Self-Accompaniment in Uncertain Times
Navigating those “in-betweens” and transitions
Today is the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. And as I write to you from arctic-Ardmore (I’m being dramatic, but it’s really cold… the coldest it’s been in the 22 years that I’ve lived here), I’m noticing that my brain is having a hard time believing that in just a few month it’ll be warm again.
Whether we are talking about the literal weather or personal seasons, that “between” point can be so challenging. Not always. But sometimes.
And while we can’t always wave a magic wand to get “there” faster, there are some tools we can lean into.
One technique that we can lean into is to accompany ourselves.
As I say that, the “helper/fixer” part of me wants to add “with curiosity” (as in “accompany ourselves with curiosity”), or the words “hope” or “trust”… HOWEVER, the actual “doing” of accompanying ourselves is more akin to sitting next to our own selves, on the couch, under a cozy blanket. And saying “yeah, this IS hard”, and that’s it.
What does “Being With” or Self-Accompaniment look like?
- It can look like placing a hand on our heart and taking a breath.
- It can look like the self-talk of “I’m with you”.
- Sitting on the couch with a cozy blanket
- Or it can look like putting our hand on our shoulder (like I do in this video) and giving ourselves a half-hug.
It sounds surprisingly simple, but those moments can create an inner-ease. When the jaw softens, our shoulder drop, and we can breathe more deeply. And when that happens, we open up more access to what we know… whether we call that accessing our inner wisdom, or experiencing an integrated brain state, it’s where ease is present amidst the storm.
More Self-Accompaniment Resources
- Prefer to watch? Navigating the “between” times
- Also on YouTube: Quick Resilience Reset: A Technique for Finding Calm in Chaos
- [article] Ever get caught in the vortex of harsh self-talk?
- [article] Emotionally hijacked?
- [free mini-course] Liberate Your Inner Dialogue
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- For Parents of Older Teens or Young Adults
3 Keys to Set Loving Boundaries… without guilt or power struggles [free workshop]
- For Mothers And/Or Daughters Navigating Complicated Dynamics
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