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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Safety First
Are there days it ’ s hard to experience calm or centeredness no matter how hard you try ? Does this frustrate you ? Do you worry you are not “ spiritual ” enough ?
Safety isn ’ t so much a thought , but an experience . It is felt and your nervous system and brain are the “ wiring ” that is interpreting this . This is an amazing aspect of your human design and must be honored . It keeps you alive .
Your safety system is always running , always paying attention . Like electricity coursing through the wires in your house , you are not conscious of this process until it goes awry . So , let ’ s break down how to feel safety in your spiritual practices by first looking at how your body interprets safety and threat .
What does a Lack of Safety Feel Like ?
Obvious moments of feeling unsafe usually come when danger or dis-ease is present . Stomach tightening , jaw clenching or muscles ready to move are your body telling you danger is near . Sometimes that feeling of lack of safety makes you want to shut down , “ check-out ” or sleep .
Yet , a lack of safety in your body isn ’ t always this obvious . Some signs are more subtle . You might feel irritable , or annoyed . Maybe you can ’ t stop fussing , your sleep is off or your breathing is short or you can ’ t sit still . We immediately want to tamp these experiences down and might criticize ourselves for being moody or testy . This doesn ’ t make sense to you , because everything around you is fine , but you don ’ t feel fine .
Approach feeling “ off ” not as a character issue , but as your body asking to be heard . Listen to your body in the same way that you would like to be heard by others . Things will change .
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