Self-awareness. We hear a lot about the need to be self-aware, but what does that actually mean? Self-awareness is multi-faceted and can include being aware of mental, emotional, and physical state of being in any given moment. It can also mean being aware of our impact on those around us and our immediate environs. Today I want to talk about our body-awareness in this space.
Our modern world is quite like the Keanu Reeves film series The Matrix, by that I mean we are actively encouraged to live in our head space only and not our heart space or with awareness of our bodies other than a means for travelling through this life in, similar to how we drive our vehicles. We all spend significant amounts of time lost in thought, worrying about the present and future or ruminating on past actions and events. This creates a disconnect from what is going on inside us in the here and now. By that I mean how our thoughts and feelings are being played out in our bodies and what impact they are having on our bodies.
Our bodies are our means for being in this world. But they are not mechanical pieces of machinery. Ultimately our bodies offer a gateway to our inner life which is one of the most exciting journey’s we can embark upon. But we are disconnected most of the time from our bodies, and our inner life because of the distractions of a busy world, which deceives into chasing many things which do not enrich the inner self.
Learning how to be present in you body, in my body, is essential to experiencing and creating a full, rich life based on awareness of the reality that our thoughts and emotions do have an impact on the physical body and therefore our health and quality of life.
Life will always push us out of our range of optimal functioning. This world is designed to do exactly that. To thrive we need to learn how to put ourselves back together when it does and by doing so be more solid and better prepared for the next curve ball life throws our way. If we choose to avoid difficult feelings and the physical sensations they bring with them we increase our likelihood of feeling overwhelmed. Over time this will increase our likelihood of physical health issues arising due to our disassociation and suppression of the emotional energy within our bodies.
Yoga, bushwalking, meditation, and equine associated activities all help to regulate our sympathetic nervous system, bring us into the present moment and helping us tune into our bodies. Research undertaken by the Heart Math Institute demonstrates how being in the energetic presence of horses impacts our somatic awareness. But, if you don’t have access to a horse right now here are some tips to help you create a mind-body-spirit connection.
- Ground yourself by finding somewhere to sit (outside if possible). Concentrate your awareness on your feet on the ground. Take three long deep breaths. Then continue to breath normally while you notice the body as it breathes in, and out.
- If you are aware of any tightness or soreness in your body greet it with compassion and awareness. Take three long, deep breaths and imagine the breath going to that specific part of your body.
- Continue to sit, breath and direct awareness to different parts of your body for as long as you feel comfortable and simply observe what your body sensations are. Then take a few minutes to jot down any of the feelings you became aware of and what you think they might mean.