In her book, "How to Be the Love You Seek," Dr. Nicole LePera, a clinical psychologist and creator of the #selfhealers movement, presents a guide for healing relationships by first reconnecting with oneself. LePera emphasizes that childhood experiences and trauma profoundly impact the nervous system, leading to conditioned stress responses like fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, and shaping an individual's "ego story" and "conditioned selves." The text explains how mind consciousness, or awareness of subconscious patterns, along with body consciousness, recognizing physical sensations, are crucial steps towards nervous system regulation and emotional well-being. Ultimately, LePera introduces "heart consciousness" and "social coherence," highlighting the heart's powerful energetic field and its role in intuition, co-regulation, and creating deeper, more authentic connections within oneself and with others.
