Most of us live our lives in disharmony with our bodies. We push our bodies over the limits, we cover them in chemicals, we don't listen when they are urging us to rest or to the contrary, when they urge us to move. We don't hear our intuition and hence we don't make the choices that align with our values.
This happens because we lack self attunement.
Self attunement means reconnecting with our bodies and listening to their messages. By attuning yourself, you reach a deep insight into your true self and unlock the potential that will lead to living a healthy and fulfilling life
Disconnecting from Emotions and Bodies
It all starts in childhood, in times of distress and trauma. Because everything is experienced in the body (the good, the bad and the ugly), when we face a traumatic experience, our bodies can be flooded with intense emotions, and it can feel really overwhelming. To protect ourselves from that pain, we disconnect from our bodies. It's like creating some space from those difficult feelings because they can be really hard to handle. This disconnection is a way for us to take care of ourselves and find some relief from the hurt we went through. It's a natural response to try and shield ourselves from the pain. It is a way to survive.
The truth is our bodies house a treasure trove of information about our true needs, our true desires, our true self and the secret to having a healthy life and coming back home to the wholeness of the true self we were born with is self attunement.
To reclaim your wholeness and live authentically, you must attune yourself to your body. This process involves listening to the signals your body sends you. By tuning in to your physical sensations, you can start to uncover your deepest truths. This process helps you understand yourself better and grow into who you're meant to be.
Understanding Our Body's Language
Our bodies talk to us all the time (in this text I will not be referring to physical pain and diseases as the way in which our bodies are trying to communicate, but please remember that these too are ways in which your body is trying to initiate a conversation with you).
So in times when we experience either triggers or glimmers, these show up in the body via physical sensations that I call signatures. Triggers are cues that remind us of past painful or traumatic experiences. They can be situations, events, words, or even certain people that cause us to feel uncomfortable or upset. Triggers bring back strong emotions and make us feel as if we are reliving the past event. They serve as reminders of the pain we have experienced and show us that somehow, we were in that moment in misalignment with our true self and/or not aligned with out values. Glimmers are cues of aliveness and liberation. They are like little sparks of light. Glimmers can come from different sources, such as doing something we love, being with people who make us feel safe and supported, or achieving something meaningful to us. They show us that in that moment we were in alignment with our true self and our values.
In order to be able to decode these signatures, it is recommended that you have a body-based vocabulary. This vocabulary that would describe signatures of misalignment, also known as triggers in the body, could include words such as heaviness, suffocation, jitteriness, tightness of skin, cramps, tension, density, twitchiness, prickliness, and pressure, among others. On the other hand, signatures of alignment, or glimmers, might be described as soft, spacious, expanding, alive, light, warm, quiet, energized, electric, and so forth.
PRACTICAL EXERCISE
Learning Self Attunement and Body Awareness
To begin the journey of self attunement, we can practice body awareness exercises.
Set a timer throughout the day as a reminder.
Wherever you find yourself, take a moment to drop into your body and scan it. Let go of any labels, stories, or judgments. Simply witness your body as you scan. What do you notice? Which areas of your body carry unique sensations? Take your time and be descriptive.
For example, you might feel a heavy black mist in your chest, making it difficult to breathe, while your leg feels numb, yet your hands feel light and soft. Different areas of your body may respond to your awareness with various sensations. Your task is to pay attention and allow these sensations to be without attaching any meaning to them.
Once you have described these sensations in detail, direct your focus to the first area that caught your attention. Ask it, "Is there anything you want to tell me? Do you have a message for me?" Be open to receiving the answer, whether it comes as visuals, actual words, or any other form. Remember, the medium of these messages isn't limited to what you consider acceptable or logical. The body operates in its own unique way. If nothing comes up during your initial attempts, that's completely okay. Keep in mind that you've spent years disconnected from yourself, your body, and your needs. Reconnecting takes time, just like rehabilitating a muscle. So, don't give up on yourself. Return to this practice repeatedly until you can better understand the messages your body is conveying.
When you receive a message, avoid approaching it with your analytical mind. If it's an unpleasant message, ask your body to guide you toward a more aligned action that will help you feel closer to your true self. In that moment, ask yourself, "What do I need? What values were compromised and need fulfillment?" Reflect on the situation that triggered this unpleasant bodily experience. Perhaps someone crossed your boundaries, or an old wound was reactivated, calling for your attention and healing. Listen attentively to yourself and your body. This is crucial.
Another scenario where self attunement is necessary is when we often assume we know what's best for ourselves without first checking in with our bodies. For instance, when you have a craving for fast food, you might go ahead and indulge without questioning it. However, if you pause, drop into your body, and inquire about the actual benefits for your health, you might discover that the craving is masking an unmet need that you subconsciously believe can only be satisfied through this harmful detour.
For instance, during a conflict, if your go-to coping behavior is eating sweets to calm yourself down, pause before reaching for them. Ask your body if this choice truly benefits you, and if not, what genuine need lies beneath it. Perhaps what you truly need is comfort and support from someone, but because you believe you can't attain it directly, you resort to sweets. By practicing self attunement and questioning, you'll unveil the underlying reasons behind your actions and behaviors.
To conclude, it's essential to recognize that living authentically isn't a fancy concept; it's how you show up in your truth every day. Your body serves as a guide toward integration when you learn to pay attention to the glimmers and triggers it presents, and understand their unique language. It may take time and patience, and it can be frustrating and confusing along the way. However, as you continue this journey, you will gradually align more and more with your inner compass. Trust in the process and stay committed to self attunement.
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