Conversation with a student

My student does not seem to get enough sleep as she has two young children.  However, slowly she managed to finding a way to make an effort as she enjoys my lessons.

We got into a discussion on how her husband loves to travel 5 hours to get 3 hours of surfing before spending another 5 hours driving back.  She commented on the fact that she could never handle it as she is terrified of being sucked in – “my instinct is to survive as I feel being dragged down by the waves and I am finding it difficult to breathe.”

I had to correct her there.  That was not your instinct, it was your secondary brain taking you into a fight or flight mode.  You were not prepared and you were therefore not able to cope with the situation.  You are acting on a program.  Your Primary Brain in the Abdomen did not have any part to play in the situation.  The vagus nerve – which carries your gut instinct forms only 5% of the Primary Brain.  You were not using it.  On the other hand your husband was using it.