The Gift of Tolerance in a Short-Fused World
Have you ever felt that puncturing sensation in your throat, chest, or gut?
The one where anger or rage rises so fast it feels impossible to stop?
That feeling is deeply familiar to most of us.
What often separates someone who is short-fused from someone who can regulate isn’t moral superiority or willpower. It comes down to two very simple—but not always easy—things:
1. The ability to notice your body and its sensations.
Yes, we all have them—even if you say you “don’t cry.” That’s not the flex you think it is.
2. An auto-regulation technique of your choice.
Assuming you have one.
Body Awareness Is the Missing Link
In my many years of practicing and teaching yoga, I’ve witnessed a wide spectrum of body awareness.
I’ve seen people so deeply attuned to their bodies that they move with quiet confidence and ease. They adjust instinctively, flowing from one posture to the next. Simply watching them feels empowering.
And then there are people who struggle to turn to the correct side of the room—not because they lack intelligence or ability, but because they’re so disconnected from their physical sensations that hearing an instruction and translating it into movement feels unattainable.
Let me be clear: there is no right or wrong in yoga.
Flexibility is not the goal. Advanced postures are not the goal.
The goal of yoga is to return to physical presence, to notice sensation through breath and movement.
How Yoga Builds Tolerance
So how does yoga actually help us tolerate discomfort, emotion, and stress?
Simply put:
When we consistently connect breath → mind → movement, we create neural pathways that allow us to inhabit our bodies more fully.
Research in neuroscience and somatic psychology shows that mindful movement and breathwork strengthen interoception—the brain’s ability to sense the internal state of the body. This directly supports emotional regulation, impulse control, and stress resilience.
(Insert citations: interoception, vagus nerve regulation, mindfulness-based movement, yoga and nervous system regulation.)
The more familiar we become with sensation, the less threatening it feels.
And the less threatening it feels, the more choice we have.
Tolerance Is a Skill, Not a Personality Trait
Tolerance doesn’t mean suppressing emotion or being endlessly patient.
It comes from three capacities:
Recognizing what you’re feeling
Regulating your nervous system
Controlling the only thing you truly can, your actions.
When we lose tolerance, it’s often not because we’re bad people.
It’s because our nervous system is overwhelmed.
Three Questions to Ask Before You React
The next time you feel that surge rising in your body, pause.
Connect to your breath—even for a moment.
Then ask yourself:
Do I know everything about this person or situation that’s asking for a reaction from me?
Probably not.
Is a reaction necessary, or do I need to protect myself or my family instead?
Am I in a state to choose the best possible action right now?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, that’s your cue to pause, step away, and process what you’re feeling before responding.
That pause, that space, is tolerance.
I’ll speak more about auto-regulation tools and processing techniques in my next article.
Until then, breathe gently, stay curious, and be kind to your nervous system.
See you soon. ♥️
