Article
0 comment

The negative scenarios in our mind

I would like to start the new year with an article about our negative scenarios. I mean these scenarios that our mind brings up and instead to help us preparing for a possible situation, they provoke the opposite result, blocking us from experiencing and learning something new.
I identified until now 4 kind of negative scenarios that, when they have power over us, reduce our ability to feel our bodies. They occupy our attention telling us a story about ourselves that is more connected with the past than with our present. They make harder for us to be aware of ourselves because they create tensions in the body and breath restriction. And they are an attempt to avoid uncertainties and fears. [Read more]

Article
1 comment

The Anatomy of Peace by John Roedel

My brain and heart divorced a decade ago
over who was to blame about how big of a mess I have become
eventually, they couldn’t be in the same room with each other
now my head and heart share custody of me
I stay with my brain during the week
and my heart gets me on weekends

they never speak to one another
– instead, they give me the same note to pass to each other every week
and their notes they send to one another always say the same thing:

“This is all your fault”

on Sundays my heart complains about how my head has let me down in the past
and on Wednesday my head lists all of the times my heart has screwed things up for me in the future
they blame each other for the state of my life
there’s been a lot of yelling – and crying

So, lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my gut
who serves as my unofficial therapist

most nights, I sneak out of the window in my ribcage
and slide down my spine and collapse on my gut’s plush leather chair that’s always open for me
~ and I just sit sit sit sit until the sun comes up

last evening, my gut asked me if I was having a hard time being caught between my heart and my head
I nodded
I said I didn’t know if I could live with either of them anymore

“my heart is always sad about something that happened yesterday while my head is always worried about something that may happen tomorrow,” I lamented
my gut squeezed my hand
“I just can’t live with my mistakes of the past or my anxiety about the future,” I sighed

my gut smiled and said:
“in that case, you should go stay with your lungs for a while,”
I was confused – the look on my face gave it away
“if you are exhausted about your heart’s obsession with the fixed past and your mind’s focus on the uncertain future
your lungs are the perfect place for you
there is no yesterday in your lungs
there is no tomorrow there either
there is only now
there is only inhale
there is only exhale
there is only this moment
there is only breath
and in that breath you can rest while your heart and head work  their relationship out.”

this morning, while my brain was busy reading tea leaves
and while my heart was staring at old photographs
I packed a little bag and walked to the door of my lungs
before I could even knock she opened the door with a smile and as a gust of air embraced me
she said
“what took you so long?”
~ john roedel

PS1: The original structure of the text’s presentation is changed. 
PS2: Find more about John Roedel work here.

Article
0 comment

Aware of the healing power of breathing

“I went to see Michelle because I was going through a really tough time.  Her warmth and no-nonsense empathy made me feel safe right away and able to share even embarrassing things. She helped me get in touch with myself, listen to the signals my body was sending me and breathing through it all. The massages were an amazing treat and helped release blockages that I wasn’t even fully aware off. As a result, I have become calmer, more in tune with my body and aware of the healing power of breathing, I have since even started a regular yoga practice.  I recommend Michelle to anyone who would like some loving support in their journey.  Thanks Michelle!”  Monika

Article
0 comment

Self-Confidence 2

In the last article, we started a reflection about our self-confidence and what happen in the body when this self-confidence is lacking and we found ourselves doubting about our competences, opinions and even our being.
I did suggest boosting your self-confidence by acknowledge what you achieved, did or learned so to train your attention towards what gives you confidence and satisfaction.

[Read more]

Article
0 comment

Self-confidence

While working with my clients, I often meet the topic of self-confidence, or, to be more precise, the topic of the lack of self-confidence.  Many people feel constricted and they are not able to express themselves freely. They doubt about their abilities to do something or… to be able to face potential consequences. When this topic is discussed with clients, being dependent of the way others response to what they do is also part of the issue. They are looking for confirmations, acceptance, understanding. If these responses are not provided, clients experience a sense of inadequacy, of being misunderstood or of not being loved and accepted. This may lead to avoid such situations and hold back and deprive themselves of the freedom to act according with what is in their hearts. Or may lead to try to control the situations and the persons involved.

But when we talk about self-confidence, to what do we refer to?   [Read more]