The Meaning of Felt Sense: Somatic Awareness and the Body's Wisdom in Psychotherapy
The Heart of Somatic Wisdom: Felt Sense as an Inner Knowing
The "felt sense" concept is at the heart of somatic practices. It entails a nebulous terrain where emotions, sensations, and intuitions converge to form an elusive yet potent source of insight and healing. Exploring the felt sense has been likened to spending time with an unclear edge. It is a cornerstone in Eugene Gendlin's groundbreaking work as part of the Focusing approach in psychotherapy.
The felt sense invites us into an intimate conversation with our body's wisdom.
It's not merely an emotion or a physical sensation, though it can include these. Instead, it's a holistic, pre-verbal experience that captures the essence of our being in a given moment - a kind of inner knowing that speaks to us in the language of sensations, emotions, and a profound sense of presence in our situation. This nuanced awareness, often elusive and subtle, carries rich information about our emotional and psychological states, offering a gateway to deeper insights and emotional healing. At its core, the concept of the felt sense beckons us to embrace ambiguity and honor the wisdom embedded within our bodily responses and subtle cues. Gendlin's insights remind us that growth often emerges from uncertainty, where words falter, but the language of the body speaks volumes.
Ultimately, embracing the felt sense of each moment becomes a powerful tool for fostering authenticity and deepening connections in your journey toward personal and relational fulfillment. Still, pausing to access a fresh perspective often proves challenging in the labyrinth of our minds. Our minds gravitate toward the comfort of familiar thoughts, sticking to the tried-and-true ruminating patterns, where at least we feel somewhat smart with at least some intellectual knowing of what’s going on with us. However, we cannot think ourselves out of this rumination.
However, when we start engaging the felt sense, we confront a landscape shrouded in ambiguity, a territory where words fail to encapsulate our experience entirely. Eugene Gendlin aptly describes this encounter as "coming up against a blank wall," a moment where the mind grapples with a profound sense of unknowing. But here's the kicker: that blankness isn't a dead end. It's more like a signpost pointing to something waiting to be discovered, even if we can't quite put our finger on it yet. And that's where the magic word comes in – "Something." Instead of throwing in the towel and returning to the all too familiar rumination, we can say, "I sense something in me that..." or "There's something in me that..." It's like planting a flag in uncharted territory, giving us a foothold to explore and discover what lies beyond.
The Subtlety and Depth of the Felt Sense
The Felt Sense as Whispers of Intuition
With its nuanced and subtle nature, the felt sense often whispers to us when the mind is quiet, offering insights that are felt rather than thought.
It's like the gentle hum of intuition or the echo of a memory that hasn't fully surfaced
- a sensation known deeply within the body but might elude our attempts to articulate it with words.
This elusive quality makes the felt sense both fascinating and mysterious; it exists in the spaces between our emotions and thoughts, in the bodily experience of knowing something profound before we can name it. It's akin to the feeling you get when you're moved by a piece of art or music, something that stirs within you, rich with emotion and meaning, yet you might struggle to explain why it affects you so deeply.
The Felt Sense as a Compass Within
Engaging with the felt sense opens a doorway to understanding ourselves beyond the limitations of our cognitive processes. This bodily intuition carries layers of emotional and psychological information, offering a compass for navigating our inner landscape. Through the felt sense, we can access insights about our well-being, desires, and fears that our conscious mind might overlook or rationalize away.
It's like conversing with a wise friend who speaks in sensations rather than words, guiding us toward a deeper awareness of our emotional states and patterns.
By tuning into this gentle guidance, we enrich our understanding of ourselves, fostering a healing and transformative relationship with our inner world.
Recognizing and Accessing the Felt Sense: The 6 Steps
Imagine feeling a bit "off" as a challenging chat with a friend is on the horizon; it's like parts of yourself are sending signals that something's off. That's a perfect moment to get in touch with your internal system. Tapping into your felt sense is like having a heart-to-heart with yourself beyond your usual thoughts and feelings.
Here's a six-step guide adapted from Focusing to illustrate how to tune into these subtle cues and access that felt sense, a nuanced experience at the heart of our emotional and bodily awareness. It's about discovering clarity and solace in your inner landscape, even when the outer world feels uncertain.
