Week 2: Returning To Practice

Don't go anywhere without me. 

Let nothing happen in the sky apart from me, 

or on the ground, in this world or that world, 

without my being in its happening. 

Vision, see nothing I don't see. 

Language, say nothing. 

The way the night knows itself with the moon, 

be that with me. Be the rose 

nearest to the thorn that I am. 

I want to feel myself in you when you taste food, in the arc of your mallet when you work, 

when you visit friends, when you go 

up on the roof by yourself at night. 

There's nothing worse than to walk out along the street without you. I don't know where I'm going. 

You're the road, and the knower of roads, 

more than maps, more than love 

-Rumi

Perspective

There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy 

- Nietzsche

Last week, we learned to conjure the qualities of the embodied Self intentionally, and we did a life and leadership assessment to begin to define our focus areas for growth this season and the intentions, aspirations, outcomes and shifts we would like to attain. As part of this assessment, we began to identify three areas in our lives where we can focus our energy and attention to grow. 

This week, we are returning to our default life and relationships to return to practice in everything that we do. This is the week to remind ourselves that we are always practicing something and to become conscious of what we are practicing and how we are being. This is a skill in and of itself. 

Your stretch is to ask yourself the following three questions repeatedly:

• What am I feeling? 

• Where do I feel it in my body? 

• What does it need or want? 

When you master these three questions in the heat of battle with life, you become a master of embodied leadership and open the door for more profound and deeper exploration. The technical terms for "what you are doing" are "Interception" and "tracking". Interception (not to be confused with interoception and neuroception) is the ability to intercept a non-conscious reaction pattern with your conscious awareness. Tracking is the ability to connect to your somatic sensations on and in your body and to notice how they sequence, shift, and change, allowing you to adapt and change, too.

These questions are sometimes referred to as dropping-in questions. When you ask yourself these three questions, you turn on the process of interoception. Do not let the simplicity of these questions fool you. They are your primary tools to begin to become conscious of what is currently unconscious. Your body constantly sends signals to your brain about what is a threat and what is safe. To access the great wisdom held in your body, you must learn to open, sense, feel, and become aware of these signals. We can not learn to respond to the challenges, tests, traumas, and triggers of our daily lives and relationships if we cannot bring our awareness of our awareness into our bodies.

"The autonomic nervous system responds moment to moment to what are often competing needs to survive and to be social. In a state of protection, survival is the ONLY goal. The system is closed to connection and change. In a state of connection, health, growth, and restoration are possible." - Dana, Polyvagal Theory Exercises For Safety & Connection Pg. 7

Most people's nervous systems are stuck in vigilance and protection. This means protection and survival are the only goals. This means you are unconsciously cut off from growing. I cannot be more explicit: You cannot think your way out of this. This is a physical state in your body that you must learn to release into. This week, we are becoming conscious of this nonconscious process that has been happening to us our entire lives by asking: What am I feeling? Where do I feel it in my body? What does it need or want?

We are the only ones who can learn to do the work to reshape this system so we can become regulating resources for ourselves and others. This is the authentic way to become a leader who can protect and provide. By reshaping our nervous systems and deepening our sense of connection to ourselves and others, we are learning to create a physical sense of safety in our bodies and how to transmit and re-create that for others we come into contact with. 

We are in a certain state of being every moment of our lives, but what is your embodied state of awareness from moment to moment? Are you conscious and capable of reporting on your experience? Your life is your practice, and your practice is your life. You don't experience the world around you; you experience it through the lens of your nervous system. 

This week, we are returning to our practice in everything we do. This is interoception. The ability to sense and feel what is happening on and inside the body to make what was unconscious conscious. This is the primary skill we need to develop to become self-led. If we do not master this skill, our protective parts must remain vigilant, and our life experience will be a constant battle known as "The Hard Way." 

The hard way leads to repression, stress, anxiety, illness, and judgment. It stops our growth, development, and maturation in its tracks. The "open way" leads to becoming a more and more resourced, adaptable, and nurturing generative adult with access to the qualities of Self.

This week, your stretch is to constantly return to practice in the default flow of your life and relationships by repeatedly asking yourself: 

1. What am I feeling? 

2. Where do I feel it in or on my body? 

3. What does it need or want? 

If you still need to complete your Week 1 Life and Leadership Leadership Assessment, go back and finish it to target your three focus areas.

Learning Objective:

First Season: Discover the three questions to turn on the active process of interoception. Realize how interoception can make what is unconscious and conscious and how it can lead you from the "Hard Way" to the "Open Way." 

Second Season: Begin to notice non-conscious reaction patterns and somatic awareness during challenges, tests, traumas, and triggers of daily life. 

Become more and more conscious of the tension in the body and how to release it 

Become conscious of non-conscious reaction patterns 

Notice parts attacks 

Notice sensational moments and begin to label them as trailheads to do deeper parts work. 

Bring what you notice back to the group to explore.

Embodied Practice: 

Repeatedly ask yourself the three interoception questions to become conscious of what is happening in your body while noticing the story in your head:

• What am I feeling? 

• Where do I feel it on or in my body? 

• What does it need or what does it want?

Journal Questions: 

1 . How does your inner and outer experience shift or change when you ask yourself - What am I feeling? Where do I feel it in my body? What does it need or What does it want? 

2. What mundane activities bring you into a state of presence? 

3. What is an example from this week where you noticed tension in your body and a protective part of your taking over? 

4. Where are you showing up in your life that feels open? 

5. Where are you showing up in your life that feels closed? 

6. How would you like to shift or change how you respond to tests, triggers, and challenges in your life?

“Letter To Self” Work-Statement 

Dig Deeper 

Listen to choosing the open way over the hard way. 

Read the overview of chapters 1 to 4 of Polyvagal Exercises For Safety & Connection. 

Log into to access additional digging deeper materials for this week.

Become a community member to begin practicing together: