This Fourth of July I am celebrating a different kind of freedom: that of the shackles of the mind. Many things contribute to why we end up locked in to negative and limiting beliefs or belief systems about ourselves, other people, and the world around us. Trauma is likely the most prominent reason for our holding on so tightly to limiting beliefs.
The Body Holds Onto Traumas of All Kinds
According to the top trauma expert Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, trauma is stored in the body and requires not only verbal processing, but especially movement or stimulation of the body in order to truly be processed and healed. There are a wide array of wonderful modalities and activities that can stimulate releasing of trauma. Many of them mind+body techniques that re-establish the connection of the mind to the body, and the body to the mind as well as calming the Vagus Nerve which overreacts when the body goes into fight or flight. My personal favorites are:
- Massage Therapy especially Myofascial Release.
- EMDR & Brainspotting
- Acupunture
- Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Acupoint Tapping
- cold plunging+hot soaking & sauna
- yoga
- sound therapy
- mindfulness meditation of the body & or breat
- 4-7-8 breathing
- Psychedelic Experiencing
- Hypnosis
There are so many ways to stimulate the same healing response in the body! The way to heal trauma is the same no matter who we are and what when have been through. Trauma is all the same to the body and how it can limit our experiences. However, I noticed a trend in our culture in which we shame ourselves (and others) for reacting to or holding onto trauma from what we label as “small insignificant trauma” when others in the world experience much more horrific traumas daily. Doing this will only reinforce the trauma and keep you stuck in a cycle of shame. You can now stop doing this to yourself. You hereby have permission to feel as deeply and lengthily as you need to about anything that’s happened to you in your life. Give the same compassion you have for other’s deep trauma to yourself and any and all of your traumas.
Compassion Is Reciprocal, Cumulative, And Infinite!
The more you give yourself, the more you have available to give to others. The more you give to others when your cup of compassion is full, the more you have available to give to yourself.. and on and on. Give yourself as much compassion as you need. This could lead you to a place of allowance of these traumas, so you can move them out of the body and shatter the limiting beliefs that throw ya out of alignment with the deepest, true self. Acceptance is the First Step, right?😉
Wanna celebrate freedom with me this month? Here’s my idea: Pick a modality or activity that is accessible to you and integrate it into your daily routine a few times. Maybe try something new to you. Or, reinvigorate an old practice. Use the form below to tell me about your experiences. I’d love to share some of your testimonies. All commenters will remain anonymous. I too will experinces my experiences and write about all of our things in August.
Let freedom ring, baby. You deserve it.