Hi there, it's Dora, and you are now tuned in to Radio Headspace.
I'm so glad you're here.
So a couple years ago, I was going through a really turbulent time in my work life.
Deadlines were piling up.
Meetings felt nonstop.
And I was trying so hard to hold it all together, to appear calm, capable, and in control.
But my body was telling a different story.
I'd catch myself in the mirror and notice my shoulders were practically at my ears.
Tense, tight, braced for impact.
Like I was waiting for something to go wrong.
In the wild part, I didn't even realize it at first.
The tension had become so normal.
I thought it was just me.
It turns out I'm not alone in that.
There's a saying that goes, the shoulders carry what the heart doesn't speak.
And that makes sense because stress isn't just in our minds, it lives in our bodies.
When we're under pressure, our nervous system responds.
We tense up, breathe shallow, and our muscles, especially in the neck and shoulders, hold on tight.
Over time, that physical stress becomes familiar, even mistaken for a personality.
But here's what I've learned.