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Minuscule Healing Steps

Good things come in small packages.

It’s true.

But, what’s this got to do with healing?

The body and the nervous system will typically experience what can appear to be unimportant or tiny changes, and if we aren’t aware of these, we can miss the fact that we are already healing.

In my experience and study in Somatic Experiencing, in Family Constellations, and in Yoga, if you notice these baby steps, your healing can advance faster and more thoroughly.

 

Why It Is Important to Notice Tiny Healing Steps

Imagine a baby learning how to walk for the first time.

If a parent is attentive to the first (or even the second or third) time they stand on their own without holding something or their first step forward, the baby will likely advance quicker and more steadily than a baby who doesn’t have this loving attention.

Your nervous system and body act similarly.

The power of your awareness is huge!

So when we notice the small things, the healing grows bigger and goes deeper.

Also, the more we notice, the more obvious the healing steps become. Since we weren’t all taught to listen to the cues of our bodies this way, it is a matter of practice and training our awareness.

So, good things come in small packages – even in healing and transformation.

 

Small Healing Signs to Look Out For

I’ve put together a list of some (and certainly not all) important shifts in the body that you can begin to notice in your healing process to boost your healing. If you notice these shifts and feel into them, your body will probably like it and continue moving in a healing direction.

• Spontaneous Breath
  • A spontaneous breath that goes a bit deeper in the body, into different places of the body, or is fuller and more spacious
• A Micro – Movement
  • A tiny shift or movement in the body that can lead to self – soothing or the completion of a fight or flight response
• Self – Soothing or Protection
  • The unconscious movement (even the smallest of movements) of your hand to sooth, touch, or protect the body
• Shift in the Eyes
  • Seeing more, seeing in your periphery, eye gaze is more expansive and relaxed, less constricted, colors are more vivid, calmer sight, softer gaze
• Settling in the Body
  • Feeling of lightness or expansion, pleasant feeling somewhere in the body, feeling neutral, feeling more grounded or spacious, one part of the body releasing, heels coming down to the ground, feeling more “in the body”
• Digestion Coming Back Online
  • Gurgling or sounds in the stomach, burping, feeling of movement in the gut, passing gas
  • More saliva, feeling hungry or thirsty
  • Need to go to the bathroom and eliminate
• Sensation or Energy Down Limbs
  • Tingling, heat, etc.
• Better Hearing
  • Clearer ability to hear sound, hearing from an alert yet relaxed place, ears are relaxed
  • If very sensitive to sounds previously, a different ability to block out extra sounds or sensitivity changes
• Seeing More Resource
  • The openness to imagining a loving person, naturally seeing the positive in the situation, a Feeling of gratitude
• More Capacity
  • The ability to imagine or turn towards what was challenging or scary previously, the ability to feel through what was harder before
  • The body feels like it has more or enough space to contain or feel through something
  • A sense of possibility, optimism, opennness, excitement
  • A feeling of “maybe” versus “no” or “yes” instead of “maybe”, or a “no” where no is needed.
• Change in Your Skin Tone
  • A flushed pinkish skin tone can signify a shift or discharge in the nervous system towards parasympathetic rest states.
• Difference in the Quality of an Emotion or Sensation
  
  • Less intensity or feels different in the body, the sensation feels smaller or has moved
• Difference in Neutrality or Witness
  • More space between you and the experience you’re having
  • More ability to be neutral
  • A sense of being able to observe what's happening vs. not
  • A different sense of distance between you and something previously more intensely identified

Things to Keep Aware Of

Keep in mind that these small healing steps may happen when you’re experiencing a conversation with a friend, therapist, healing practitioner or coach, and that they may be supported even deeper by a Somatic Experiencing or Somatic Therapy practitioner. When the body is in the forefront of the healing process, the healing can be even more powerful.

Sometimes, healing doesn’t feel like it is happening, especially if the emotions feel more intensified. In some cases, if the intensity is too much, then your nervous system may become overwhelmed. In these cases, remind yourself that feeling your emotions is, in general, a positive step towards healing, though it is important to receive proper support from someone who is trained to notice what is happening in your nervous system so that you don’t overwhelm or re-traumatize your nervous system.

 

Notice the Small Things

Are you ready to notice (or continue your practice of noticing) the small healing steps you’re having? Empower yourself with these healing steps in mind, so that you can boost your healing progress!

I encourage you to get curious about what happens and what possibilities open up to you when you stay in the moment of noticing a tiny breath, mini-movement, or shift in your eye gaze.

As always, feel free to reach out to me if you’d like support, have questions, or would like to know more.