Part 2 - in Series: From Surviving to Thriving- How to Shift Your Belief by Using Your Biology

Trish Heitz
Aug 8, 2025
3 min read

What I learned this week? I realized my old lower self wasn't in charge anymore when someting unexpected happened and I didn't feel that old familiar shot of fear that immediately led me to the emotions of "Of course this happened; because this is what always happens when I try to do something like this" OR I knew this would happen, because I'm just a looser" When something unexpected happened as a temporary roadblock my new thriving beliefs kicked in instead and said "Ok, so how can I get around this, or what is a different way to look at this?; what should I learn from this?" with the idea it was fixable and not fatal because of who I believed my myself to be. Wow! that was such a great "Aha" moment to realize!

Shift from chronic stress to thriving with daily tools that activate dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, rewiring your nervous system and belief patterns.

In last week’s post, we explored the hidden cost of unconscious beliefs; how the thoughts you don’t even realize are supporting a belief system that does not serve you, can quietly shape your life, from your finances and relationships to your health and confidence.

But there’s another cost most people don’t see coming:

The toll these beliefs take on your nervous system.

When a belief like “I’m not safe” or “I have to do it all alone” lives beneath the surface, your body treats it like a threat. Over time, your nervous system begins to operate in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze—even when there’s no danger present.

This isn’t just emotional.; It’s chemical. And it’s costing you energy, clarity, sleep, peace of mind, and your ability to make calm, empowered decisions.

This survival loop, rooted in old belief patterns, can shut down your clarity, drain your energy, and leave you feeling like you’re always on edge.

But here’s the good news:

You can flip this pattern on purpose.

In this post, we’ll explore how to consciously shift out of high-alert survival mode and into a thriving state, where your body produces the “feel-good” chemicals—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins—that support confidence, calm, and resilience.

Thriving Is a State You Can Practice

You don’t need to wait for your nervous system to calm down on its own.You can teach it how to calm down, by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, or “rest and restore” mode.

This is the state where your body stops pumping out cortisol and adrenaline, and instead begins releasing your “Thriving Four”:

Hormone	Function
Dopamine	Motivation, reward, focus
Serotonin	Mood balance, confidence, contentment
Oxytocin	Connection, trust, emotional bonding
Endorphins	Natural pain relief, joy, and resilience

Daily Tools to Shift Into a Thriving State

Each tool below sends a signal to your nervous system: We’re safe. It’s okay to thrive now.

1. Vagal Breathing (4-4-6 Pattern)

(Triggers: Serotonin + Relaxation)

Inhale for 4
Hold for 4
Exhale for 6
Repeat for 5 rounds

This signals your vagus nerve to turn off the danger alarm.

2. Safe Touch & Connection

(Triggers: Oxytocin)

Hug someone you trust for 20+ seconds
Place a hand over your heart and belly
Connect with someone emotionally—eye contact, presence, empathy

3. Micro-Movements of Joy

(Triggers: Endorphins + Dopamine)

Dance to one song
Laugh—on purpose
Shake or stretch like you’re discharging static

Your body reads play as proof of safety.

4. Morning Light + Nature Breaks

(Triggers: Serotonin + Cortisol Regulation)

Get 10 minutes of sunlight early in the day
Step outside barefoot if possible
Look at the sky—let your eyes take in natural light

5. Breakthrough Cue Reflection

(Triggers: Prefrontal Cortex + Belief Reset)

“What is on the other side of the fear I’ve been reacting to?” "What is actually true? And what is perception I've created that ais NOT true? "“How can I show my body it’s safe to choose a new story?”

This kind of self-inquiry rewires the thought-emotion-chemistry cycle from the inside out.

Rewiring Is Real. And It’s Daily.

Every time you:

Breathe consciously
Reflect compassionately
Move playfully
Connect honestly
Rest deeply...

...you’re not just feeling better.

You’re rewriting the beliefs that used to keep you stuck.

Final Thoughts: There’s Nothing Wrong With You. You’re Patterned, and Patterns Can Change

Your nervous system has been doing what it needed to survive for a long time, but now, you have the tools to teach it something new.

Safety can be felt. - Joy can be reclaimed, and

thriving can become the new autopilot.

Let today be the first step; not toward perfection, but toward conscious restoration of who you authentically can be.

If you would like to discover what is keeping you stuck, register below for our Sacred Summer Circle.

$22.00

60 Minutes of Somatic Belief work
Discounted Follow-up 1:1 Belief Breakthrough Session: $50.00
- (Normally $150)
Bonus: Register with a friend: Get 2 for 1: $11.00 each.

Sacred Summer Circle

August 19, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EDTVirtual Session