Stand Porter at the Door of Thought.

Last week, I completed a four-day trek through the Peruvian Andes, covering 35 miles and ascending up to 15,000 feet.

But… let me tell you…. as I leaned heavily on my trekking poles, gasping for breath and straining my neck to stare up at the glacier looming above me, I suddenly wondered… why the heck was I doing this?!

That moment of doubt wasn’t just physical exhaustion—it was deeply mental and emotional. My body was screaming for rest, my nervous system was highly activated by the altitude and physical strain, and my mind started to spiral. And that’s when my thoughts drifted back to a conversation from the night before.

Sitting around the wobbly, wooden table in a simple lean-to shed, enjoying a surprisingly gourmet meal (shoutout to our amazing cooking crew and guides), someone brought up the subject of the religion I was raised in: Christian Science.

At first, my brother (sitting beside me) and I fielded the usual questions that come up when people hear about our childhood faith: “Is it true you don’t go to doctors? Is it true you don’t take medicine? Is it the same as Tom Cruise’s religion?” (For the record: No, it’s NOT Scientology!)

Christian Science is essentially a metaphysical philosophy that emphasizes the power of self-healing and the belief that we are primarily spiritual beings having a human experience—not humans having a spiritual experience.

As a young child, I was encouraged to meet negative thoughts like, “I can’t,” with spiritual affirmations such as, “I am full of limitless, divine ability.”

In other words, I was taught to practice positive affirmations at a very young age—tools that I called on repeatedly as I painstakingly made my way up that mountain.

Back at the dinner table, I was reminded of a particular Sunday School activity where we would “Stand porter at the door of thought”—literally standing in a doorway and practicing not letting fear-based, negative thoughts through, while only allowing spiritual, positive thoughts to come in.

This practice was profound because it taught me discernment, mindfulness, and most importantly, power and control over the runaway “monkey mind” that tells stories that aren’t true about who we are or what we can achieve.

In the context of trauma therapy and somatic therapy, this practice parallels the idea of witnessing and gently regulating the nervous system. When the nervous system is dysregulated, often due to unresolved trauma or stress, it sends signals that can feel overwhelming and distort our perception of reality. By standing guard at the door of our thoughts, we essentially practice parts work—learning to listen to the vulnerable parts of ourselves that carry fear and anxiety, while empowering our Adult Self to gently reject the unhelpful narratives and bring us back to truth and safety.

Though I have since moved away from formal religion, those spiritual roots run deep and have helped me develop a strong internal foundation. That foundation is critical for healing trauma and managing the nervous system’s responses during stressful or challenging experiences.

So, I offer you this practice:

The practice of standing porter at the door of thought in your own mind.

The next time you’re faced with any struggle, pause and ask yourself:

• “Is this thought serving me?”

• “Is this thought helpful?”

• “Is this thought True? Like really, really True—with a capital T?”

When you start to do this, you engage your nervous system in a mindful way, moving from reactive survival mode into the calmer, wiser parts of your brain. You give your Inner Critic less power and make space for your Adult Self to listen to the vulnerable parts—your Inner Child and others—that are asking for care and understanding.

This simple yet powerful practice is a cornerstone in many healing approaches—whether it’s through somatic therapy, parts work, trauma therapy, or nervous system regulation techniques. It’s a way of building inner resilience and reclaiming your power.

The next time your mind races with self-doubt or fear, try standing porter. Become the gatekeeper of your thoughts, and watch how your ability to heal and grow expands.