There is a common element underlying the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. This pertains to developing the ability to leverage our biology.
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+.
The purpose of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete is to help people pursue health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. As discussed throughout this article series, the framework is based upon the application of Polyvagal Theory described by Stephen Porges, PhD and its application to performance explained by Michael Allison. The paradigm is then developed for implementation within high demand domains, particularly in the service of others. Specifically this paradigm develops the necessary mind-based and body-based skills to implement strategies and tactics to leverage our biology. This allows us to be best positioned to pursue health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance.
It is important to understand that while there may seem to be a difference between the pursuits of health and wellbeing when compared to sustainable high performance, it is actually the case that these pursuits are based on a common underlying biological foundation. From some perspectives, it can be suggested that the pursuit of sustainable high performance can be at odds, at times, with overall health and wellbeing. While this may be a valid perspective, it could also be suggested that it is not possible to pursue sustainable high performance without underlying health and wellbeing. From my perspective, these objectives are ultimately intertwined.
From the perspective of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete, the pursuit of these objectives rests firmly on the same underlying foundation. Specifically, it is the ability to manage our biology, such that we are best positioned to pursue health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance that is the bedrock of the paradigm. From this perspective, it is not possible to perform in a sustainable and durable fashion over an extended period of time without underlying health and wellbeing. It is for this reason that these pursuits can be combined together within the larger context of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete.
Whether we are considering the pursuit of health and wellbeing or that of sustainable high performance, there is a common underlying need. This specifically relates to the ability to leverage our biology, such that we are optimally able to pursue that which is of the most importance to us.
As discussed throughout the article series the concept of leveraging our biology can be understood to relate to an ability to develop a nervous system which is anchored and grounded and flexible, particularly in the face of high demand and stressful situations. This provides the capability to optimally manage the inevitable experiences in our lives which potentially lead to shifts into activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, and shutdown states.
Without these two elements of an anchored and grounded state combined with a flexible nervous system, it is inevitable that at some point, we will encounter cues along any or a combination of the three pathways, specifically internal, external, and relational, which will lead to becoming stuck in activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, or shutdown states. As discussed throughout the article series, if we become stuck, or even locked, in these states, we are unable to pursue health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. Each of these pursuits relies upon the ability to maintain and return to an element of anchored and grounded states. It is for this reason that these objectives are combined together within the paradigm of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete.
In order to best be able to manage biology and develop nervous system flexibility, it is necessary that the mind-based and body-based skills are developed. This allows us to experience the variety and range of life experiences while maintaining the capacity to return to anchored and grounded states. This is essential for recovery and restoration which is a critical component of the pursuit of health and wellbeing. Furthermore, by strengthening our anchored and grounded states and enhancing nervous system flexibility we are able to continuously promote health to the greatest extent possible.
The platform for sustainable high performance rests upon the ability to shift as needed into the preferred mobilized state for performance as well as being able to replenish the needed resources to perform at the highest level on a consistent and durable basis. These attributes rely on an ability to be able to leverage our biology as necessary and respond to evolving situations as they occur.
The capacity to leverage our biology is of particular importance for those individuals for whom their performance domain is within high demand scenarios and in the service of others. These situations commonly are associated with a high frequency and large magnitude of cues towards activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, and shutdown states. In order to be able to sustainably perform at a high level as well as pursue one’s own health and wellbeing within these pursuits, it is particularly important to be able to leverage biology in the manner discussed above.
Given the nature of these pursuits, it becomes relatively easy to become stuck in activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, and shutdown states if we do not develop the mind-based and body-based skills within the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete. The end result of becoming stuck or locked in these states often leads to burnout, as well as numerous physical, emotional, and psychological ailments. This is readily understood when we look to the current literature regarding the increasing prevalence of burnout amongst high demand professions, such as healthcare providers and first responders. In fact, the understanding emerging from this perspective best describes the biological process of burnout and how to both manage and reduce susceptibility to it.
Through embodiment of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete, we are able to pursue health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. The underlying biological basis for this can be well understood from the above discussion. The numerous advantages to this paradigm have been described in past articles and at the core relate to the ability to leverage our biology, such that we are in the best position to support our own health and wellbeing, as well as pursue our highest level of performance across any domain. This is of particular importance amongst high demand professionals in the service of others given the nature of the tasks, situations and cues experienced within these domains.
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+.
REFERENCES
Allison, M. The Play Zone: A Neurophysiological Approach to our Highest Performance. https://theplayzone.com.
Porges, SW. The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, Self-Regulation. New York: W.W. Norton & Company; 2011.
Porges SW, Porges S. Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us. New York: W.W. Norton & Company; 2023.