Body Language from the Inside Out
Reflection
Congratulations on completing Video #3! Today you learned how altering your outsides through body language can help to regulate what’s happening inside. In today’s journaling prompts you’ll notice several prompts that inquire to “how does it feel in your body?” This is important because:
You’ll notice several prompts that inquire to “how does it feel in your body?” This is important because:
Sensation is education.
For example, when I’m people pleasing, I notice my voice goes high, my speech speeds up, and my forehead tenses up. This is really useful information! Now, whenever I notice those symptoms showing up in my body, I use them as a cue to slow everything down and use some of the techniques demonstrated in this video.
It’s a way of working with my body’s cues rather than overriding them to get back in my body, dissociate less, and regain my sense of agency and authenticity.
Keep that in mind as you explore these journaling prompts.
Posture: Soft Belly, Open Heart
What does it feel like when you let your belly go completely soft?
What about completely tense?
When you find that “sweet spot” of soft belly, open heart, what does it feel like? How does it feel in your body? Try it out while interacting with people and report any differences you notice here:
GESTURE: Grounding through Touch
When you dissociate, what are some of the things that let you know you’ve dissociated? What do you notice in your body?When you try the grounding through touch exercise, what do you notice in your body then? How is this feeling different than when your consciousness leaves your body?
GESTURE: The Body Boundary
Try making big gestures with your hands that go far outside your body, then making small gestures that stay very close to your mid-line. Finally, try the technique of staying inside the body boundary. What do you notice each one feels like?
FACIAL EXPRESSION: The Sacred Pause
The next time you’re in conversation, try out the sacred pause and notice - what changes do you see in your speech, your thoughts, your attention - when your energy is contained, rather than scattered?
As I mentioned at the end of the video, while the end result of these techniques is greater confidence, their essence is slowing down to be present in your body.
Keep an eye on your inbox because over the next few days I’m going to share the most helpful resources I know of. These tools will help you cultivate a deep sense of trust and appreciation, and a feeling of being at home in your body, so you can feel more relaxed, secure and confident in the world. Until then!