Often, I feel like an octopus trapped in a net. And if only I could breathe, move, stretch, push, cry, yell, express ENOUGH, I’dl free myself and be liberated from chronic pain forever.
One of the greatest challenges of healing the impact of trauma on the nervous system, is the tendency to do too much. I’ve been desperately doing too much to find answers, for about 30 years now.
We do need to do something to metabolize the feelings that are held in our bodies.
But for those of us who are DOERS, fixers, figure it out-ers, the quality or intention of the doing may not actually be what our nervous system needs. Does that make sense?
If we already have a ton going on in our nervous system, simply the energy of doing, increases the amount of noise in the system. For many of us, we’ve already had so much ‘done’ to us, that our bodies don’t need any more doing, thank you very much!
It may be (though it’s hard to believe for my stubborn Capricorn self), that there is very little active doing required.
So many approaches to healing, engage our doer. If I just move this way or breathe that way…THEN, I’ll be free of pain.
Recently, I did a Somatic Experiencing session. This is Peter Levine’s work, focused on releasing trauma from the body and building a more resilient nervous system.
In just being there together, with the practitioner’s hands gently placed on my (fully clothed) body, and both of us being present, the session unfolded beautifully.
Here’s how I felt inside:
“I HAVE to do something! Maybe if I slow my breathing way down… or if I breathe more deeply…I can’t just lie here! This is a total waste of time. Nothing is going to come of this…Aren’t I needed here, AT ALL?!”
We are needed. It’s just not in that doer, helper, dare I say, self-reliant or controlling, sort of way.
We’re needed for 2 things: To be Present and to Let Go.
These are exquisite art forms. And they both take practice.
To be Present, we ask ourselves to bring our awareness, our curiosity, our patience, and our breath. And to bring our trust in the practitioner and in the intelligence of our body.
To Let Go, we ask ourselves to stop trying so hard, to surrender to what is unfolding in the moment, to gradually learn how to open and receive, to invite the flow of energy through our bodies, and to trust in the intelligence of the body and that we don’t have to understand and process everything that is occurring, in order to heal.
So, let me know what you think. Do we need to get in the ring and wrestle with the beast? Or do we need to become Jedi Masters and patiently, diligently train in the mysterious ways of the Force?
Look forward to hearing from you!