Think of it as gently shifting your gaze from the external to your inner world, observing your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without rushing to judgment.
This isn't about forcing a search for answers; it's more about being present with whatever exists in your experience. Sometimes, asking ourselves, "What's blocking my path to feeling okay?" can guide our attention to what needs acknowledgment. As thoughts or feelings arise, visualize placing them just beside you, not too close but not too far. This act of setting them aside creates a valuable space inside, a room to breathe and focus. Through these practices, we learn not just to live with our emotions but to engage with them in a way that's both healing and empowering.
Relatable scenario Step 1 - a difficult conversation with a close friend:
Reflecting on this practice of creating space between ourselves and our concerns, let's consider a scenario many of us face: the anticipation of a difficult conversation with a friend. Imagine you're worried about this upcoming talk, maybe fearing conflict or misunderstanding. In practicing the felt sense, you'd first acknowledge the worry without immediately trying to resolve it. Say to yourself, "There's a part of me that is really anxious about this conversation," or “There’s something in me that is worried about this talk.” By doing so, you're not entangling yourself with the anxiety; instead, you're recognizing it as just one aspect of your current experience.
Then, visualize setting this worry beside you, creating a mental and emotional buffer that allows you to see the situation more clearly. This space isn't about distancing yourself from your feelings but about giving yourself room to breathe, think, and approach the conversation with more clarity or stability. In doing so, you might find that the anxiety diminishes in intensity, allowing you to focus more on preparing for the conversation in a thoughtful way. This doesn't remove the worry entirely but transforms your relationship with it, making what felt overwhelming feel more manageable.
In this process, curiosity serves not as a precursor to analysis but as a tool for deeper engagement with your internal world. It allows you to explore the nuances of your sensations and emotions without the urgency for clarity or resolution, akin to exploring a new and intriguing landscape with a sense of wonder and openness.
Notice where in your body this issue resonates, and permit yourself to feel its collective weight and texture without the need for clarity or resolution. This approach doesn't minimize the complexity of your feelings but acknowledges that sometimes, understanding comes not through dissecting our problems but through embracing the fullness of our experience, with all its nuances and shadows. Here, the symphony of your internal experience is not analyzed note by note but appreciated for its harmonious and complex whole, enhancing your connection to the felt sense and enriching your understanding of your inner emotional landscape.
Relatable scenario Step 2 - a difficult conversation with a close friend:
As you reflect on the upcoming conversation with your friend, you notice a tightness in your throat and a knot in your stomach. These sensations are uncomfortable, yet they carry valuable insights into your feelings of apprehension. At this moment, you're not attempting to unpack or resolve these feelings; rather, you're directing your attention inward to simply observe them. You approach these sensations with curiosity, wondering what they might be telling you about your emotional state without rushing to judgment. This curiosity allows you to explore the discomfort, acknowledging that it's part of a broader emotional landscape related to the conversation. You recognize that these physical responses are informative, offering a nonverbal window into your apprehension and the complexity of your feelings about the dialogue ahead.
Relatable scenario Step 3 - a difficult conversation with a close friend:
As you tune into your body's sensations amidst the anticipation of a challenging conversation with a friend, a specific sensation begins to stand out—a knot in your stomach that seems to tighten with each thought of the impending dialogue. You give this sensation space, choosing not to untangle it immediately but rather to observe its presence with kindness and patience. Now, you're looking for the right words to describe this feeling, something that truly captures its essence. The phrase "walking on eggshells" surfaces, resonating deeply with the complexity and discomfort you're navigating.
This handle, "walking on eggshells," does more than describe the sensation; it vividly paints the tension, caution, and unease that envelop you. It's as if this single phrase encapsulates the entire experience - wrapping around the knot in your stomach, giving a voice to the intricate mix of dread and determination that fills you at the thought of speaking your truth. It becomes a powerful metaphor, shedding light on the depth of your emotions and bridging the gap between the physical sensation and your broader emotional state.
Relatable scenario Step 4 - a difficult conversation with a close friend:
In navigating the delicate terrain of a difficult conversation with a close friend, the phrase "walking on eggshells" continues to resonate as the linguistic counterpart to your felt sense - a vivid depiction of the apprehension knotting your stomach and tightening your chest. You engage in a thoughtful back-and-forth, attentively oscillating your focus between these physical sensations and the phrase, exploring their congruence. This exploration is fluid, embracing that understanding and articulating inner experiences are ever-evolving.
