checking in with ourselves
How are you?
We hear this so often that sometimes, we take for granted what this question actually means. For some of us, the urge to say "I'm great - thanks!" feels almost instinctive. At the core of it, "How are you?" is quite a profound question that requires a level of introspection - a look at what's going on at present with ourselves.
In a world where there seems to be a standard response to the question "How are you?" and with TV shows and phones that easily distract, we don’t often give ourselves the chance to reflect on what we are experiencing - on how we're really doing. It could be overwhelming as it means acknowledging feelings of stress and anxiety.
While it's easy to preoccupy ourselves with our distraction of choice or get lost in an endless stream of worry, checking in with ourselves could give us the space to choose the best way to respond. It could help us take the first steps to reclaiming a sense of balance and calm in our lives.
At Equinimity, we aim to bring trauma integration into the community. Trauma integration is a process in which trauma is acknowledged to be a part of an ongoing reality, but is no longer at the center of the experience as it is now surrounded by awareness of resources for dealing with past and present adversities. While we may not classify the different stressors we encounter daily as traumatic events, we can apply the process of trauma integration to better handle them. A key part of this process is observing and acknowledging what we are experiencing.
When facing distressing situations or recalling traumatic events, our body reacts through a variety of stress responses. It could be an increased heart rate or sweaty palms. It could be an upset stomach or a headache. In these moments, it is helpful to know that there are other ways that we can be with ourselves in that moment. In our Tools for Trauma class, we come together as a community to learn about the science around trauma and most significantly, about the tools that can help us.
One of these tools is grounding, which we discussed in our last newsletter. Grounding is a technique that often uses the five senses - sound, touch, smell, taste, and sight - to connect to the present moment. During this practice, we may ask ourselves questions such as, “How does the sun feel against my skin?” or “What different instruments do I hear from this song?” Questions that gently allow us to check-in. It is considered a type of mindfulness and has been found helpful in reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. As our mind begins to concentrate on different sensations, it becomes less focused on the sudden rush of anxiety and more on things that are familiar and within our control.
In our Somatic Awareness Practice class, we dive deeper into these body-based practices to cultivate our inner resources for accessing our well-being and self-regulation. The class is intended to be a safe, communal space, open to all, where we can reflect on ourselves, without judgment, and explore ways to find balance. As we gain somatic awareness - awareness of what our bodies tell us - we can better understand how we manage our responses in times of ease and distress.
While we may not do a comprehensive self-assessment every time someone asks us "How are you?", there is value in asking ourselves this question. How are you? What’s going on - with you and around you? As we grow in our awareness, we could guide ourselves back to the here and now and experience the present to remind us that we are safe. We are connected.
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We believe that services that help with processing trauma, grief, stress, and anxiety should be accessible and affordable. Our programs, Somatic Awareness Practice: Cultivating Our Inner Resources and Tools for Trauma are open for registration and welcome new participants.
Would you like to learn 5-minute grounding exercises that you can do at home? Click here to read our last newsletter.
We hear this so often that sometimes, we take for granted what this question actually means. For some of us, the urge to say "I'm great - thanks!" feels almost instinctive. At the core of it, "How are you?" is quite a profound question that requires a level of introspection - a look at what's going on at present with ourselves.
In a world where there seems to be a standard response to the question "How are you?" and with TV shows and phones that easily distract, we don’t often give ourselves the chance to reflect on what we are experiencing - on how we're really doing. It could be overwhelming as it means acknowledging feelings of stress and anxiety.
While it's easy to preoccupy ourselves with our distraction of choice or get lost in an endless stream of worry, checking in with ourselves could give us the space to choose the best way to respond. It could help us take the first steps to reclaiming a sense of balance and calm in our lives.
At Equinimity, we aim to bring trauma integration into the community. Trauma integration is a process in which trauma is acknowledged to be a part of an ongoing reality, but is no longer at the center of the experience as it is now surrounded by awareness of resources for dealing with past and present adversities. While we may not classify the different stressors we encounter daily as traumatic events, we can apply the process of trauma integration to better handle them. A key part of this process is observing and acknowledging what we are experiencing.
When facing distressing situations or recalling traumatic events, our body reacts through a variety of stress responses. It could be an increased heart rate or sweaty palms. It could be an upset stomach or a headache. In these moments, it is helpful to know that there are other ways that we can be with ourselves in that moment. In our Tools for Trauma class, we come together as a community to learn about the science around trauma and most significantly, about the tools that can help us.
One of these tools is grounding, which we discussed in our last newsletter. Grounding is a technique that often uses the five senses - sound, touch, smell, taste, and sight - to connect to the present moment. During this practice, we may ask ourselves questions such as, “How does the sun feel against my skin?” or “What different instruments do I hear from this song?” Questions that gently allow us to check-in. It is considered a type of mindfulness and has been found helpful in reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. As our mind begins to concentrate on different sensations, it becomes less focused on the sudden rush of anxiety and more on things that are familiar and within our control.
In our Somatic Awareness Practice class, we dive deeper into these body-based practices to cultivate our inner resources for accessing our well-being and self-regulation. The class is intended to be a safe, communal space, open to all, where we can reflect on ourselves, without judgment, and explore ways to find balance. As we gain somatic awareness - awareness of what our bodies tell us - we can better understand how we manage our responses in times of ease and distress.
While we may not do a comprehensive self-assessment every time someone asks us "How are you?", there is value in asking ourselves this question. How are you? What’s going on - with you and around you? As we grow in our awareness, we could guide ourselves back to the here and now and experience the present to remind us that we are safe. We are connected.
________________________________
We believe that services that help with processing trauma, grief, stress, and anxiety should be accessible and affordable. Our programs, Somatic Awareness Practice: Cultivating Our Inner Resources and Tools for Trauma are open for registration and welcome new participants.
Would you like to learn 5-minute grounding exercises that you can do at home? Click here to read our last newsletter.
