Teaching your body to trust us takes time, and repetition, and building of consistency. Somatics Keep going. Sally's story

I love to go out onto the streets and minister to the people that live there. Bring them food, water, prayer, encouragement, the word of God, and other things they have asked for such as sewing kits and deodorants. Some people are so receptive, and want to have food, and encouragement, prayer, help, etc. Others just want food and water and no interactions, which is fine, that’s what they receive. However, some of them, it is so hard to only do that, because they are clearly so discouraged, or untrusting of people, and I love having the opportunity to speak with them, encourage them, pray over them, and give them a big hug if they are up for it. However, they aren’t all in a place to trust me with that. So, I interact in whatever way I can, just food and water (sometimes not even that).

            During somatics class recently this specific person came to mind that I have seen countless times on the street. I know her name, but we will just call her Sally. The first time I saw her, she was laying down, and struggling, and said no to any interaction, but then was desperate enough she let me talk to her. By the end of our time together that day, as I spoke against pain and sickness, and spoke life over her, she became clear headed and was no longer experiencing pain she said. I must admit, I thought if I saw her again, she would be open to talking, even though she had stayed brusk and rough during that first meeting. When I see her now, she is no longer laying down, she is up and moving about and appears healthy, which is fantastic. She just doesn’t seem to want to talk to anyone, and brushes me off when I approach, sometimes taking food and/or water, sometimes not, but refuses conversation or anything more. But I just keep coming. I remember her name, because I have only had one friend with that name, and she was special to me, and I happily see her name each time (I’m calling her Sally just for this blog). I am thrilled to see her walking around, and looking able bodied, even though she doesn’t seem to trust people.

            Bit by bit, Sally has started to say hi to me, and receive food more consistently. And even just say thank you before she walks off. Then last week, she actually was asking around, she had heard someone was giving out sandwiches, and wondered if we knew who. When she saw me, she sort of smiled and said – “oh, it’s you, the prayer girl”. I offered her a sandwich, and she took it, said thank you, and then started off, but turned back. She paused, and told me that there was someone down the hill a way who could use a sandwich and what I have to offer. So, I got to go with her and we even talked a bit as I walked with her. She introduced me to her friend, who I got to hand food, and other resources to, and then pray over. I then turned and asked Sally if she wanted prayer, since she had sat on the ground nearby looking the other way while I interacted with her friend. She said no, but that she had listened and received what I prayed over her friend. This was such huge improvement in being open, the conversation, the caring for another person, the receiving of food, and even of prayer from afar. I was thrilled.

            All this to say, be patient with your body. Keep showing it care and time and attention. Keep being consistently calm. You are in charge. Let your body know, this is the way we are going to do things. Show your body over and over again that you can be present, in the here and now, and know you are safe. Move in ways you wouldn’t normally, with care and attention, and show your body that it is safe to do so. When it responds with screaming, or symptoms in other words, you can speak to your body, let it know you are safe. Maintain whatever you are doing, or back down, and repeat it later, perhaps with less range of motion or resistance, etc. Or slower. Just keep showing up and let your body know that you aren’t going to force it, but you will keep engaging.

            I don’t ignore Sally. She was quite abrupt the first time I met her, and even though I left with her not in pain, she was not “pleasant” in the natural to be around. She was quite abrupt to me each time after that. But I won’t ignore her. I will still notice her, and attempt to care for her. Just like the body isn’t acting in health, and is screaming and being “unpleasant”, but we won’t ignore it. We also will not yell at it and tell it that its awful. We will just keep building in our time of care and being present with our body. Over time, it will learn to trust us. The body will realize you treat it with care, and it is safe to do what you say, even if there are sensations that are unpleasant, or it seems new and scary. It is beautiful to gain your bodies trust.

            I expect my time with Sally to grow, and her trust of me to grow as well. Just as I expect your bodies trust of you to grow as you are present and caring.

Update, just today, I got to say hi to Sally, and she received a pair of shoes from me, and reached out and gave me a quick hug, what a gift. As I drove away later, she said thank you and waved. Such an amazing gift, I feel so blessed by her trust to hug me! If you would like to join our somatics or self-lymph massage classes and teach your body to trust you, give our Align Membership a try. You can also just do drop in classes HERE