I was having the most beautiful morning, feeling blissed out after teaching a sunny Sunday morning class. Then suddenly, I got triggered by a little thing (a post on IG), and my whole system dropped into discomfort. The shift happened so quickly that it felt like a punch in my stomach. Some kind of jealousy and self-doubt was triggered in me.
My very first instinct was to bring myself down with blame, and to ask questions like why ?
what is wrong with me ?
Since I have been there many times before, I know that asking these questions only fuels more discomfort.
So I consciously told myself not to go there. And instead I asked:
How can I hold myself in this moment of vulnerability ?
How can I sit with this emotion and still have compassion for myself ?
What can I do to soothe myself and invite more comfort in my body?
Essentially, how can I be my friend and be there for me ?
Asking these questions is a conscious, active practice. Although it is becoming easier and more natural every time.
It is an act of self-love and an act of letting go the expectation that we should always feel good and happy and enjoy life. Although of course we also want that !
Asking these questions doesn’t change immediately the way I feel. But it changes the way I support myself in this process of feeling something uncomfortable.
Today I soothed my system with a long hot shower and a big cry. I felt amazing after and got ready for a coffee date with a friend and a sound bath. Now feel relief in my body and that heavy feeling is not there anymore.
For me writing is a way of sharing my experiences so they feel less heavy to hold on my own and so that I feel less lonely. But asking a friend or a loved one for support is another way.
The question now is:
HOW DO YOU HOLD YOURSELF IN DISCOMFORT?
Which are your soothing practices ?
It might be helpful to write a list of them, even a mental list, just to remind yourself of what you can do to support your being in times of unease
PS: watching Netflix and eating chips can be on your list as long as it feels good before, during and after <3
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