to feel. Do I want to feel comfy? Powerful? A little fancy? This is something so easy to say yes to, and it makes a real difference.

4. The 15-Minute Organization Win

Picking one tiny thing to organize (15 minutes max) and feeling that satisfaction of completion. It's not about perfection - it's about the feeling of "I did something."

The Secret: Tuning Into Your Body

Here's what transforms these small actions from tasks into nervous system deposits: In each moment, I'm tuning into how that good thing lands in my body.

Ask yourself this beautiful question: How does this make me feel?

• Does my body relax?

• Do my shoulders drop?

• Is there warmth spreading?

• Do I feel a little lighter?

This is how you multiply those deposits!

Little by little, just 1-5% at a time, you're adding to your account. Your nervous system starts remembering: "Oh yeah, we can have good things happening even when life feels hard."

How This Transforms Your Stress Response

Because you're adding these little hits of "yes" into your day, you're actually disarming the stress response. Something beautiful starts to happen:

• You think more clearly

• You feel more grounded

• You start seeing possibilities instead of just problems

You're sending your body the most important message:

"Yes, life is challenging right now AND I'm still here. I'm with me. We're doing this together."

Where Real Resilience Lives

This is where resilience actually lives - not in pushing through so you can get out of struggle, but by finding the beauty available while you are in struggle.

It transforms the hard moments by bringing light into them.

You're not bypassing your pain or pretending everything is fine. You're learning to hold both the hard and the good at the same time. And that? That's where real freedom lives.

Final Thoughts: You're Doing Better Than You Think

Wherever you are right now, whatever threw you off course - I want you to know that you're allowed to feel good. You're allowed to create moments of joy and comfort even while you're handling hard things.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the nervous system bank account concept?

The nervous system bank account is a metaphor for understanding how stress depletes your capacity (withdrawals) while positive experiences and self-care restore it (deposits). When life throws you a curveball, your account gets depleted, making it harder to maintain momentum and feel good.

How can I feel good when life is really hard?

Feeling good during hard times isn't about toxic positivity. It's about making small, intentional choices throughout your day that create moments of comfort, joy, or peace. These "little pockets of yes" help regulate your nervous system and remind your body that it's safe to experience goodness even during struggle.

Why does it feel so hard to get back on track after a setback?

When you've built momentum, your nervous system has created capacity for that level of activity. When a disruption happens, it depletes that capacity through stress, making it physically and emotionally harder to maintain your previous pace. Understanding this helps you approach recovery with more compassion.

How long does it take to rebuild momentum after life disrupts it?

There's no fixed timeline - it's about making small deposits (1-5% improvements) consistently rather than trying to bounce back all at once. Focus on what you can control and be patient with the process.