Where does your life go from here?

Summer is often a time when there is a change to the usual pattern and rhythm of life. Whatever the weather, it can provide an opportunity for a general overhaul and life review. There is a chance to disengage and make new decisions. Where does your life go from here? Perhaps you have the opportunity of a new course or training, or you want to develop your work into new directions.

How do you make these decisions and choices? They may take some time to mature. I recommend that you check in with your bodily felt sense from time to time. Ask yourself, how do I feel about my work and its new direction, or that course I have been thinking about taking. And then wait. Yes, you know all about the situation and its various aspects. You are aware of your thoughts and feelings associated with it. But you can also sense there is something more.

Perhaps you notice that whenever you think about a certain decision, suddenly you veer away from it. Not now, you may say. I’ll think about that later. If you pay attention to what happens in that moment, in your body, you may notice there is an uncomfortable not-wanting-to-be-with-this kind of feeling. Something tightens, gets tense or uncomfortable. If you stay with this tight or uncomfortable feeling in a Focusing way, it may ease or give you more information. You may say to this feeling, I understand why you are feeling tight. You don’t want me to feel my time is overloaded or stretched, (or whatever it is telling you.)

It is important to acknowledge what it says. Let it know that you hear it and that you are not going to ignore it. Notice if there is an easing in the body, or if it has more that it wants to say to you. Stay with it until it feels released, until it feels heard. Now you can turn your attention to what is wanted in the body. Where is life taking you and where is your passion? What is wanted by taking that course, or developing your work in this particular direction? Find the felt sense of that and allow a symbol to emerge that somehow captures its qualities. You are beginning to get more specific about your passion and your creative work, which will allow you to create the life you want with Focusing. Stay with the body sense and more will come.