Focusing Tip #749 – “My felt sense disappears when I look at it”

Is your inner world a safe place for your feelings and felt senses? Read on…

Cveta writes:

When I’m Focusing I have the experience of the felt sense just vanishing the moment I direct attention to it, and a different felt sense appearing elsewhere. This makes it difficult to stay with something, because the something doesn’t stay with me!

Dear Cveta:

Yes, I know this can happen! Very disconcerting!

In general this kind of disappearance is an indication of a need for more safety in the process. In other words, the felt sense itself isn’t feeling safe!

And there may be a reason it doesn’t feel safe. There may be another part of you coming in when you first feel something, doubting and dismissing what you feel. “That’s nothing! That couldn’t be important!”

That “dismissing part” can operate so quickly that we don’t even hear it. We just see the result: the felt sense is gone.

So… take time at the start with the body awareness. Take time to just feel your contact with the ground and what you are sitting on.

And then, when you bring awareness into your inner body, let the felt senses come to you. You don’t have to seek them. Like shy animals who don’t like to be chased, they will come when they feel safe.

Say to yourself inside, “Anything is welcome. Everything is valuable. I am here.”

If you are aware of a part of you doubting what comes to you, say Hello to that. “Yes, I know you’re there too.”

When something comes, be attentive to the kind of attention you give it. It may be letting you know that it doesn’t want to be under the “spotlight”… it wants a gentle gaze…

Let the process itself guide you what it needs… and you will find your way.