How is your limbo week going? How is social media affecting it?
In our little nature sanctuary here in Costa Rica, we’re lucky to be removed from much of the world news, social media, and divided public opinion on the latest “big thing.” I say lucky because—even with my limited exposure—I (Sally) notice how much it affects me.
I grew up being told I should watch the news and stay informed about current events. The unspoken message: if I didn’t, I’d be uneducated, ill-informed for social situations, maybe even selfish for not caring.
From once-a-day to 24/7 drama
Back then (in England) it was the 6-o’clock BBC bulletin. Now it’s a constant, multi-outlet, ever-changing loop of drama—like a reality TV show replayed again and again, commented on in real time and shaped by forces I don’t fully understand.
I do read headlines. I do care. I just choose not to tumble down the rabbit hole that leads to anger, panic, or overwhelm about things I cannot control. That involves – let’s be honest – judging other people whose opinions are different to mine.
I have to be especially careful in times of limbo, not to get sucked in to the drama and start thinking I should “do” something to help people see where they’re going wrong. And so what can I do?
Our kind of “action”
At Tula Vida, our form of taking action is different: we help people reset their nervous system. Changing the world, one nervous system at a time. Not everyone talks about—or even notices—their nervous system. But it’s that built-in alarm that sends you into:
- FIGHT: reading an outrageous article and feeling compelled to fire off a comment, share it, or argue with anyone who disagrees.
- FLIGHT: doom-scrolling every grim detail, expecting danger around every corner, unable to stop worrying.
- FREEZE: checking out because it’s all too much, still going through daily motions but numb inside, scrolling through inane content just to distract from the noise.
You can also read: Can a Retreat with Horses improve your Emotional Intelligence?
A body on high alert
This is a survival state. Your nervous system—not your logical mind—literally believes your life is in danger. Stress hormones flood in so you can fight, run, or freeze to stay alive.
No wonder you feel wired to post that angry reply, spread the panic with friends, or numb out with Netflix and wine. In that state you lose access to reason, creativity, compassion, even the ability to truly listen. Life reduces to black and white: be right and live, or be wrong and die. That’s why it feels so compulsive—and why we keep doing it instead of finding middle ground.
Pause. Breathe. Choose.
So let’s go easy on ourselves. Notice when it happens. Take one deep breath and remind yourself: It’s not life and death in this moment. That defensive comment doesn’t have to pop out. You can choose peace over anger or fear. You can talk about other things with friends.
It really is a choice—though it may not feel like it.
That’s where we come in.
At Tula Vida we share the mindset and tools to live more like horses: to pause before reacting, to stay present, to let the noise pass without letting it rule. To actually find contentment and peace within ourselves, even when the world seems like it’s going mad.
You can book a call to learn more here.
Imagine…
Imagine if every opinion you shared was met with silence, curiosity, or kindness. How much safer would the world feel? It’s closer than we think—just one nervous system reset away. One breath. One choice. One nervous system at a time.