As you continue exploring, you might detect a subtle transformation - a softening of the stomach's knot or a loosening of the chest's tightness, signaling a resonance between your internal experience and its verbal expression. This moment of alignment is illuminating and therapeutic, marking a step towards greater self-understanding and emotional readiness for the conversation ahead.
However, should a sense of disconnect arise, indicating that "walking on eggshells" doesn't quite encapsulate the full spectrum of your feelings, or if the sensations within intensify, this is a cue for openness to change. Perhaps the phrase "balancing on a tightrope" then surfaces, offering a more precise reflection of your nuanced state - balancing anticipation and concern with the need to speak your truth.
This iterative process - fine-tuning your awareness and language until a feeling of alignment is achieved—underscores the dynamic nature of engaging with our emotions. It's in this moment of clarity, when the chosen phrase and your bodily sensations echo each other that you capture the complex essence of your feelings about the forthcoming dialogue.
This allows us to remain with the question, giving it the time to seep into our deeper consciousness, opening doors to a deeper understanding and possibly a softening of the initial discomfort.
By envisaging this process as a dialogue with a patient friend rather than a high-pressure interrogation, we invite insights to unfold naturally in their own time. This method doesn't just search for answers; it opens a path for them to reveal themselves, embracing the slow and natural rhythm of insight and understanding from within.
Relatable scenario Step 5 - a difficult conversation with a close friend:
As you sit with the anticipation of your discussion, you've identified a feeling akin to "balancing on a tightrope." This imagery corresponds with the tension you're experiencing as a knot in your stomach. Gently ask yourself, "What about this situation makes me feel like I'm balancing on a tightrope"?"
If the first answers that surface seem shallow or obvious, without really touching the depth of your experience, acknowledge them and then let them go. Redirect your focus to that visceral feeling, the sense of cautious stepping, and pose the question again. This isn't a race for answers but a slow, mindful exploration, allowing the question and the sensation to simmer together in your awareness. It's like quietly sitting with a friend, giving them space to open up in their own time.
Relatable scenario - Step 6: a difficult conversation with a close friend:
As you've explored the reasons behind the tension in conversations with your friend, feeling as though you're "balancing on a tightrope," a moment of reflection brings a subtle yet meaningful shift. Perhaps you remember a specific instance when your friend showed empathy or shared a moment of laughter with you—a detail previously overshadowed by the discomfort of your interactions. This recollection, seemingly minor, warmly floats into your consciousness, subtly easing the tension you've been holding. Allow yourself to welcome this memory and the slight shift in perspective it brings, staying in this space of newfound understanding for a moment.
Or perhaps this moment of insight could emerge not from recalling a specific instance of empathy from your friend but rather from an internal realization about your own resilience and capacity for understanding. For example, you might recognize that your apprehension about these conversations stems from a deep-seated desire to maintain harmony and avoid conflict. This realization, though it might seem small, warmly settles within you, offering a new angle from which to approach your friendship.
This gentle easing of tension and change in perspective signifies that you're moving towards a deeper connection with your feelings and the situation. It's a reminder that understanding our emotions and reactions isn't about uncovering dramatic revelations at every turn but rather about cherishing these moments of insight, no matter how small. The journey of emotional exploration is ongoing, filled with many such subtle shifts that, collectively, deepen our understanding of ourselves and our relationships.
The Personal and Transformative Nature of the Felt Sense
Exploring your felt sense is like embarking on a personal journey that's unique to you. Imagine it as listening to a playlist where each song represents a different part of your emotions and body sensations. Just like your music taste can differ vastly from your friends, how you experience and connect with your inner self is deeply personal. It's recognizing those whispers and nudges from within that vary for everyone—what makes you sigh in relief or your heart race a bit faster is yours alone. As you become more attuned to your inner signals, you'll find a richer, more nuanced understanding of your emotions and reactions.
