“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Bodymind: n. an approach to understanding the relationship between the human body and mind in which they are seen as a single integrated unit.
How we feel in our bodies is deeply connected to how we feel in our lives. Turning our focus to our bodies and listening to the messages our bodies are giving us, on a moment to moment basis, can be a first step in the healing process. As we practice listening to our bodies, we increase our awareness of the present moment and learn how to self-soothe. This is especially beneficial for those who have experienced any kind of trauma. The body is an instrument for communication, understanding, knowing, changing, and healing.
By learning how to pay ourselves a better quality of attention, we learn how to give a higher quality of attention to others, too. When our nervous system relaxes, we are able to recognize others’ needs, and feel better about the way we interact and respond to the people around us.