What if you wake up with an uncomfortable body feeling? Read on…
Lakshmi writes:
When I wake on most mornings, there is an instant realization that I am decompressing from a scrunched and compressed state. The insides of my mouth, the insides of my head, and legs are all tightly bunched together.
When I bring a felt sense to my awareness, there is a part that shows up that wonders how I might be able to be with this while I was asleep. This seems to be the extent to which I have been able to focus – any ideas on how I might proceed to be with this whole thing?
Dear Lakshmi:
It makes sense that you are wondering what’s been going on during your sleep, that would leave you in this very compressed state on waking!
And it’s great that you’re taking the time, right then as you awaken, to bring awareness to this scrunched and compressed feeling.
Your next step would be stay a while longer, sensing what it feels like in your body, and reaching out for a gentle, compassionate relationship with that one in you that is feeling so scrunched and compressed.
It will be able to reveal to you what has gotten it feeling this way. We can’t guess. The answers will come as it starts to trust you as a listener.
It sounds like, when you did this, you got an answer like, “Where were you when I needed you, during sleep itself?” You can respond, “I know, I hear you would have liked me to be present with you sooner. And I am here now.”
We can’t be present for ourselves all the time. When we can pause and be present, there may be a sense of “Where were you?” And all we can do is say, “I’m here now, and I’m listening. Maybe you want to tell me/show me what you’ve been going through.”
Everything in us appreciates gentle and loving contact. It’s what allows change to happen.
