Connection and belonging are important cues towards anchored and grounded states, thereby supporting the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.
In the previous articles regarding lessons we can learn from great coaches, it was described how fostering an environment of connection and belonging can provide powerful cues towards shifting our biological states and strengthening anchored and grounded states. This biological state shift is important and necessary in the promotion of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. As it relates specifically to the domain of high performance, the utilization of this strategy amongst professional sports coaches illustrates how high levels of success in competitive domains can still be achieved on a foundation that incorporates the promotion of connection and belonging.
It is useful to consider the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms through which these biological state shifts occur in response to feelings of connection and belonging. This recognition is particularly important so that we can apply these concepts in situations in which connection and belonging are not present or cannot be optimized.
Within the framework of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete, it can be understood that the effect of connection and belonging is a shift towards anchored and grounded states. Within high demand domains, there is a tendency towards biological state shifts in opposite directions towards activated, attacking, overwhelmed, anxious, and overwhelmed states. This is on account of the inherent nature of these environments. As has been discussed in past articles, the optimal state for human performance is the mobilized state which combines features of anchored and grounded states with those of activated states. Given the inherent likelihood that we will shift into activated and attacking states within high demand domains, it becomes particularly important to increase the degree of anchored and grounded state shifts within these domains to facilitate sustainable high performance.
The inherent increased likelihood of shifting towards activated and attacking states within high demand domains can also be seen in our day-to-day lives. This impacts our pursuit of health and wellbeing. For example, when faced with illness or injury, there are inherent cues towards activated and attacking states. In addition, in our modern day society, we are often inundated with cues towards activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, and shutdown states. For all of these reasons, the pursuit of health and wellbeing is often also facilitated through shifts towards anchored and grounded states.
As can be seen from the above illustrations, it is often the case that in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, there is a common need to shift towards anchored and grounded states. The ability of feelings of connection and belonging to provide strong cues in this regard forms the basis for the importance of these strategies. It is also important to recognize that we can achieve similar results through other mind-based and body-based skills. This occurs on the basis of the ability of other skills to achieve similar biological state shifts.
This understanding informs the foundation for developing skills, strategies, and tactics which can be implemented to increase the degree of our anchored and grounded states. Within the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete, this is a fundamental strategy in the promotion of health and wellbeing. As this is necessary in order to pursue sustainable high performance, it is also a foundational principle in the pursuit of high performance.
While feelings of connection and belonging can provide strong and powerful cues towards anchored and grounded states, it is important to recognize that these are not always available to us. We may encounter situations with limited ability to experience connection and belonging. In such circumstances, the understanding described above becomes particularly important so that we can employ mind-based and body-base skills to affect a similar shift in biological state.
The above understanding also informs how it is not merely the presence of other people around us which is important in strengthening our anchored and grounded states. Rather, it is the degree to which we are able to connect and have a sense of belonging. It can therefore be recognized how we can be in the presence of others yet not experience connection and belonging. More importantly, if we feel as though we are unable to connect or belong with the group around us, this can provide strong cues towards shifts in our biological state into activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, and shutdown states. As such, it is not merely the presence of people around us, but the quality of those people and, more importantly, the resulting interactions which become important.
Another important element to recognize is that when we have shifted into activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, and shutdown states we become less available to connect with others. This is on account of the cues that we emit to others and the impact those cues have on those around us. As such, in situations in which we feel as though we may not be connected or belonging within the group in which we find ourselves, it can be particularly important to implement strategies and tactics through the employment of mind-based and body-based skills to shift our biology towards anchored and grounded states. This will increase our availability to others for connection and belonging facilitating our sense of these important qualities.
As can be seen from the discussion above, it is important to understand the elements underlying connection and belonging and apply this recognition within the strategies and tactics we may utilize in order to leverage our biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. Each of these important elements often occur in conjunction with others, therefore the reciprocal ability to foster connection and belonging becomes important, not only in our own pursuits, but in encouraging those around us to do the same.
To learn more, including about polyvagal informed coaching for healthcare professionals and others in high demand domains, please visit www.darindavidson.com.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.