Exploring the Insights #3

Insight Three: We Live in a Body - May I respectfully seek awareness and connection

The body is the house that our parts and Self live in, and it serves as a means of communication between the internal system and the outside world. It allows us to express outwardly what we think and feel inwardly. It also collects information through the five senses from the surrounding environment that the mind interprets for meaning and decision-making. The sensory information that the body takes in gets stored together with the meanings that our parts make about experiences in an effort to help the system become more efficient at responding to the environment. That’s why the sound of a school bell ringing or the smell of pumpkin spice can immediately connect us to a memory that then causes the expression of the emotion associated to that memory.

The body is constantly receiving and sending signals, much like a cell phone, that help us navigate the world we live in. Also similar to the cell phone, it is important to ensure that the body is regularly recharged so that it has the resources needed to perform at its best. It may even benefit from “parental controls” that act as a boundary to protect against harm and manage what we are able to access, take in and interact with. And sometimes we may need to clear out some old apps, files or programs (environments, information, or habits) that are taking up space that could be better utilized in other ways that match our current (not past) needs.

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This analogy offers just a few examples of ways to provide care for the body just as we do for our parts and Self. Building sensory awareness is another way we can cultivate a supportive relationship with the body and help understand the language that the body uses to communicate. Some questions you might consider to explore the language and relationship of your own body are:

• What sensory information do I notice evokes an emotional response for me (consider colors, smells, locations, tastes, textures, songs or other sounds)?
• When do I notice that I feel energized or excited? What sensory information (sight, smell, touch, taste, sound) can I identify that is related?
• What are some things that make me laugh or feel joyful? What sensory information (sight, smell, touch, taste, sound) can I identify that is related?
• What are some things that make me feel uncomfortable? What sensory information (sight, smell, touch, taste, sound) can I identify that is related?
• What are some experiences where I have felt calm, relaxed? What sensory information (sight, smell, touch, taste, sound) can I identify that is related?

As you build awareness around situations and sensory information that is associated with certain emotions, you can use this insight to help you care for your emotional experiences. For example, you might intentionally use certain colors, smells, tastes, textures, or sounds to help you feel more energized, create joy and laughter, or experience calm when needed. And you can also use sensory awareness to establish boundaries or “parental controls” around things that cause distress, discomfort or unwanted distraction. Learning to speak your body’s language can help with building trust and harmony within the internal system and help empower greater Self-leadership.

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