Coming home to yourself: embodiment and self-trust
How can we stay true to ourselves in chaotic times? Embodiment brings us back to our bodies, by challenging ourselves to accept discomfort. By releasing blocked emotions we can commit to this moment, finding a sense of ease in our daily struggles.
Don’t abandon yourself
Being a mother means daily multitasking. My brain skips from laundry to shopping lists to daycare scheduling. Today, just when I wanted to get out of the door with the baby, I spilt a drink, the baby wet himself and I couldn’t find his shoes. In these frustrating moments, it’s easy to abandon yourself — to wish life was different.
It’s then that I have to ask myself “how can I stay in this moment?” As tempting as it is to want to listen to music, eat something sweet, or watch a trashy TV show, I force myself to just be there. We can’t numb or distract ourselves from discomfort. I notice the tightness in my stomach, and my racing thoughts (“this isn’t fair” etc), and choose to stay. I stay in my body, or to use another metaphor - being in a ship that needs to get to the harbour. How can I be present and sail to safety? We may want to jump ship, but we can face uncertainty in stormy waters.
🖤What if we showed up and belonged wholly to this imperfect, messy, unsatisfying moment?
🖤What if we gave ourselves to the process to come home to ourselves?
Finding your edge
In hard times it’s natural to take it easy and be gentle with ourselves. And yet, secretly our mind, body and soul crave expansion. Growth happens when we stretch towards something just out of reach (but still doable). Transformation happens when we face our patterns of avoidance, and our fears. We’ve come to a point in our lives where we’re sick and tired of being sick and tired. Excuses, repeating what doesn’t work, and stagnation become more painful than what’s required to change.
When we show up for ourselves and cultivate self-trust and discipline, we allow ourselves to use our gifts. When we listen to our body we become tuned into what we need to push ourselves, and when to rest. I’m using the mantra “done is better than perfect” because rather than trying to do things perfectly (comparing ourselves to others and then feeling inadequate), it’s better to go at our own pace and find productive rhythms that work for us. Also, by focusing on getting it done and being in flow, it’s easier to just do it - rather than overthinking everything.
🖤What if we enjoyed finding our edge?
🖤What if we challenged ourselves from a kind (not critical) space?
The calm in the chaos
Being a mother is a lesson in finding calm in the chaos. Today the baby screamed as it started to rain outside and I was putting the rain cover on the pram but he kept kicking it off. I could visibly feel the frustration waves rise in my body. I let it be there rather than trying to avoid or distract myself and I breathed it out. Struggle and frustration are part of the dance of life. No matter how uncomfortable the emotion, we can learn to come from a place of groundedness, kindly reminding ourselves “I am the sky, not the frustration.”
🖤What if we noticed and accepted difficult feelings?
🖤What if we found strength from our breath?
Afformations for embodiment and self-trust
Monday: Why am I so grounded in the present moment, even in times of chaos?
Tuesday: Why is it so easy for me to breathe deeply and calm my nervous system?
Wednesday: Why do I trust myself to handle challenges with grace and patience?
Thursday: What can I learn from this moment right now?
Friday: How can I challenge myself in a kind way?
Saturday: Where can I release blocked emotions to feel free?
Sunday: What can I do to show myself I trust myself and I’m growing (no matter the chaos)?
🌞 Journal prompt: What can you do each morning to bring you closer to your truest self?
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