What Are You Carrying?
October has a way of reminding us about letting go.
Leaves change color, loosen their grip, and eventually fall. Meanwhile, many of us are doing the opposite.
We're carrying…
The conversation that bothered us.
The worry about tomorrow.
The long to-do list.
Someone else's difficult mood.
The tension that's been sitting in our shoulders all day.
Sometimes we don't even realize how much we're carrying until the body gets our attention.
A tight jaw. Raised shoulders. Shallow breathing. A busy mind. Irritability. Fatigue. That feeling of being “on” even when the day is over.
One of the things I love about Body–Mind Therapy is that we don't always have to figure everything out with our thinking mind first.
Sometimes we can begin with the body.
Notice.
Breathe.
And give the body an opportunity to soften—even if the situation itself hasn't changed.
You don't have to release everything.
Just notice what you may not need to carry quite so tightly.
Monthly Body–Mind Strategy: Shake It Off
Animals naturally shake, stretch, and move their bodies. We can give ourselves permission to move too.
Stand comfortably and begin gently shaking your hands.
Let the movement travel into your arms and shoulders.
If it feels good, shake one leg and then the other. Add a little sway, bounce, or wiggle.
Take a comfortable breath in.
Exhale through your mouth and imagine releasing some of what you've been carrying.
Then become still.
Notice your body.
Ask yourself:
What am I carrying?
What can I put down—even for right now?
You don't have to solve it.
Sometimes noticing is enough to begin.
This October, perhaps we can take a lesson from the trees:
We can hold what matters—and loosen our grip on what doesn't.
—Dawn
Dawning Path – Wellness & Education
