How would you rate your physical wellbeing right now on a scale of 1-10?
From the time your eyes open, the attempts to manage anxiety and stress can easily become overwhelming. Traditional methods of managing these feelings often focus on the mind, but a growing body of research shows that taking a body-first approach can be incredibly effective. By tuning into your physical sensations, you can regulate your emotional responses more effectively, leading to a calmer and more balanced life.
The Body as the Gateway to Expression
Our bodies are incredible instruments, equipped with five primary senses and a sixth sense—intuition—that help us navigate and interpret the world around us. Here's how they play a crucial role:
👁️ Sight: Our eyes process visual information and help us recognize safe versus threatening environments.
👂🏾 Hearing: Our ears pick up sounds that can calm us (like soothing music) or alert us to danger.
✋🏾 Touch: Physical sensations can ground us in the present moment, reducing anxiety.
👃🏾 Smell: Scents can trigger memories and emotional responses, both positive and negative.
👄 Taste: Eating mindfully can connect us to the present and soothe our nervous system.
🧠Intuition: This gut feeling helps us make quick decisions and assess our environment.
Our brain makes split-second analyses based on these sensory inputs, but our belief systems heavily influence our perceptions, moods, and responses. Who we are and how we see ourselves—our identity—ultimately determines our outcomes in life. As our experiences, expertise, and education evolve, so does our identity.
The Impact of Self-Perception
One major factor holding many people back from the life they desire is how they view themselves. If shifting your identity were easy, more people would be reaching for extraordinary lives instead of settling for the typical. Your beliefs about money, self-care, abundance, and boundaries are deeply intertwined with your environment, upbringing, and the messages instilled in your subconscious.
When conversations challenge these beliefs, it can trigger discomfort and defensiveness. This is when the body responds, even if we say nothing outwardly. Ignoring signals associated with anxiety and stress or pretending they don’t exist is not a viable solution—ultimately, your body knows the truth. Over time, disease and chronic illness is the outcome.
The Body-First Approach
Soma in somatic means ‘through the body’. A body-first approach, or body flow method, involves asking pivotal questions to identify, locate, and shift the emotional connections we've created that govern beliefs and narratives. This method leverages the body's innate wisdom to help regulate emotions and stress, while rewiring the subconscious. Activating the parasympathetic system Results in emotional regulation, mental calmness, and rest and digest.
Mindfulness Questions to Regulate Anxiety and Stress
The next time you're triggered by anything, ask yourself the following questions:
Where in my body am I feeling this emotion?
Identify the physical location of your stress or anxiety. This helps you become more aware of your body’s signals.
What sensations am I experiencing right now?
Describe the physical sensations (tightness, warmth, tingling, etc.). This practice grounds you in the present moment.
What thoughts or beliefs are contributing to this feeling?
Recognize the mental narrative that’s fueling your emotion. Understanding this can help you see the connection between thoughts and physical reactions.
Is this thought or belief serving me in a positive way?
Evaluate whether the belief is helpful or harmful. This can aid in shifting your perspective.
What can I do to soothe my body and mind right now?
Consider immediate actions (deep breathing, stretching, mindful walking) that can help calm your nervous system.
By focusing on the body and tuning into its signals, you can better manage anxiety and stress. This body-first approach allows you to understand and shift your emotional responses, paving the way for a more balanced and fulfilling life. Remember, your body holds the key to your well-being—listen to it, honor it, and let it guide you towards peace and calm.
Stay joyful this June! I'm sharing some hand-picked mindfulness activities for you to check out.
Jordan Peterson's guide is packed with practical steps to navigate challenges and build a meaningful life. Click the image above to get your e-copy!
What’s playing in your ears? Check out these cool Christian mixes… for relaxing and studying (almost sounds like R & B)
The BodyFlow Method
Can you picture what your life would look like with less stress and more regulation? A new narrative and greater confidence to control triggers?
I want to help you make this vision a reality and created a Body Flow Method and
a Unique Self-care framework as a pathway for regaining control of your nervous system and rewire your subconscious thoughts.
This is the same framework I use with my clients.
As a free gift,
I’m sharing a free pdf and mini training.
The 4 Horsemen Trigger Method to identify Triggers.
I also share two things I did to eliminate triggers.
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