Focusing Tip #622: What’s alive in depression
-Focusing Tip #622 – What’s alive in depression… “Depression” can feel like we’re up against something that seems impossible… but is it really? Read on… Michelle writes: I’m curious what you would say about depression from a Focusing perspective. I’ve heard many different definitions of depression, the most common being “anger turned inward.” I’m wondering if depression might be the state of being identified with something in us that is sad. Dear Michelle: Great question! Right away we can notice something about the word…
Focusing Tip #621: What IS Self-in-Presence, anyway?
-Focusing Tip #621 – “You said it is important to cultivate Self-in-Presence. What is ‘Self-in-Presence’ anyway?” What would become possible if you could live your life open, calm, and curious? Read on… Susan writes: Last week you wrote in the Weekly Tips about how important it is to cultivate Self-in-Presence. Can you define “Self-in-Presence” for me? Dear Susan: Always a pleasure to talk about Self-in-Presence, because in my view this is what makes all the difference in whether life feels like a struggle or like…
Focusing Tip #620: How to cultivate Self-in-Presence when you don’t feel like it
-Focusing Tip #620 – How to cultivate Self-in-Presence when you don’t feel like it What if you feel agitated or depressed and that is all you feel? Read on… A Reader writes: You have talked about how important it is to be Self-in-Presence. But when I get overwhelmed with emotion, it’s just emotion. There often doesn’t seem like there is any Presence there. I try to find a part that is calm and like Presence, and I can’t. I’m all agitated or depressed, all of…
Focusing Tip #619 – When you feel so ashamed you just want to disappear
-Focusing Tip #619 – What if you feel so ashamed, you just want to disappear? A Reader writes: In my Focusing I sensed a part of me which feels so ashamed, that it has the strong wish to just disappear. It simply does not want to be here, or it believes it should not be here. It’s like there is no place in the world for it. Dear Reader: It’s good that you were able to get in touch with a part like…
Focusing Tip #618 – Focusing with a very intense feeling of suffocation and anger
-Focusing Tip #618 – What can you do when your feeling is so intense that it feels like an inner explosion? Iris writes: I just did a Focusing session by myself which was disturbing. First there was an all-pervasive rock inside me, in the whole throat, lung and abdomen area. Then I felt a sense of suffocation, can’t breathe! From there, a felt sense of incredible anger and hatred arose, like something in me wanted to explode, wanted a huge cosmic explosion! There’s something…
Focusing Tip #617 – “Can I do Focusing while I’m in shock?”
-Focusing Tip #617 – “Can I do Focusing while I’m in shock?” What’s the one thing to do when a traumatic event occurs, to make it less traumatic? Read on… A Reader writes: When a traumatic event occurs, it sometimes happens that a person’s immediate response is a physical state of shock. It seems that this physical state of shock may result from any kind of traumatic event, whether emotional or physical. When the body responds in this manner, it can be difficult to…
Focusing Tip #616 – “I’m wondering if I have a block that I can’t detect”
-Focusing Tip #616 – “I’m wondering if I have a block that I can’t detect.” Wondering how to invite the missing part that’s the real key to changing your life? Read on… Jim writes: I’m wondering if I have a block that I can’t detect. The only “evidence” I have for the block’s existence is my inability to achieve an important goal. But then, maybe the goal is unrealistic, or maybe I’m actually not wanting the goal for a good reason on a deeper…
Focusing Tip #615 – “I feel difficult emotions, but not a felt sense…”
-Focusing Tip #615 – “I feel difficult emotions, but not a felt sense…” What can you do when an old childhood-trauma-based issue has been triggered? Read on… Paul writes: Focusing is challenging for me. It seems that when I try to focus about something, especially a childhood trauma-based issue that has been triggered, all I find is the intense hard or tight-like-steel feeling, or…
Focusing Tip #614 – “Can Focusing bring actual changes in the external world, as opposed to just making me feel better about my life?”
-Focusing Tip #614 – “Can Focusing bring actual changes in the external world, as opposed to just making me feel better about my life?” Of course you want to actually change your life! Read on… Alena writes: I’m new to Focusing (but I’ve read 3 of your books recently!), and I have the following question: Can Focusing bring actual changes in the external world, as opposed to just making me feel better about my life? For example, I want to have a good income,…
Focusing Tip #613 – “If I keep thinking about negative outcomes and expectations, I feel bad in my body…”
-Focusing Tip #613 – “If I keep thinking about negative outcomes and expectations, I feel bad in my body…” How can you trust your inner feeling that something is right, even if it’s not logical? Read on… Bhavani writes: Can a felt sense give me a knowing/feeling of what’s right in any situation? I have been noticing that if I keep thinking about negative outcomes and negative expectations I feel bad in my body and if I think positive, hopeful things I feel a…
