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Calm Your Nervous System: Simple Daily Practices for When You're Wired, Hangry, or Too Busy to Rest | Nadia Narain & Katia Narain Phillips

October 9, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Nadia Narain and Katya Narain Phillips join Dan Harris to discuss their book Glimmers: Tiny Moments to Transform Your Life, offering a practical, low-friction approach to nervous system regulation. The core idea is that you don't need a major life overhaul to build resilience; you can weave small, sensory practices into your existing day to create more flexibility in your nervous system. The goal isn't to stay calm all the time, but to build enough capacity to handle hard things without getting stuck in old, protective patterns.

Nervous System 101: Triggers, Glimmers, and Flexibility

The sisters focus on the autonomic nervous system—the part that runs automatically, controlling your breath and heartbeat. When you experience something stressful, especially in childhood, your nervous system develops protective patterns. The problem is that these patterns can persist into adulthood, causing you to overreact to situations that aren't actually dangerous. This is the mechanism behind a "trigger": an event in the present that activates an old, historical response. As Katya puts it, "if it's hysterical, it's historical."

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:16) **Nervous System 101 & The Core Concepts** - The sisters explain the autonomic nervous system, triggers, and the "glimmer" framework in plain language.
  • 2 (03:00) **If It's Hysterical, It's Historical** - Dan shares a personal example of how a trigger from his past hijacks his present.
  • 3 (04:52) **Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic (The Good, The Bad, & The Numbing)** - A clear breakdown of the two branches and the "counterfeit rest" of shutdown.
  • 4 (06:52) **Glimmers Defined & The Power of the Tiny** - How to find and use micro-moments of safety and connection.
  • 5 (11:52) **The Glimmer Check-In** - A simple, portable practice to tune into your body's positive sensations.
  • 6 (20:01) **Counteracting the Negativity Bias** - How the practice of noting glimmers retrains the brain over time.
  • 7 (21:57) **Facial Tension Release** - A two-part physical move to release stored tension in the jaw and face.

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Guests on this episode

Dan Harris

Show Notes

A tongue-in-cheek jaw release, a 30-second shake-off, and a two-finger trick that tells your body it's safe. Plus: why scrolling feels relaxing but isn't.

Nadia Narain and Katia Narain Phillips are the authors of the international bestsellers Self-Care for The Real World and Rituals for Every Day. Their most recent book, Glimmers: Tiny Moments to Transform Your Life, was published in January 2026.

In this episode we talk about:

  • Why staying calm all the time isn't actually the goal
  • The sneaky state that masquerades as rest
  • How to find glimmers in even the most ordinary moments
  • Why glimmers turn out to be contagious
  • The odd little trick for releasing tension you didn't know you carried
  • What animals know about stress that we've forgotten
  • How your field of vision talks to your nervous system
  • Why your chores might be a secret meditation practice
  • What rushing does to even the best of intentions
  • Why leaving dishes in the sink can be a sign of progress
  • The overlooked basics behind so much everyday stress
  • Why rest isn't one-size-fits-all
  • What it means to reparent yourself

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