Many of us are living with chronically dysregulated nervous systems, yet we mistake this reactive state for normal. Research suggests that our nervous system acts as a lens through which we experience reality. But when that lens is out of balance, we start to see threats where none exist – and respond in an exaggerated way to everyday situations.
Today’s guest believes that by learning to work with our body’s innate wisdom, we can transform not just how we respond to stress, but how we experience life itself.
Jonny Miller is the founder of Nervous System Mastery, a 5-week bootcamp where he has taught over a thousand students - from the CEO of a rocket-ship company and burned-out startup founders to busy parents and elite performers - how to cultivate calm, rewire reactivity and restore aliveness.
After experiencing profound grief following the loss of his fiancée Sophie, Jonny embarked on a journey to understand how our nervous system shapes every aspect of our lived experience.
During this incredible conversation, we discuss:
- Why anxiety isn’t actually an emotion, but a protective strategy used by the nervous system to shield us from deeper underlying feelings, and the difference between managing emotions and truly feeling them
- The three core skills of nervous system mastery: interoception (tuning into our internal world), self-regulation and emotional fluidity, and why developing these can transform every part of our lives
- How emotions themselves typically last just 10 - 20 seconds, but our resistance to feeling them creates what Jonny calls “emotional debt,” which can keep us stuck for weeks, months or even years
- Why working with the body (a bottom-up approach) can be more effective than trying to ‘think’ our way out of stress, and how it differs from cognitive strategies like reframing
- How practices like cold exposure can help train us to stop resisting discomfort and allow challenging sensations to move through us naturally
Jonny’s reflections on grief are particularly moving. He shares how losing Sophie taught him that emotions – even the most painful ones – carry their own kind of wisdom.
At its heart, this episode is about remembering what the body already knows. Jonny shows us that beneath our stress and reactivity lies a deep intelligence, and that when we learn to trust it, we can move through life with more presence, resilience and peace. I hope you enjoy listening.
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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/569
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intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare
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Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee 
