Show Notes
In this episode of Navigating the Nervous System, Kristin explores the concept of Tiny Tigers — the small, daily stressors that hijack our nervous system and how to handle them.
We'll break down:
The three nervous system states: Safe, Stress, and Shutdown
Why we overreact to small stressors — and how evolution shaped these responses.
The three types of Tiny Tigers: Real Impact, Emotionally Draining, and Tiger Masks
How to sort your stress, reframe reactions, and choose what truly deserves your energy
Finally, we’ll dive into Captain Mindset — a powerful metaphor to help you steer your nervous system with intention, recognize what’s in your control, and stop letting minor stressors take the wheel.
Tune in to start sailing through stress with clarity, compassion, and calm.
More from Navigating the Nervous System
Inspired by The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer and Dr. Richard Schwartz’s groundbreaking IFS work, Kristin explores what happens when we stop becoming our thoughts and start observing them — and how this shift can rewire your brain for safety, clarity, and connection.
This episode explores how we can start to rewire our emotional triggers by understanding the connection between thoughts, body sensations, and past experiences. When we recognize that emotions are simply our body’s physical response paired with a situation, we can begin to shift how we respond—especially to everyday stressors.
Welcome to the very first episode of Navigating the Nervous System with Kristin Cronin Boone, licensed therapist, interpersonal neurobiology nerd, and your guide to understanding why you do the things you do. In this episode, we dive into how your nervous system drives behavior, emotion, and survival responses, often without your conscious awareness. You'll meet “Miss Amygdala,” learn about the upstairs vs. downstairs brain, and explore the three key nervous system states: safe, stress, and shutdown. Kristin shows you how to recognize your state and begin to reset in real time with box breathing.