Domain: Stress & Threat Activation 3-5 min read Updated: 2026-01-15

Always a Little Braced

There is always a little bracing.

Muscles engaged

just enough.

Attention angled forward.

This subtle readiness

rarely registers

as stress,

yet it costs energy.

Naming it

matters.

You are not tense

all the time—

you are prepared.

Recognition

allows the body

to test

what happens

when it eases

just slightly.

Notice subtle bracing with DojoWell.

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Frequently Asked Questions

My shoulders are always up to my ears and I'm always "ready." How do I let go?

You are "Always a Little Braced." This "Constant Readiness" shapes your posture and your feelings. In the Meaning Density Model™, this is "Somatic Bracing"—your body is acting as a physical "shield" for your Identity. You aren't letting go because your Safety system still thinks the "Impact" is coming. Bracing is a "Survival Posture" that has become a "Life Posture."

How do I convince my body it’s safe to "un-brace"?

Use "Exaggerated Release." Tense your shoulders even higher for 5 seconds, then let them drop completely. This "Contrast" helps the nervous system recognize the difference between "Braced" and "Un-Braced." DojoWell teaches that "Letting go" is not a mental act, but a "Structural Reset." By manually performing the release, you give your Narrative system a physical fact to work with: "In this moment, I am not shielding. In this moment, I am safe."