From Scrubs to Flip-Flops: Why Walking Away from Chaos Makes Peace So Damn Uncomfortable
Why calm feels strange when you’re wired for chaos.
Breaking Free from the Chaos of a Life Lived on High Alert
I spent over 25 years thriving in chaos…
ICU shifts packed with split-second decisions, travel nursing in unpredictable environments, and always, always, putting out fires. That became my identity.
I didn’t just survive the chaos—I needed it.
When things got quiet, I got restless. My body felt wired, my mind uneasy, like something was about to go wrong. It wasn’t just my job. It was how I’d learned to live since childhood… carrying a sense of responsibility that wasn’t mine to bear.
But here’s the thing, thriving in chaos comes with a price tag. Physically, mentally- you pay for it. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline don’t care that you’re used to it.
They just keep pumping, wearing down your heart, immune system, and mind. Over time, the toll piles up… anxiety, burnout, health issues that seem to come out of nowhere.
And let me tell you—stepping away from chaos isn’t as easy as it sounds.
In 2021, I traded scrubs for flip-flops, walking away from my nursing career to care for my mom. Still chaotic at times, sure- but different. Slower. Quieter.
And you know what? It was harder than I expected. Turns out, when you’ve spent your whole life on high alert, peace feels… unnatural. Like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.
But here’s where things started to shift…
If I had to boil it all down to one game-changer, one thing that turned the chaos dial down… it’s this: Perception. How you see the situation - how your brain labels it- changes everything!
Think about it. Your brain’s wired to spot danger. It doesn’t care if it’s a life-threatening emergency or a tough conversation with your boss- it flips the same switch. Heart races, muscles tense, thoughts scatter… fight, flight, or freeze.
That’s biology. But here’s the catch- you can rewire that response. If you change how you perceive the situation, your body responds differently.
So how do you do that?
It starts with those old neural pathways- the mental highways that trigger your stress response. Years of chaos strengthen those pathways. They’re fast, automatic… but not unchangeable. You can build new ones- ones that lead to calm, clear-headed responses. It takes work, yeah… but it’s possible.
Here’s the key: when stress hits, pause… Notice your thoughts. Are you seeing this as a threat? Ask yourself - Is this really dangerous?
Most of the time, it’s not. Just that pause, that shift in perception, stops your body from flipping into survival mode.
And the more you do it, the stronger those new neural pathways get. Over time, your brain learns: This isn’t an emergency. I can handle this.
And guess what? Your body listens. Heart rate stays steady, muscles relax, and that constant cortisol drip slows down.
Does it happen overnight? Nope.
And yeah, sometimes that old chaos response still kicks in. But each time you shift your perception, you’re rewiring your brain—building a healthier, calmer default mode. And that changes everything.
So if you’re stuck in the chaos loop… thriving in it but paying the price… start here. One moment at a time. Shift how you see the situation, and watch how your body responds. Because peace isn’t just the absence of chaos… it’s learning to stay calm in the chaos. And trust me… it’s worth the work.
Now, it’s your turn. What’s one situation that sends you into high-alert mode? What if you saw it differently?
Try it… see what happens.
If this hit home, keep an eye out… a 5-Day Perspective Shift Challenge kicks off early next week. It’s short, practical, and might just change the way you see stress - for good. Stay tuned!
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I really believe perception is extremely important in preserving our mental health. It needs some practice, though :)
how cann i help