Mountain Stream in Sisters, OR

Often when we deal with our problems, we get stuck in our feelings of being hurt, upset or frustrated. We might try to think our way out of a problem by figuring out a strategy to deal with it. Perhaps we’ll give ourselves a lecture or pep talk about how to cope. We’ll talk to our friends or maybe just try to distract ourselves. These techniques might be helpful for a time, but they largely come from our minds or thinking process, which is just one part of the entirety of who we are. We often fall into the trap of listening to our minds more than any other part of ourselves, or let our minds drive our emotions or our emotions drive our actions, without really knowing why or what is going on beneath the surface of our minds and emotions, so that we can address the actual issue.

The following is an exercise that was given to me. It focuses on four key aspects of our selves, the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual “bodies” or aspects of ourselves. I tried it for the first time when I was dealing with an issue in an important relationship. I took some time to relax and then check in with these different “bodies”, one at a time. When focusing on my physical body, I noticed temperature, areas of tension and relaxation, breathing, physical comfort, etc. With my emotional body, I noticed what I was feeling as well as where that feeling was located in my physical body. With my mental body, I paid attention to what I was thinking about and how I was thinking about it. With my spiritual body, I paid attention to what felt like my “higher Self”. I was surprised by what these bodies had to tell me, what they experienced and “believed” and how they interacted with each other. Doing this exercise is helping me understand some old patterns and habits, and is giving me more clarity in my relationship with others as well as with myself. Journaling with this exercise is also very useful.

And now it is time to share the exercise, which you will find below.

Check in:

When asking the questions below, ask one question at a time and take your time. Let the answers arise on their own rather than trying to rush the process or think about or analyze it.

Sit quietly and breathe for a moment. Coming from a very kind and gentle place, begin to check in.

Feel my physical body. What is my relationship to my physical body. What does my physical body have to tell me, if anything. What does my physical body need, if anything. Listen to what my physical body has to say. Be with my physical body. Thank my physical body.

Feel my emotional body. What is my relationship to my emotional body. What does my emotional body have to tell me if anything? What does my emotional body need if anything. Listen to what my emotional body has to say. Be with my emotional body. Thank my emotional body.

Feel my mental body. What is my relationship with my mental body. What does my mental body have to tell me if anything. What does my mental body need if anything? Listen to what my mental body has to say. Be with my mental body. Thank my mental body.

Feel my spirit. What is my relationship with my spirit? What does my spirit have to tell me, if anything. Listen to what my spirit has to say to me. Be with my spirit. Thank my spirit.

Doing this exercise helps us connect with these different parts of ourselves in order to help us understand more fully what we are experiencing and what we may need or want. In focusing on these different bodies one at a time, we can cut down on the mental chatter that can often cover up deeper feelings and needs, and develop a closer relationship to ourselves and ultimately get better in touch with and more fully create the lives we want to live. It is useful for problems and is also useful for a general daily check-in. I hope you enjoy it!