Just feeling what you feel without judgment or thought can be restorative. You can drop your guard, be yourself, and operate with authenticity. Our bodies alert us to stress in sometimes subtle ways.
Answer these questions with as much honesty as you can:
Do you notice your bodily sensations when stressed: at school, work or home?
When it comes to muscle tension-do you grip the steering wheel? Keep your shoulders up near your neck? Find yourself tight in the body? Clench your jaw?
Do you change your posture to alleviate stress or do you just keep going, ignoring the signals your body is trying to send?
Do you ever ask for help when you feel your body tense or a work activity is causing stiffness or tension?
Can you talk about your emotions easily or do you push them aside?
Do you practice any type of leisure activity that calls for embodied self awareness like yoga, massage, meditation or dance?
Do you ever stop to smell the roses, play with a child, walk in nature with all of your senses alert or share time with someone you love without expectation of touch.
Raise your Awareness:
Paying attention to what brings joy, sadness, tension and defeat can be the start of addressing the issues in our lives that offer comfort or contribute to our stress. By recognizing the sources of happiness or disappointment, we can start to understand the patterns and influences that shape our emotional experiences. It’s important to pay attention to how we communicate with ourselves and others, as the language we use can significantly impact our well-being. Are you positive and kind in your self-talk, or do you tend to be self-critical and harsh? By reflecting on these aspects, we can start to make positive changes in our lives and build a healthier relationship with ourselves and our bodies. Accepting the sensations your body is sending is also crucial, as it allows us to be in tune with our physical and emotional needs, fostering a deeper sense of self-awareness and compassion.
Up your emotional fluency:
Shifting towards embodiment and self-love involves a deep and ongoing process of self-awareness and acceptance. It requires us to tune into our emotions and physical sensations in each moment, acknowledging and validating them without judgment. By treating our body with the same tenderness and care as we would a cherished loved one, we cultivate a profound sense of compassion and nurturing towards ourselves. In this journey, it’s important to adopt a mindset of gentle curiosity and understanding, akin to how we would approach a beloved child, embracing all our emotions and experiences with patience and empathy. This conscientious practice enables us to develop fluency in our emotional landscape, fostering a healthier and more harmonious relationship with ourselves built on love, understanding, and self-compassion.
