Hello—
And here we are…tiptoeing forward in stutter steps.
While there may be magical thinking in these first lurches, we need to remember that there's an open-ended time frame and many unknown pieces that have yet to be revealed, practiced or even considered. We're in this for the long haul, so pacing Our Selves and tending to our well being becomes even more important.
In light of that, I felt it was time to consider the powerful nature of our lungs and how we might support them along the continuum of emotions that we're grappling with.
Energetically speaking, lung issues tend to be the manifestation of grief—especially unexpressed grief. There is the thought that the reason more men seem to be afflicted by the pandemic is that they're taught from an early age not to express their emotions. Whether that's the case or not, taking care of your lungs and attending to what they're holding can have huge benefits for
you.
Think about it—when tears well up, our breathing changes and might even crescendo into full-bodied sobs, which literally exercises the lungs and allows them to release pent up emotions—especially grief.
Now let's flip that on its head and consider what happens when we laugh—whether it's a little giggle or a full-throated roar. Your Bodymind ends up moving in very similar ways to when you're crying: more pronounced breathing, heaving shoulders, vocalizations, and that ultimate release.
So how about we work both ends of that spectrum?
Where is your comfort level with these options? either/or? between the two? only on one end? And what does that tell you?
Share your thoughts with us by commenting.
"Thanks for the gentle reminders to return to Our Selves."
Especially during these times of uncertainty, SwaffWords© are a great way to reset Your Self. Just scroll through the playlists and click on a video that speaks to you. Then watch, learn, and take its teachings right back into your life.
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As we continue to stick our toes in these uncharted waters, remember my "Offering for You"— the gift of a quick mini session to create a little order around all of this chaos.
In the meantime, here's to supporting our precious lungs whether through tears or laughter.
Continue to be gentle with Your Self and do what you need to do to feel safe and well as you venture forward into this new paradigm.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks much.
Until next time—
Cheers,
Steph
Stephanie Swafford, BCPP, BFRP
"When It’s Time to Listen To Your Self"
