What can you do when you go blank at the start of a Focusing session? Read on…
A Reader writes:
For days before a Focusing session I get ideas about what I will Focus on, but when the session comes, everything is blank. Nothing is there. I’ve tried making notes in advance, but at the time of the session, they don’t help.
Dear Reader:
Focusing is a partnership with your body. You make invitations, and it responds. Then you sense the response, and so on.
One of the typical ways of starting a Focusing session is to have in mind a life issue, an area of life that you want to explore. For example: feeling nervous at large gatherings, or what’s in the way of finishing your taxes.
And that’s what you mean, isn’t it, about having in mind things you will Focus on?
But as in any conversation, something comes before asking questions. It’s relationship.
That’s why we suggest taking time at the start to just feel your body, feel the support under you, feel your breathing, And then bring your awareness inward: throat, chest, stomach, belly.
Now notice if something is already there. How are you now, in your body? Relaxed? Tense? Maybe wanting to do it right? Whatever it is, you can acknowledge and say Hello to that.
It’s into that sense of connection that you can bring your issue, let’s say you get nervous at large gatherings, and your friend’s wedding is coming up. Maybe picture the scene, and invite the feel of it to come now.
If your body doesn’t change in response to your invitation, that’s interesting! Maybe you’re not nervous about the wedding party after all. You can propose that to your body: “I’m not nervous about that at all.” There’s often a response to that!
A piece of advice offered by my wise colleague Jinevra Howard: Talk a bit about the scenario, and keep your awareness in your body. Then pause and feel. Something will come. It might be slight at first. Patience! Something will come.
