Finding Avenues of Doable Support
Resourcing Practice for Resiliency
Imagine resiliency like a [comfy] seat belt you strap on as you get on a roller coaster. It keeps you in your seat so you can safely experience the thrills and chills of the loopty-loops without being launched from the ride or having to muscle your way through.
The below practice is a way to build capacity for self-regulation. If it’s practiced at times when the feels are more like a 1-5 out of 10 on intensity, it can help create the ability to be at a 10 and process the information without falling out the roller coaster cart.
At the end of the day, it’s about pracitice. I would offer to try and steer away from expectations of outcome and lean into meeting yourself where you are (which means showing up for yourself with as much kindness and compassion as you can muster - also a practice).
In what doable way can I support myself in this moment?
If you get a clear hit - awesome, follow that. If you’re not sure, below are some access points you can play with to see if any are a good fit:
Is there something in your body you can bring your attention to that feels supportive? Your seat against the chair, your feet on the floor, the sensation of gravity, the stability of your bones, your breath moving in and out, something else…?
Is there something tangible that you can hold? A rock, crystal, or beloved talisman, a pillow, blanket, pet, stuffed animal, yourself (see somatic holds for containment if you’re curious), something else…?
Is there something intangible/celestial/ethereal that you can call upon? Ancestors, angels, spirit guides/allies, the ocean, a lake, a river, a tree, a forest, a mountain, a spirit animal like a dragon or phoenix, or something else…?
Is there something in the space around you you can bring your attention to? Gently turning the head and eyes to look around your space for a few moments, notice if there is somewhere the eyes naturally want to land. A photo, plant, flower(s), sculpture/art piece, candle, pattern, or something else…? Take your time looking around your space without any attachment to what you’ll look at, practicing trusting how long your eyes wander and when they land somewhere.
If/when you find something that resonates, stay with it until you notice a shift. A shift can be a sigh, a yawn, a sense of grounding, comfort, or ease. Anything that gives you a sense of feeling supported.
Worth noting that this practice doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll feel ‘calm’, particularly if you practice it regularly. It’s possible you’ll start to feel a wave(s) of emotion - if that happens, an invitation to move towards the wave and then towards the support, perhaps noticing how the support can meet the wave and help it to roll through, like a wave breaking at the shoreline.
Also worth noting that this means you’re building resilience and capacity to be with what’s moving within you. It’s also just as awesome if you do the practice and do feel a sense of ‘calm’ - bottom line, trust what your body needs, where it takes you, and what it’s telling you.
