“Some people think they are in community, but they are only in proximity. True community requires commitment and openness. It is a willingness to extend yourself to encounter and know the other.”
David Spangler
Becoming Human:
This is step 2 from page 1 (Digest the experience, don’t turn away from what’s happening, don’t block it out again)
I often describe the process of becoming more free of these blockages as becoming more human because of the effect it has on the whole person beyond just the health benefits.
In short; the more blockages you have the more challenging it can be to stay fully conscious for any life experience. Life itself for many people becomes a source of fear, worry, and concern.
The more blockages and the stronger the tendency to “zone out” becomes the harder it is to distract yourself. This has become to my eyes an epidemic in our society where people of all ages need constant stimulation. Some examples might be:
- The “go go go mentality”. Always on the run, always something to do
- The inability to sit on the dinner table (or even the toilet) without being on the phone
- The “get it done” mentality. Everything has a point, even playing a board game, needing to stay on task (this 1 was very common for me)
It is truly amazing how uncomfortable most of us are being with friends and family without talking or DOING something. When we constantly distract ourselves from our worries and anxieties we can begin to distract ourselves from the very things that make us human.
Ask yourself these questions:
Have you noticed how often your life becomes all about getting things done? When did doing what you love simply because you love it begin to turn into a job, just another mental trophy or accomplishment to add to your collection?
Ever noticed how often conversations stop being just about connecting with others and instead begin to become just another way to get your needs met?
How often do we find ourselves making plans and taking actions simply as an attempt to avoid the feeling of being open and vulnerable?
It takes courage and willingness to feel whatever comes up when doing Somatic Release (whether on your own or with a therapist) but in my book there is nothing more beneficial to this process than a sincere desire to fully embrace our human experience.
Up Last: Specific Therapies And Their Uses