It’s a task, not a tiger.
I’m getting straight to the point: our nervous system evolved to keep us safe from real, physical threats like wild animals, fire, falling trees. It didn’t evolve for work meetings, full inboxes, or unexpected calendar invites. So when we feel overwhelmed or anxious about daily stuff that’s real but NOT life-threatening, our body doesn’t know the difference. It still reacts like we’re being chased by hungry tigers.
As a mindfulness - based stress reduction teacher, I share this overlooked truth all the time. But even after years of practice, I still get caught off guard sometimes. That’s how deep these patterns run. However, I know my way out. Let me explain.
People sometimes assume mindfulness makes stress disappear, and that as a mindfulness teacher, I’m never stressed. I wish! What it does help me with, is noticing what’s happening while it’s happening. Then, I give myself just a little more space between the trigger and the response (I believe that in that gap is where the real power of mindfulness lies). Lastly, I perceive. And that sums up my daily mindfulness practice, not fighting the reaction, but building a new relationship with it.
So here are some of the small, real-world things I turn to when I feel that inner tiger roar:
Ground first, fix second. Before I try to solve anything, I check in with my body. Follow my breath. Feel my feet. Drop my shoulders. Remind myself: “I’m here”.
Talk to yourself like you would to a friend. Seriously. I even imagine my best friend sitting next to me (yes Izzy, it’s you). Most of us are way kinder to our friends than we are to ourselves.
Use a phrase that brings you back. For me, it’s: “Task, not tiger.” For you, it might be: “This is uncomfortable, not unsafe”. Find a version which resonates with you.
Move. Shake. Sigh. Nervous system activation lives in the body. Sometimes a short walk, a little stretch, or even just a long exhale is enough to let some of that heavy energy go.
If your body reacts to life like it’s full of “tigers”, that’s not a personal flaw, it’s biology. And it’s also something you can work with. Gently. Slowly. Mindfulness isn’t about staying calm all the time, I’m a prime example of that truth. It’s about learning how to meet whatever shows up with curiosity, kindness, and just enough space to choose a different path to your response. A more regulated one. A more grounded one.
So the next time your heart starts racing over an email, a deadline, or a full day ahead, maybe pause for a second. Breathe. And remind yourself: “It’s a task. Not a tiger”.
Mindfully,
Jo x