This month, several of my clients have been grappling with heightened stress and tension. Reflecting together, we recognized how significant occasions like Christmas or birthdays often amplify discomfort and unease. These times can compel us to conform to others’ expectations, social rules, and traditions, often at the expense of our inner peace.
While setting goals, cultivating rituals, and honouring enriching traditions hold value, we risk experiencing negative tension when we fail to fully engage with our present experiences—when we neglect to invite AWARENESS.
For example, one client envisioned the "perfect Christmas," filled with elaborate cooking and hosting. Through holistic work, involving mindful breathing and awareness of bodily sensations in the present, they uncovered that this ideal was tied to past familial expectations. This discovery allowed them to reconnect with what truly held meaning for them, creating space to embrace celebrations aligned with their authentic values.
How to Practice Awareness:
• Connect with your inner zone: Close your eyes, notice your breath, and observe bodily sensations.
• Connect with the outer zone: Listen to sounds, notice scents, and touch nearby textures.
• Connect with the middle zone: Acknowledge emotions, thoughts, or fantasies that arise.
By practicing awareness, you create the freedom to honour your needs, release past attachments, and make choices that genuinely enrich your life.
Gestalt therapy encourages individuals to integrate these zones of awareness, fostering a deeper understanding of their present experiences. By practicing awareness regularly, you can unlock the transformative benefits of Gestalt therapy, empowering yourself to make authentic choices and reduce unnecessary stress in daily life.
Author: Gosia Freese
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