Focusing Tip No. 112.
What does it mean to take care of yourself?
How many times do we say to each other, ‘take care’, or ‘take good care of yourself’, or ‘look after yourself’, usually as a way of saying goodbye? Someone said it to me today, who I met in the woods and had a brief chat. ‘Take care!’ he said, as we parted.
Do we really take care of ourselves? Do you?
What often stops us is lack of time, or perhaps an unwillingness to slow down, pause and listen, and take the action that is needed.
Sometimes we may not listen because we don’t want to hear what our body tells us.
Yet, the body can be remarkably specific on what exactly it needs, if you take the time to listen to it.
Examples include taking a healing remedy after a surgical procedure which helps the healing process; resting a sore back; using a cold compress or hot water bottle for a painful part of the body; stretching the body after a long time sitting at the computer.
Sometimes we forget these simple common sense remedies.
Equally, you may get a clear message that can help to resolve an emotional or relationship hurt.
Your body can remind you to take the first step towards healing, by actually taking care of your needs, and then addressing the relationship issue.
I have seen this happen several times recently in Focusing sessions with people.
The Focuser takes time to attend to and listen to a hurting part of them. Towards the end of the session it might feel right to gently enquire what that hurting place needs.
The answers have been surprising, specific, and makes total sense to the Focuser.
If you do pause to enquire what your body needs, don’t forget to follow up and take the action that is needed.
That way, you are building trust so that you body knows you are going to take it seriously and attend to its needs. It will then open up to you more easily next time.
The November issue of the British Focusing Association newsletter is now available.
It includes a theme of Thinking at the Edge, and some of the articles are based on a TAE workshop I led last year.
If your appetite is whetted, and you would like to join a TAE workshop with me next year, please let me know..
The newsletter includes:
• Coming Up for Air—a Focusing Retreat Experience
• The Philosophical Roots of Focusing
• Thinking at the Edge Empowers Us
• Our Journey Through TAE
• Enabling Soulful Connection—Reflections on An Ongoing TAE Process
• Poems for Covid Times
• You Matter—the Implicit and Essential Message of Focusing
• Learning to Love the Wound
• Practitioner Profile – Suzi Mackenzie
Download the newsletter
Read more articles and focusing tips on my website
Warm wishes
Fiona