This process is not one-size-fits-all. It's warm, intimate, and like unraveling a mystery to which only you hold the key. It's like finding a hidden path in a forest that leads to a clearing you never knew existed. This path isn't just about navigating the tough stuff; it's also about celebrating your victories, big and small. Connecting with your felt sense opens up a world of self-discovery and the possibility of living a more authentic, fulfilled life.
Understanding the Felt Sense in Everyday Life
The beauty of engaging with your felt sense lies in these moments of personal revelation. It guides you through the fog of confusion toward clarity, helping you make decisions that resonate more deeply and genuinely.
The Significance of the Felt Sense in Somatic Practices
In somatic practices, the felt sense acts like a secret bridge connecting the dots between what our bodies feel and what our hearts understand. It's about noticing those subtle cues - a flutter in the stomach, a tightness in the chest - and realizing these sensations are not just physical responses but also gateways to our emotions. By tuning into this inner dialogue, we start to see how our bodies speak the language of our feelings, guiding us to a deeper awareness of ourselves. This is where the magic happens, transforming simple bodily sensations into rich emotional insights and fostering a sense of inner harmony and truth.
This harmony aligns us with our authenticity, equipping us with the strength to face life's ups and downs with grace and resilience. When aligned internally, our responses to the world become more genuine, rooted in a clear understanding of what we truly feel and need. The felt sense is our ally in this journey, offering a compass to navigate life's storms with authenticity and courage. It's not just about reacting to what life throws our way but responding with a heart fully aware of its depth and complexities, leading to actions that are deeply in tune with who we are at our core.
Engaging with the Felt Sense: Challenges and Opportunities
In today's fast-paced world, where quick decisions and constant movement are the norms, tuning into your felt sense can feel like trying to hear a whisper in a storm. It's challenging because it requires us to slow down, step away from the hustle, and listen deeply to what our bodies and emotions are trying to tell us. While this may seem like a luxury, this slow, deliberate attention to our inner experiences allows us to live more authentically, responding to life's ups and downs with a sense of groundedness and truth.
Incorporating the felt sense into daily life might seem daunting, but it can start with simple, intentional practices. Daily check-ins with yourself, moments of mindfulness where you pause to feel what's happening inside you, and allowing for creative expression can all be gateways to deeper self-understanding.
Start with Daily Check-ins: Take a moment to pause and check in with yourself each day. How are you feeling? What's going on inside? This doesn't need to be a big time commitment—a few minutes will do. It's about creating a habit of tuning in, acknowledging, and accepting your feelings without trying to change them.
Find Mindful Moments: Transform ordinary activities into opportunities for mindfulness. Whether savoring your morning coffee, feeling the breeze on your face during a walk, or noticing the textures and colors around you, these moments can help you connect with the present and your inner experiences.
Explore Through Creative Expression: Experiment with permitting yourself to express your feelings through creative outlets. This could be writing down your thoughts, doodling in a sketchbook, moving your body to music, or any other form of expression that feels right. It's not about the outcome but the process of exploring and expressing your inner world.
These practices don't have to be time-consuming. By making these practices a part of your routine, you gradually open up space for your felt sense to become second nature, guiding you towards a more authentic and aligned way of being.
Bridging Inner Worlds: The Synergy of Parts Work and Brainspotting with the Felt Sense
Therefore, Brainspotting therapy taps into the brain's natural ability to heal by locating points in our visual field that help access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain.
This intuitive bodily experience enriches Brainspotting's bottom-up approach, emphasizing the body's role in emotional and psychological healing. By tuning into the felt sense, clients can access and process deeply stored emotional experiences gently yet profoundly.
Concluding Reflection: Felt Sense, Your Body’s Wisdom
By attuning ourselves to our bodies subtle cues, we can unlock a form of guidance—an inner "compass"—that directs us towards the healing we need. This compass doesn’t point us to generic solutions but to the unique "medicine" our emotional selves require to heal and flourish.
In essence, Focusing is not just a technique but a journey back to our intrinsic wisdom. It is a way to heal our troubled emotional lives by reconnecting with the profound knowledge stored within our bodies. It invites us to trust in our bodies capacity to lead us not just to healing but to a deeper understanding of who we are and what we need to thrive.
Kindly note: The information included in this blog is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for mental health services. Please consult with a qualified professional to determine the appropriateness of the information for your own life experiences or if you have any questions.