Pathways of Pleasure
Last week during my group program session, a powerful theme emerged.
It started with some wise check-ins:
'What if I gave up on the effort of of resisting challenging feelings and sensations? Just allow them to be there to gain some measure of rest...'
'I'm surprised to find many simultaneous and contrasting experiences in my body: pain and pleasure, stress and comfort...'
This got my wheels turning.
(I've stopped pre-planning these sessions, for the most part. When my clients gather, there is enough depth of awareness and process already in the room, that I find it's much better to listen, and improvise my offerings based on what reveals itself – what people are ready to share and work with – where their emergent needs lead us.)
What unfolded is a workshop I would call now Pathways of Pleasure.
We've all had the experience of a pain or emotional distress taking over our attention. Perhaps a 'pathway of distress.'
...And, we've all had the experience of turning trying to squash our challenging sensations and feelings. A 'path way of fighting reality.'
Both take a certain kind of toll:
Following a pathway of distress, or paying attention to pain and
discomfort for too long without a shift towards something easier can create more stress in the body, and sometimes even amplify the pain/discomfort.
And pathways of fighting reality – denying or pushing away discomfort – is effortful and not often that successful.
What if there was another way – a pathway of pleasure for our awareness to follow... where we don't have to make anything happen, we just get to rest and enjoy what is already there and ready to be enjoyed.
Want to try it out? It can even be for a brief moment!
Some Prompts for discovering Pathways of Pleasure
~Can you allow that uncomfortable, distressing or annoying thing to be there... and also notice something comfortable, pleasant, or enjoyable happening inside you?
~Can you follow that enjoyable experience, until it blooms, until it brings a smile to your face, causes a warm sigh, or until it softens you?
~Can you invite your awareness to follow a pathway of pleasure from one enjoyable (or just fine or ok) experience within you to the next?
~Can you enjoy the sensation of enjoyment itself?
~What helps you sustain attention on what feels good?
~What gets in the way?
I'd love to hear what you discover. Seriously, send me a note :) I am real.
PS. I am taking suggestions for my next public pop-up workshop! Let me know if you'd like to me to teach Pathways of Pleasure, or anything else!
PPS. We now have new and upgraded Group & 1:1 Program Structures, and there is currently space available! If you're looking to go deeper with your healing and make lasting changes in your life and work, check them all out here!
