When negative feelings are continually suppressed, your positive feelings will become suppressed as well.
This is how the numbness starts - unrequited, unexpressed thoughts lead to younger, ground zero versions of ourselves living in “Freeze or Faun”. In the process, our Joy and our Expressive Voice will become swallowed, dampened and muffled.
The Solve? Tell the TRUTH. Express yourself more freely, openly and honestly. 🎤🎶💣
Sometimes we don’t feel we have a safe space to do so. Sometimes this is true - expression can get us in trouble in some domestic situations… other times, the cage is our own making.
Here is the good part: this can work when you are alone. As long as you fully commit to the action, strive for a clear, strong voice, and embody what you are saying. One doesn’t necessarily have to “speak the truth” to the other person, or for that matter, even forgive.
S yell at a table lamp or a credenza. Have a good cry. Sing it out - neurotransmitters and hormones (emotions) will begin to change.
The trick is, sometimes we don’t (consciously) know what it is we need to purge. In fact, it’s better if we don’t know. This is where adding the voice to yoga poses or a vinyasa series can really come in handy (see video four posts earlier).
For this to work, one needs to get the doubting brain out of the way - this method is only effective when you give yourself permission to feel ridiculous, curious, and playful. 😱🎶🤡
Try playing in a favorite pose series (preferably in a sloppy manner) and add random sounds - as the poses change maybe the vowels do as well. Where is your voice coming from? Where do you feel your vocal resonance? Where are you breathing? Where are you NOT breathing? Let the poses affect the vowels, let your voice affect your movements, let your breath be the engine for both. Don’t judge or think, just GO for it, let ‘er rip, and notice. Thoughts or visuals might come up from below - or not. Doesn’t matter... just keep going and maybe begin to hear a deeper you. 👂👁🧠
Express it, say it, get it out there, find a “new” voice, exhale more and perhaps feel a little better.
If you would like a book/video set to lead you through EXACTLY how to work with this method, please think about picking up my publication “The 16 Warriors for Life & Stage”, available on my shop page. It’s the burnt orange one.
Have a great day.
