I had a very critical father.

And even now, if I’m not paying attention, I can sometimes hear that voice showing up as my own inner dialogue. Telling me I’m not good enough. That I made a mistake. That I need to do more, push harder.

What I didn’t fully understand until much later was what that voice might actually be doing to my body.

Because here’s what the research is showing: harsh self-criticism engages brain systems involved in threat processing, while self-compassion and self-reassurance are associated with a very different physiological state, including reduced arousal and greater parasympathetic activity.

Think about that for a moment. If someone followed you around all day telling you that you’re failing, doing it wrong, not trying hard enough, or should be further along by now… your body would respond. Your nervous system would respond.

Yet many of us do exactly that to ourselves, and rarely stop to consider what it might be costing us.

In Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda, pitta is one of three fundamental forces that govern the body’s physiology. There is a subtype of pitta called sadhaka pitta that resides in the heart and is associated with the emotional heart, fulfillment, and emotional strength.

When I read this research, I thought of sadhaka pitta immediately. Of course the heart is listening. Of course this has a cost.

One of the questions I sometimes ask the women I work with is: would you speak to a child the way you speak to yourself?

The answer is almost always no. Most people are genuinely shocked when they stop and really listen to their own inner dialogue. They would never speak to a child that way.

Yet they speak to themselves that way every single day.

What would it feel like to speak to yourself the way you would speak to that child?

The body is always listening. The nervous system is listening. And the heart is listening too.

The question is: what conversation is it hearing?

I’m curious to hear your experience.

and I’m glad you’re here.

With care,

—Dr. Lisa 💙

If this resonates, I offer a 20-minute Clarity Call to explore whether this path fits what your body is asking for. $50, applied to your care if you move forward. No pressure, just listening.

Book a Clarity Call here: somaradiantwellness.com/book

Follow me on Facebook:

Follow me on Instagram:

Follow me on LinkedIn: