Our Story And The Lions That Join Us
not everybody’s lions look the same.
a person's nervous system may have been taught to:
• fear abandonment
• fear failure
• fear being visible
• monitor how "acceptable" they seemed just to stay safe
• blend in because being different could change how the world treated them
the nervous system adapts to the dangers it experiences most often.
which means different lived experiences create different lions.
From my own journey, I’ve come to realize that the fears and anxieties we carry are deeply tied to the ways our nervous system has learned to protect us. For example, if someone grew up in an environment where being visible led to criticism or harm, their nervous system might prioritize blending in and avoiding attention to stay safe. This adaptive mechanism, while protective in the short term, can create ongoing challenges in adult life such as difficulty asserting oneself or fear of failure. In my experience, recognizing these patterns as ‘lions’—symbolic of protective fears or defensive behaviors—has been transformative. Instead of viewing these fears as flaws, I now see them as responses shaped by survival needs. This mindset shift helps me approach my mental health with compassion. I also found it valuable to observe how executive dysfunction can interplay with these emotional patterns. When the nervous system is on alert due to trauma or chronic stress, tasks that require organization or emotional regulation can feel overwhelming. Understanding that these challenges are interconnected enables me to seek strategies that address both the mental health and functional aspects of my wellbeing. Moreover, community plays a critical role. Sharing stories and recognizing that not everyone’s ‘lions’ look the same fosters empathy and connection. It reminds me that healing is not about erasing these fears but learning how to live alongside them with resilience and grace. This perspective has made me more patient with myself and others navigating similar paths.