When we experience a violation of a value, even if we created the constraint (e.g. efficiency and creativity), our brain processes it as conflict/tension. This heightens the sense of threat in our minds, which shuts off access to our pre-frontal cortex. The pre-frontal cortex is home to many higher processing functions, including our creative and critical thinking.

Cortisol, a stress hormone, is responsible for interfering with our brain's ability to "get back online" and continue to function at its best.

Two ways to re-gain access to the brain, after feeling under threat is to move and to breathe. The feeling of threat will subside and even if tension remains, the brain will have access to all of its greatness to handle the situation.