WEEk 2: HOME EXPLORATION //
WEEk 2: HOME EXPLORATION //
RECORDING
THIS WEEK …
Put your maps somewhere that you see them and have access to them each day.
‘Ventral’, ‘Sympathetic’ and ‘Dorsal’ are not particularly appealing names, so I invite you to name your states with something that resonates for you.
Continue to take pauses throughout the day using your alarm and noticing where you’re at, how you’re feeling and the sensations within you.
Build on this by getting curious about what nervous system you might be in.
You can also add to your maps, the more that you become aware of new experiences, sensations, behaviours and thoughts you have in each state.
Resourcing is something that is often overlooked and it is in fact what I believe to be the secret sauce of an embodied healing journey…
We resource to support the body with a sense of safety, nourishment, comfort and support so that we can have more capacity to process survival energy and to have more experiences of coming into calm, ease, strength and empowerment.
RESOURCE EXMAPLES:
FELT SENSATIONS:
Lightness, openness, strong, warm, tears, laughter
OBJECTS:
Crystal, childhood toy, cuddly toy, candle, pillow, blanket, plant, painting, instrument
ACTIVITY:
Dancing, playing an instrument, cooking, having a bath, drawing
MOVEMENT:
Swimming, walking, rolling on the floor, swaying, rocking, rolling the shoulders, circling the head …
PEOPLE:
Family member, friend, co-worker, childhood teacher, therapist, coach, shop assistant that always smiles to you, spiritual teacher, author, family member who’s died …
PLACES:
Favourite place in nature, holiday location, retreat centre, home, friends home…
MEMORIES:
A time you demonstrated a lot of courage, when you overcome something, performance, that dinner party …
PRACTICE EXAMPLE …
Find a resource - object, place in body, other being, memory, place, person.
Notice how being with this resource creates an experience in your body - what happens? Notice what you notice in your body & the emotion that comes with that.
EXAMPLE no 1:
My cat - looking at his black and white markings and feeling his soft fur
As I stroke him, I notice a deeper breath, I start to smile a little, a tear also rolls down my cheek as I create some space to feel some sadness.
EXAMPLE no 2:
Memory of a dinner with 2 of my friends - recalling my friends voices, their smiles and some of the conversations that we had
I notice that I start to laugh a little bit, there is space that opens up in my heart, my back relaxes. I also notice some longing for a little bit more of that. I feel joy.
Resourcing isn’t just about taking ourselves somewhere to ‘feel good’. It’s about taking ourselves, whether it’s physically, or in memory, to somewhere that creates more room inside of ourselves. The outcome of that, might just be that our bodies get to process and release some of what it hasn’t had room for. Like in example 1, the tears and sadness.
INVITATION …
What would it be like, the next time you reached towards familiar resources that are no longer feeling good for you, like food to take a pause … check in and notice what you’re feeling … and to ask yourself, what is it that my body, heart and nervous system needs to feel supported right now?
Food is supporting us with a need that we have, but can we get curious about what that need actually is …
Does it need to be comforted? Does it need a hug? Does it want to stretch? Does it want to feel heavy? Does it want to sleep?
Happy exploring my love ! x
As always, if you have any questions & need any support - I’ll be in the Telegram group.
Love,
Alex X