The Wisdom of the Body

! am reading the book The Power of Focusing: A Practical Guide to Emotional Self Healing and it has really been helpful. I was drawn to it because it is being read by the Wellstreams Class where I am a supervisor.

 Focusing is the process of listening to something inside of you that wants to communicate with you.
Today I sat and read two chapters in the book and this is what you are supposed to do when you focus

1. Say hello to the part of your body that wants your attention
2. Find a way - word - to describe the "felt sense" of your body
3. Keep checking in with your body - is this it?  Is there more?
4. Ask: Is it OK just to be with this right now.  Sit with it with "interested curiosity"
5. Try to understand how it feels from its point of view
6. Ask your body how it would feel to be "All OK"
7. Ask your felt sense if it feels OK about stopping for now
8. Make a promise to check back later.

Yesterday as I sat and tried paying attention to my body, I coughed.  And I realized that my throat wanted my attention.  I started a "Reader's and Writer's Salon" which meets monthly.  This is the poem I wrote for the group about that experience.  (it is a pantoum!)

ODE to my THROAT

Over the years you have slowed me down and caused me distress.

There were days  when I could not speak above a whisper

Other times my mouth was so dry that I had to  stop in the middle of a sermon

When I am nervous,  you are dry

There were days when I could not speak above a whisper

 I tire of  coughing, laryngitis,  the constant awareness of a burning tickle

When I am nervous, you are dry

 Is this the place where I hold pain and anxiety?

I tire of  coughing, laryngitis, the constant awareness of a burning tickle

Is this the place where my grief is revealed?

Is this where I hold pain and anxiety? 
 Is the lump in my throat actually my hidden sadness?

Is this the place where my grief is revealed?

I place my hands on my throat chakra

Is the lump in my throat actually my hidden sadness

I ask: what do you want me to know?


 Today I tried this again and found myself drawn to explore the tension in my shoulders.   I am finding this to be helpful and actually  healing.   Oprah said:  "I finally realized that being grateful to my body was key to giving more love to myself."

I am learning that and listening to what my body is trying to tell me.