Sometimes, clients look at me like I’m crazy when I invite them to get out of their heads, come into their bodies and into the present moment. To be fair, I can be a little bit crazy and, between you and me, there’s a possibility I may have got “out of my head” a few times in my life but, just to clarify, that’s not the sort of “head-getting-out-of” I am referring to when I’m in a coaching-space.

In a coaching space I’m referring to coming out of the mentally-constructed limiting beliefs, unhelpful thought patterns or stories which are taking up space in a client’s head and causing them to disconnect from their true, authentic self. Repeating patterns of thoughts, feelings or behaviour which have been created as ways of feeling worthy of love, connection and belonging through their lives. Repeating patterns which will likely have met a need for attachment at some point in their life but which are potentially stopping them being the happiest and healthiest version of themselves now.

When I talk about getting out of their head, I’m inviting them to tune into the present moment; the NOW. To feel the contact of their feet on the floor, to feel the sensation of their breath – their life-force energy – entering and leaving their body and to notice any sensations in their body. To fully experience the present moment and themselves in it, without the noise and distractions from the head pulling them into emotions they’ve associated as negative, about the past or potential future events.

Fully experiencing themselves in the present moment, enables them to tune into the wisdom of the body; to tune in to where they might be holding tension or a physical manifestation of emotional pain in order that they can allow themselves to feel it and release it.

In my own personal experience, and in my experience with clients, there can be a lot of resistance to tuning into the present moment and in to the feelings and sensations in their body.

They may have learnt during their life that it wasn’t safe to feel their emotions; they may have been shamed or rejected for expressing emotions. They may have learnt that their emotions weren’t going to be acknowledged or heard, so learnt there was no point in doing so. They may have learnt that it was weak or pathetic to express sadness or they were punished for expressing anger. Whatever the reason, the disconnection was likely to have been learnt as a way of meeting their needs for attachment; to feel safe and loved.

So it’s no wonder when I invite a client to tune into the feelings and sensations in their body in a coaching session, for some it can feel vulnerable and scary. For some, the only evidence they’ve got of expressing the emotions they were given when they were born as a human being, is of rejection.

And it’s no wonder that so many people I have coached have no idea who they are anymore or what they even enjoy doing, because they have disconnected so much from their emotions and sensations in their body as a way of “surviving” their human experience. It’s no wonder that clients come to me saying they’ve lost their identity; they have no idea who they are or why they are here on this planet.

And it’s no wonder that relationships have broken down in their lives, as they have lost the capacity to show their whole selves to others and be vulnerable and connect heart-to-heart.

Get in touch if you’re curious about how you can access a place of emotional safety in order to feel safe to experience and express your emotions and start to reconnect with your true self.

With love Sarah xx