I can find a felt sense in my body, but how do I do Focusing with my controlling mind?

Controlling mind can be a problem when you are Focusing. I am pleased to hear that you can find a felt sense in your body when you are Focusing, and I wonder what is the difference when you Focus with something in your mind? When you pay attention inside your body, you might find that some aspects of you are more accessible, more readily available. You may find that emotional reactions are easier to find, and from there, it’s a small step to find the body response and then the felt sense.

Perhaps you could try to find a similar sequence when you find something in your controlling mind. There is often emotional content to the thought, or action that the mind is doing. For instance, it maybe avoiding painful feelings. It might be afraid of being overwhelmed by them, so it takes avoiding strategies so it doesn’t have to feel painful feelings.

So now we have something to relate to. You can acknowledge it and keep it company in the way that you would do with any felt sense when you are Focusing, being accepting and non-judgemental of it. You can begin to sense from its point of view, and it may tell you how afraid its feeling. There maybe a metaphor or an image. It feels as if there is an avalanche about to come down on it. These are all access points into the felt sense; images, feelings and metaphors.

So now you are getting nearer to the felt sense of the something in the mind, which is trying to control. I suggest that you relate to your controlling mind in the same way as you relate to a felt sense when you are Focusing. Describe it as fully as you are able. Find metaphors and images which seem to fit, and check if that feels right to it. See if you can be kind and compassionate towards it. Come alongside it and sense for its point of view. Let it know you see that it has good reason to be there, even though you may not yet know what it is. (Otherwise it would not be there.)

Gradually, as you stay with it, you might find that a felt sense forms in response to an aspect of the controlling mind. Don’t worry if it’s doesn’t come. It will come in its own time, and in the meantime you can keep good company with something in you that needs company. It needs to be heard and attended to. Focusing helps you to do this.