Chapter 6

Being down. Expecting to “get better.” Wanting to be “normal.” Trying to “get rid of it.”

Discover what might be keeping you stuck. Remember that you are living in constant change. You are in control of where you focus and how you relate to yourself. Building self-awareness by doing exercises such as the one below requires self-compassion—forgive yourself over and over again—practice being kind.

• Do you notice that you are changing each moment?
• Can you lean in and support whatever it is that you are feeling?
• Are you in a pattern of self-rejection, fighting your body?
• Notice your resistance to feeling and healing (feeling is healing).
• The present moment is the only time you can build neural pathways to feel, thus healing only happens in the present moment.
• It is what you focus upon and how you treat yourself right now that matters.
• How are you treating yourself?
• Suppressing emotions can exacerbate symptoms.
• Welcome your emotions. Become curious about them all.
• Be your own friend.
• What is your body asking of you?
• Discover what brings you joy.
• Seek joy, feel joy, and build your joyful neurons networks.

Read these questions or statements and journal freely about whatever it is that you are learning about yourself and your inner world. There is no goal or outcome. Simply write your reflections and be open to what you learn about yourself through this process.

If you can’t write, you can also record your spoken thoughts and then listen to a replay of your stream of consciousness to achieve the same effect. Be kind, honest, and warm with yourself.

“Learn How to Heal,” with Dr. Kristen Steenerson from the Stanford Balance Center, June 18, 2020.