FREE TRAINING: Safety Is an Inside Job

Understanding the Brain's Safety Association

The brain often creates subconscious associations between safety and feelings, thoughts, or behaviors that may not appear secure at a conscious level. For example, individuals who grew up in volatile family environments may find their brains have linked emotional reactivity and anxiety to a sense of survival. Similarly, those with enduring patterns of self-criticism may perceive such negative thinking as familiar and predictable, resulting in a false sense of safety despite the chaos it causes in their lives. Recognizing this paradox is crucial for individuals seeking to change their behaviors or thought patterns that contribute to unhappiness, as it reveals why such changes can feel so challenging.