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Cultivating Awareness: 3 Ways to Tune into Yourself & Others

Writer's picture: Faye LavergneFaye Lavergne

Cultivating Awareness: 3 Simple Ways to Tune into Yourself and Others
Cultivating Awareness: 3 Simple Ways to Tune into Yourself and Others

In the fast pace of life, it's easy to lose connection with our bodies, emotions, and the subtle cues that reveal how we’re truly feeling. Whether you’re navigating a moment of stress, a difficult conversation, or simply checking in with yourself, noticing your body’s signals can be a powerful way to regain balance and cultivate self-awareness.

Here are three gentle ways to start noticing your mood and demeanor—both within yourself and in others, especially in moments of disagreement.


1. Your Breath: Reclaiming Your Rhythm

One of the most telling indicators of your emotional state is your breath. Is it shallow or deep? Are you holding it without realizing? By simply taking a moment to exhale fully, you invite your body back into a natural rhythm. When stress or tension builds, our breath often becomes erratic, reflecting the unsettled nature of our mind.

•    Pause, exhale completely, and then slowly bring your breath back in.

•    As you do this, notice if your breath is flowing easily or if you feel tension in your chest or belly.

This small act of tuning into your breath can help calm your nervous system and create space for reflection.


2. Your Posture: Aligning Body and Mind

Your posture can tell you a lot about your mood. Are you slouched, shoulders tight, or leaning forward in tension? These are often unconscious responses to stress or anxiety. To regain a sense of control and openness:

•    Settle into an alignment that feels both strong and relaxed.

•    Gently roll your shoulders back, lengthen your spine, and feel your feet grounded beneath you.

This simple adjustment not only helps your body feel supported but can also shift your emotional state, allowing you to approach situations with more clarity and balance.


3. Your Hands: A Window into Tension

Hands are often overlooked, but they can be a mirror of inner tension. Are your fists clenched, fingers stiff, or hands fidgeting? Bringing awareness to your hands can offer insight into how your body is holding stress.

•    Open your hands and wiggle your fingers.

•    This gentle movement can help release built-up tension and signal to your brain that it's safe to relax.

By noticing your hands and offering them release, you begin to shift not just your physical state but also your emotional experience.


Applying These Insights to Relationships

When you find yourself in a disagreement or tense interaction, these same principles can be applied to noticing the other person. Observing their breath, posture, and hands can offer you clues about their emotional state, helping you approach the conversation with greater empathy and understanding.

For example:

•    “I notice your eyes are widening,” or

•    “I see your hands are clenched.”

Saying what you observe out loud, if appropriate, can gently bring awareness to the other person without judgment. It allows them to feel seen and gives them the opportunity to tune into their own body, perhaps even leading to a shift in the conversation’s tone.

When offering these observations, it’s important to give the other person space—avoiding prolonged eye contact beyond a few seconds. This creates a sense of safety and openness, encouraging a more respectful and grounded interaction.





Setting Boundaries for Self-Care

In moments of stress, whether internal or in conversation, taking a step back to check in with your body and its signals is a profound act of self-care. It’s a way of honoring both your needs and the needs of those around you. By bringing attention to these three simple areas—your breath, your posture, and your hands—you invite calm, clarity, and a deeper connection to the present moment.

And remember, these small shifts are powerful. They create the space for growth, understanding, and healing in both ourselves and our relationships.

Let me know if you notice any changes when you practice this. Together, we can learn to embrace these moments of awareness and transform them into opportunities for calm and connection.

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