Managing Your Super Bowl Nervous System: Why Neutrality is the Real Championship Ring

Today is the "Big Game," and while the rest of the world is glued to the screen, I’m watching the flurry of activity on my feed. I see friends, family, and acquaintances headed to the stadium, posting photos from the stands. The comments are always the same: "You are so lucky! How did you get tickets? I'm so jealous/happy for you!" We’ve been programmed to believe the Super Bowl is a once-in-a-lifetime peak experience—a metric for how "lucky" or "successful" someone is. But if we peel back the hype and the iconic Budweiser "Whassup" commercials (Trivia for you: that commercial was directed by Charles Stone III and actually starred his real-life friends—Scott Brooks, Fred Thomas, and Paul Williams. They weren't just actors; they were a real 'huddle' of friends just being themselves, which is the ultimate goal, isn't it?).

The View from the Ice: Regulating Your Super Bowl Nervous System

If a Karma Penguin were watching us today, they’d probably be baffled. Imagine a penguin watching humans lose their minds over a ball moving down a field. A penguin would say, "Less throwing things, more belly-sliding and swimming with your do-or-die-for-life partner, please!"  We have to bridge the gap between the spectacle and our inner reality. At the end of the day, it’s just a game. It’s not a survival situation like an old Arnold Schwarzenegger movie—you know, the ones where he says "I'll be back"? (I can’t even remember the title, and honestly, that’s okay!). We can enjoy the thrill without letting the high stakes trick our bodies into a "fight or flight" response.

The Billion-Dollar Lesson in Neutrality

In my 20s, I was in the room for one of the biggest deals of my life—we’re talking almost a billion dollars. My younger self felt like such a big deal just being there. I remember it vividly: my outfit was perfectly picked, my nails were done, I had the perfect shoes, the perfect dress, and my notebook ready. I looked the part of "success."

But the deal didn't go through. We didn’t have a meeting of the minds, and the timing wasn't right. People were losing their s#$T. To be honest, I was too. It was life-changing money, and it felt like the world was ending. But if I could talk to that young woman in the perfect shoes today, I’d tell her: "You were okay, you will be okay, and there will be other deals—bigger deals." Just like the players on the field today, there is always another season. If your worth is tied to the "win," a "loss" will dysregulate your entire soul. To find true abundance, you have to reach a state of Neutrality.

My "Big Game" Prayer

When I’m coaching someone to be passionate about their goals without letting a loss destroy them, I use a trick I learned from the queen of affirmations, Louise Hay. When the stakes are high, I lean into this prayer:

I hope this works out for everyone's best and highest good.

It’s the ultimate circuit breaker. It shifts the energy from "I must have this" to "I trust the flow." It reminds me that even when a "billion-dollar deal" walks out the door, it’s just making room for the next huddle.

The 60-Second Commercial Reset

While everyone else is hitting the wing platter during the commercials, I go back to basics. If I feel my stress rising—whether it’s the score or a stressful email—I do what I taught my toddler.

When she’s frustrated, I ask her, "What do we do?" and she automatically does a big, dramatic, cleansing breath in and out. For you, I recommend a simple 4-4-4 Box Breath:

1. Inhale for 4.

2. Hold for 4.

3. Exhale for 4.

It’s easy, it’s free, and it tells your brain that even if your team fumbles, you are safe.

Grounding with the "Good" Nachos

Abundance should feel like being cared for, not just being "stuffed." My version of a feast for the Super Bowl nervous system? Nachos made with veggie "Beef" (it's not real—I don't eat meat!), vegan cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, and those specific black olives from the can. (Listen, I’ve had ten different types of olives in my fridge at once—the canned ones are just necessary for this!). Add a Neapolitan pizza, and you've got a grounded, delicious Sunday.

The Bottom Line: Enjoy the game today. Cheer for the Patriots or the Seahawks. But remember: your nervous system is the real MVP. Keep it cool, keep it neutral, and keep sliding.