So a decade ago I first heard the word interoception.
It caught my attention and deep research started...
It was the beginning of my journey into a deeper understanding of the body.
First using myself as research material.
I let go of alcohol.
Then, slowly, of my food addiction.
Eventually a sugar-free life (with an exception for ice cream).
And eventually also the behavioral patterns.
In my relationship with myself. In my relationships with others.
Because so many of our behaviors are patterns.
Once we recognize them, we could decide to change them.
And yes we can talk about that for ages. I know I did.
But then I discovered something quieter.
The wisdom of the body.
And eventually even that there is a formula to retrain this.
Yes, RE-train.
It is about connecting to all our 8 senses.
The 3 internal ones are proprioception, vestibular and interoception.
The 3 most important for a parent to attune to their newborn. Until the first year.
Then the parents shift their perspective. From the inner sensing to training the external sensory system of the child.
And that is useful because our external senses inform us on the safety (or lack of) in the outside world. Protecting or preparing the inside world from the outside world when needed.
This, combined with the development of our neocortex, life experiences, and the repetition of sentences and thoughts, often slowly creates a gap in the wholeness of body and brain.
Attention moves upward. Into the head.
Trying to solve it all with the brain.
Even in school we ask children to output knowledge. If you know stuff you are smart! hmmm.
To give a presentation.
Not to live a presentation.
To choose the right words and tempo.
Not to feel how they can allow their nerves and calm the mind.
A quality. A skill that could stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Instead, the "trauma" of being so nervous, or failing to do well, only triggers more of the "I am not good enough".
Fast forward 40 to 70 years.
Suddenly the senses tend to lose
Suddenly the senses tend to lose their quality.
Sight fades. Hearing fades.
Guiding us, softly, back to the inner world.
Wisdom and ease begin to rise?
Until the moment interoception starts to send signals.
Signals we call pain. Stiffness.
Discomfort.
Suddenly we long back to the moment the body was more flexible and pain-free.
Wishing we had enjoyed it more back then.
But back then we were too occupied with our neocortex.
And thought our body was just the vessel.
So for those who read this now: this is your cue.
NOW IS THE TIME to practice how to feel good.
And maybe this will result in feeling good all the time.
Because when you become more resilient and flexible, you will be able to move with the constant changes,
you will feel when it is enough, and above all you are enough.
And you always were!So, hello lovely great mind of yours, you need a sensible experience.
Train all your 8 senses.
And uncover the ease of life as how it all once began...
