The vagus nerve, part of the parasympathetic nervous system, is like a super highway that transports information from one organ to another. If the vagal tone is low, it will not function properly. Stress is the main cause of a lethargic vagus nerve.
Among the many things that can help stimulate the vagus: deep breathing, meditation, and singing. But there’s also the cold. Exposed to the cold, the body adjusts to the new temperature–sympathetic activity decreases whereas parasympathetic activity increases. With this in mind, I often go to the sink to splash myself with cold water.
Once upon a time, women were goddesses but, when the boys took over, all that changed. If I can’t be a goddess, at least I should feel like one. And, if my vagus nerve is in the dumps, that’s just not possible.
Today I read this article: Kindness Towards Oneself and Others Tones Your Vagus Nerve. Kindness seems to be a powerful medicine. But there is so much animosity going around these days that it’s no wonder so many of us are feeling down.
Maybe, from my balcony, I should start throwing buckets of cold water onto the people walking below. Do you think they would smile?
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The Narrative Within 
Please let us know how that goes! Make sure there are ice cubes in the water.
Hahahahahaha! What a wonderfully wild thing to say.
I’ve actually heard of the vagus nerve. I asked my Dr why I usually got nauseous when I took that junk before a colonoscopy. She blamed it on the vagus nerve. But I LOVE your description….
yes, I am still discovering the magical role of the vagus nerve…there’s still so much to learn about one’s own body!
I had a young friend visiting today, he was kind of down and I spoke to him of selfcompassion, suggested some reading materials. And then I found this post of yours, and I read the article and I sent it on to him. Thank you.
Oh, now lovely of you to tell me. I hope your friend enjoyed the article…thank you!