In a very broad sense, a community is a group of people who share common interests, values, goals, and/or geographic location. They would also interact with one another to support, cooperate, build and maintain relationships. There are a number of benefits to gathering in these communities occasionally.  The kind of gathering to which I am referring is in time and space – for example, being together at a conference or symposium such as one which I recently attended.

I am referring to the Self-Reg Summer Symposium (SRSS 2025).  It is the 11^th consecutive annual event where “Self-Reggers” (both new and experienced) gather to hear speakers, see presentations, participate in workshops, and experience the embodiment of concepts.  It facilitates the kind of Self-Reg® learning that we hope fuels the paradigm revolution to which most, if not all Self-Reggers, aspire.

A paradigm is like a pair of glasses that helps us see and understand the world in a certain way.  Now imagine if you put on red-tinted glasses – everything would look red.  A paradigm is the way people think about (or see) things, like a set of glasses for your mind.

The “Glasses” to which I am referring, are the ones which have many seeing others as lacking self-control, and/or as participants in a polarizing winner-take-all scenario.  It’s this societal view that is divisive, counter-productive, and most likely the result of dysregulated stress-fueled states without the much-needed energy to match that tension.

Those of us who believe whole-heartedly in the work of Drs. Stuart Shanker and Susan Hopkins, have come to understand that stressors cause us to burn energy in the form of glucose, and then also require us to restore our energy (glucose) levels so as meet that need.  You may recall in other monthly articles the idea of the Thayer Matrix shown here.

When we look at things through the lens of Shanker Self-Reg®, we can begin to Reframe an overreaction, or a completely dysregulated reaction to something that we might perceive as trivial.  We can see it for what it is, the result of someone being overstressed, and under-fueled.

The opportunity to gather among those whose ability to help Reframe the actions of others, is invigorating.  It’s a chance to share thoughts and ideas, offer insights, and perhaps most importantly, unite in hope that this shared connection and resulting relationships are enough to embolden a more compassionate context as a common goal.

Cognitive Dynamics can help change the way you think.