The Cortisol Reset

Over the past couple of weeks, a few friends have shared the same information with me via two separate Instagram posts (linked here and here).

It’s about how a Mt. Sinai doctor figured out that sticking your tongue out for at least 40 seconds instantly drops your cortisol—making it faster and more effective than breathing techniques and any medicine on the market. (Check out the ‘fun fact’ at the end of this article, too!)

Now, I know that not everything is a “sign” from the Universe (you can read more about that here); some things are just coincidence. Or algorithms. But I also know when I am supposed to sit up and take notice. For example, if I am endlessly seeing the same ads or sponsored content on social media, it’s definitely an algorithm and not a sign. If, however, I hear the same message on something like the radio, I usually take notice. Why? Because radio isn’t “tailored” to me the way social media is. And since I know radio is one of the ways the Universe and our Guides can get our attention (has been for decades), I also know it’s more likely to be one of the aforementioned Guides poking me than an algorithm-based advertisement.

Now, back to the cortisol post my friends sent…

At first glance, the message was simple: Stick out your tongue for 40 seconds, and… voilà! Lowered cortisol.

Of course, it wasn’t that simple when you scratched beneath the surface (the @xmaslen01 post had a good carousel with detailed instructions), but it was a good place to start. So, I heeded the message and started…

To begin with, if you haven’t stuck your tongue out since you were in elementary school, be warned! It’s harder than it looks. Or at least, holding it out for 40+ seconds is harder than you might expect. It’s not a natural position (it feels fairly vulnerable), and it can get uncomfortable.

Plus, there are some added questions:

• How far do I stick it out?

• What shape do I make with my tongue? Is it pointed? Flat? Forward-facing? Dropped down?

• What do I do with my lips?

I bet you didn’t think you’d have so many questions about sticking out your tongue as an adult, did you? Yet, here we are. At least, here I was when I started testing this theory out for myself. Now, let me tell you why I decided to try it.

For almost three decades (seriously!) I have lived in some state of heightened cortisol production. It all began in 1999, when I was engaged to my (now ex-) husband. In hindsight, I suppose that should have been a red flag, but it wasn’t. Also, the chronic stress didn’t really kick in until 2001 when he went to his first rehab. From there, life became a series of moves, career/job changes, and… more rehabs. Then, in 2006, my father had a massive stroke, and we moved home to help with his care.

Now, two decades later, I can look back and say that out of the last 27 years, I’ve had maybe 2 or 3 when I wasn’t living with some measure of chronic stress. This translates to perpetually elevated cortisol levels, even though different doctors and wellness professionals have tried multiple interventions along the way, to no avail. (It’s probably also why I ended up having 8 surgeries in 8 years, but that’s a story for another day.)

Needless to say, most of those close to me have been aware of this cycle of stress-related living, which is why I received their messages sharing this new research. Now, given that nothing has really helped lower my cortisol in a meaningful way over the past 3 decades, I figured a 40-second daily exercise was easy enough to commit to. Fast forward to today, a few weeks later…

To begin with, let me say that I have not had my cortisol levels measured through blood tests throughout this process. Even if I had, I would still need to feel a difference in order to decide on something and know if it’s working. As a Reiki Master, I often use energy as a tool to gauge whether something is good for me or not for most things in my life. But, when you’re in a constant state of elevated cortisol, it can be a little challenging to discern any changes—especially if you’re grown accustomed to the state you’re in, like I am. When something has been prolonged, it becomes much harder to sense subtle changes, especially in energy. (Again, a subject for another day.)

As such, I use other measurements that are easier to identify and feel. Things like:

• Am I sleeping better?

• Does movement feel easier?

• Are my sugar cravings lower?

• Is my brain fog clearing?

• Are my shoulders dropping?

• Is my breath deeper?

After a couple weeks of daily practice, the short answer to all these questions was: Yes, in varying degrees at different points along the way.

Over this time, I found that my chronic stress “symptoms” all started to lift a little bit. Does this mean that I am stress-free? Hardly. But it means that I have a new tool I can use to help navigate life with more ease. And ultimately, that’s the goal for many of us.

Of course, it could be that I was taking time for myself as I engaged in focused breath work (4o seconds x 3 reps, plus 15 seconds in between adds up to 3 minutes of conscious breathing)… but that doesn’t actually matter. Because what matters is the fact that I experienced tangible results as a result of this new practice.

How you choose to go through life will almost always be up to you. You can choose to be constantly struggling to get ahead, feeling like you are always behind the proverbial 8-ball. Or, you can try different things that give you bit of breath and pause in your day to better support yourself. If you dismiss every intervention before you try it, you are certain to have to struggle more. If, instead, you come to things with a curious mind and a willingness to try, you might just stumble onto things that expand your life toolbox and help make things easier.

I could have easily dismissed those messages from my friends. Or worse, I could have taken offense at them, as sometimes happens when people reach out with unsolicited advice. But I didn’t. Instead I chose to see them how they were intended (with love) and as a message I needed to heed. So, I did.

Ultimately, the key message and takeaway in this new tool (and in every tool) is that the results will always depend on the use… and the user. You can use a hammer to put a nail in a wall and hang a beautiful painting, just as you can use a hammer to smash a vase or even hurt someone. What matters is you: How you choose to show up for yourself, the attitude and perspective you bring to life, and your willingness to get curious, try things out, and be flexible.

For me? I’ll keep sticking my tongue out for as long as I feel results and need some extra support. So, if you happen to see me like that, just know it’s not personal. Better yet, sit down and join me! Let’s make other people wonder what we’re up to, together! ;)

I intend to record a guided meditation to support my own practice with this. My goal is to blend both practices into one simple 3-5 minute guidance. Let me know if you’re interested. As soon as I have it created, I’ll let you know!

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FUN FACT: As I scrolled through some of the comments on the Instagram post, I read that there is a yoga pose called Simha Mudra (Lion’s Breath) that has been practiced for centuries to relieve stress by relaxing tension in the jaw, neck, and chest, while activating the throat chakra and stimulating nerves in the face.