A systems view of biological health

Section 4: Application and Practical exercises

10 : Safety check

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The reality that your very fast cognitive mind recognises is extremely limited, and subject to a multiplicity of gestalt filters that have no sense of any kind of bigger picture. The over-reliance on sensory gestalts (and assumption that they will run it all for us) prevents a proper conversation between body and conscious mind. Therefore safety is assumed at a mentaL level. But IF is not felt at a somatic level, then the body itself does not recognise safety. Below is a simple extension of the "coming home" exercise, ;specifically designed to settle more deeply into the reality of safety (or otherwise) in the current environment.

The exercise consists of the following stages (talked through in the following Audio track). It is not suited to public spaces because these are uncontained, and should really only be used (at least initially - until you experientially understand how it works) in spaces you have complete control over, such as a room with the door closed, in which you are the only occupant (or maybe you and a pet!). The various stages are explained in the first audio track.

1. Find a position you can stand in which you have a visual command of the whole room, with your back to a wall
2. Apply the "arriving" exercise
3. Now start to survey the room slowly, making sure that you turn your neck/head to look directly (instead of just moving your eyes).
4. If anything you see creates an uncomfortable [1] somatic response, identify it, decide if it is small enough to do something about immediately (such as moving it), and if so just do it, and then return and continue. If it's too big or complex to deal with in a few seconds, cognitively recognise whether it's an immediate threat... If it is, do something about it(!). If not, give the area of your body that reacted a smile, say to it - "yes I know about it", adding something truthful about whether you can sort it out in the near future and how significant it is in the bigger picture of your life - , and notice the responsefrom your body.
5. Gravitate towards anything that makes you feel good about being in the room and that interests you - simple things are best (such as the way light comes in and reflects from the ceiling and walls).
6. Now put your attention back inside your body and "tell" it a very simple and 100% honest summary of your assessment of the safety of the room you are in. C
7. Continue to be aware of your body over the next half minute or so and notice to whatever extent there is some kind of response, what that is and most importantly, where it is
8. Most people will notice some degree of softening, relaxation and other feelings of reduced activation.
9. You can consolidate this a little more by agains smiling at the volumes of your body that have reduced their activation and saying to them "welcome home", again giving some time to notice any response there may be
10. Since you are in a room on your own you can also talk out loud to your body - provided that this is done as if your body is an intelligent close friend - see notes on Language