Have you ever noticed how a crisis can instantly snap everything into sharp focus? Whether it’s falling into an icy creek in the wilderness or facing a modern-day emergency, our primitive brain knows exactly what to do. It’s been keeping us alive for millennia, helping us navigate immediate dangers and plan for future challenges.
This ancient wisdom helped our ancestors store food, cure meat, and save seeds for the next planting season.
But here’s what fascinates me as an emotional freedom coach: Many of us are still constantly operating from this “survival” mode, even when we’re materially secure. I see successful executives pushing themselves relentlessly, as if they’ll starve tomorrow without landing that next deal.
They might achieve great heights, but at what cost?
When I ask them if they’re truly present enough to smile at their children’s laughter, knowing they’re co-creating those precious moments, the answer often reveals they’re still stuck in survival mode.
It’s not entirely our fault. We’ve been raised in hierarchical systems that deliberately manipulate our survival instincts. Think about it — those big mortgages that keep us tethered to 60-hour workweeks, the constant fear of job loss, the endless stream of advertisements telling us we’re not enough without their product…
These are all designed to keep us operating from our primitive brain, trading our freedom for the illusion of security. And it works, because we humans are still susceptible to having our fears triggered and reacting to it with behaviors and purchases we don’t even care about that much.
But there’s another way. As freedom-oriented individuals, we can pause and ask ourselves: What would truly thriving look like if we removed the pursuit of status and hierarchy?
What lights us up from within? What allows us to serve others from a place of authentic connection rather than fear-based obligation?
Sometimes, the shift from surviving to thriving starts with something as simple as offering a kind word to someone who rarely receives them. It costs us nothing, yet it nourishes both hearts in the exchange. This is the essence of what I call “heartistry” — the art of living from our heart’s wisdom rather than our primitive brain’s fears.
I’m deeply committed to creating a warmer, more nourishing energy in our world. This means moving away from fear-based marketing that triggers our primitive brain’s “fear of missing out” and towards genuine invitations that honor each person’s journey. It means recognizing when media is manipulating our fears and choosing to cultivate calming influences instead.
Here’s a powerful truth I’ve discovered: It only takes one person who’s emotionally regulated and kind to begin shifting the energy of a family or community. And if your biological family isn’t a source of nourishment, it’s perfectly okay to create your thriving connections elsewhere.
One of the most valuable skills we can develop is the ability to recognize when we’re being driven by our primitive brain and having practices to shift out of that mode.
Pause and consider: “Is this truly life and death?” If the answer is no — if you could survive it for another day, week, or even a lifetime — then it’s open to influence and change. That’s where the real opportunity for thriving begins.
As we continue this journey together, I invite you to join me in exploring what it means to live from that sweet spot where heart and mind connect, where creativity flows, and where true thriving becomes not just possible, but natural. Because when we learn to calm our primitive brain and operate from our heart’s wisdom, we don’t just survive — we create a life that’s truly extraordinary.
Let’s support each other in knowing our hearts, expressing our unique gifts, and moving through the world with calm confidence. Now and onwards, together.
Love,
@RickThrivingNow