In this episode you will learn how the fight-or-flight is a physiological survival mechanism we are all born with. When we perceive a threat, our sympathetic nervous system activates, stimulating the adrenal glands and triggering the release of adrenaline and other hormones. Our hearts beat faster, our breathing becomes more rapid, our pupils dilate, and we may start trembling or perspiring.

Early on, John realized that all of his clients—especially the highly successful ones—were regularly experiencing fight-or-flight. Many of them were either purposefully or unconsciously inducing a stress state (or, in other words staying in fight-or-flight) so that they could use the resulting energy as fuel. This “hack” provided a competitive edge, but it was also draining.

Without taking time to recharge and recover, people in a near-constant state of fight-or-flight are stressed, tense, and depleted. They’re focused on their physical bodies and able to disconnect from their emotions. This kind of avoidance can have real physical consequences; bottled up grief, anger, and hurt often manifest as physical pain in a process called somatization.