Self-Soothing

Coming Forward

"As we begin to re-experience a visceral reconnection with the needs of our bodies, there is a brand new capacity to warmly love the self. We experience a new quality of authenticity in our caring, which redirects our attention to our health, our diets, our energy, our time management. This enhanced care for the self arises spontaneously and naturally, not as a response to a "should." We are able to experience an immediate and intrinsic pleasure in self-care." -Stephen Cope, Yoga and the Quest for the True Self

^Opening chapter of the referenced book, The Body Keeps the Score (Chapter 16. Learning to Inhabit Your Body: Yoga)

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Tara Brach, Ph.D, psychologist, author and teacher of meditation, emotional healing and spiritual awakening. (Her podcasts are an excellent resource for mindfulness) https://www.tarabrach.com/

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Self-Soothing Topic Reading:

One of the more important skills for us to learn is how to emotionally soothe ourselves. Most of us never learned to self-soothe in childhood because parents who abuse are also often poor at soothing themselves and, consequently, at teaching their children to selfsoothe. However, it is essential to our transformative process that we develop some capacity for self-soothing. We will need these skills as we proceed through the various stages of our recovery. Soothing is what good parents do when their children are upset. It often involves soothing touch that is warm and comforting. It can involve words that are reassuring, empathic and hopeful. It may involve activities that are physically, intellectually or sensorially nourishing, such as taking a walk, reading a favorite book or sharing a special meal. It can also involve daily practices that are spiritually uplifting and inspiring, such as meditation.