05/18/2026
The intelligence contained within the human body is truly astounding. And our skin, the largest organ of the body, is often referred to as our external nervous system. It, along with fascia, muscles, skeletal bones and internal organs are loaded with sensory receptors through which we take in information about our inner and outer world. Our brain attempts to make sense of it all through learned associations and predictions about what sensory information is most likely to mean based on experience. Those predictions are a form of energy conservation. Sometimes those predictions are helpful and other times they reinforce stuckness, anxiety, depression and fear. That’s why making time to connect with what we feel is such an important daily practice. And even with that we can all slip into habits of thinking and mental stories that create unease. It's all part of being human. Interoceptive awareness, knowing what we feel is a type of meta-awareness that opens the door to making choices, not simply repeating our well-worn patterns. Looping is such an easy thing to do, and in many ways, we are wired for it because predictions and loops are a form of energy conversation. Still, knowing ourselves, our patterns, habits of mind, and sand traps is a very personal journey that requires work and yep, some discomfort. It’s worthwhile because the quality of our emotional life and our relationships is an extension of the relationship we have with ourselves. It's an inside job that starts with mirroring by our caregivers as infants. Those who miss those early experiences need to them from a healthy adult (often a therapist) who can provide a clear mirror and sturdy container needed for inner work. (Video link: https://lnkd.in/gi4n5pJh)
