11/20/2025
There’s a lot of buzz around “the window of tolerance,” but here’s how I usually explain it.
Imagine sitting near the edge of a cliff. When you’re right at the edge, even something small, like a text you didn’t expect or someone’s tone shifting, can push you over.
That’s what it feels like when your tolerance for distress is narrow. Small stressors feel huge because you’re already close to your limit.
The goal isn’t to avoid cliffs altogether, it’s to move a little farther back from the edge. To build enough space between you and the drop, so when something happens, you can catch yourself before falling over.
That space is your window. Expanding it means you can ride the ups and downs without feeling completely thrown off course.
If you want support learning how to regulate in real life, comment REGULATE and I’ll send you my free guide.