Embodied Living

Embodied Living

By Ines BouyaqbaEducationSelf-Improvement
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Embodied Living episodes

  • # 5 - Understanding Numbness: What Your Body is Telling You

    In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into a topic that affects many but is often misunderstood: numbness. Numbness can make life feel dull and disconnected, leaving you unmotivated and isolated. But what if numbness isn't something to fear, but a state to understand and engage with? Join me as we explore the causes, impacts, and practical steps you can take to reconnect with your emotions and your body.

    Today We Will Explore:

    • Understanding Emotional Numbness: What it is and how it affects us.
    • Causes and Triggers: The factors leading to emotional shutdown.
    • Impacts of Numbness: Isolation, lack of motivation, and diminished life quality.
    • Practical Steps to Engage with Numbness: Befriending numbness rather than avoiding it.
    • FAQs About Numbness

      I don’t know if I’m numb. Here are signs and signals to look out for:

      • Emotional Flatness: A persistent feeling of emptiness or lack of emotional response to events that would typically elicit strong feelings.
      • Disconnection: Feeling disconnected from yourself or your surroundings, as if you are observing your life from a distance.
      • Avoidance: Avoiding activities or situations that previously brought joy or fulfillment, when you hear yourself saying ‘what’s the point?’ 
      • Physical Sensations: Sometimes, numbness can also manifest physically, where you loose sensitivity, you don’t realise that your body is tense or stiff because you don’t even feel the pain anymore unless it’s a very acute pain, so you loose attention to the subtleties of your sensations.
      • What are some physical signs that you might be experiencing numbness?
        Physical signs of numbness can include a lack of sensitivity, muscle tension, or stiffness. You might not notice pain until it becomes very acute, indicating a disconnection from the more subtle sensations in your body.

        How does emotional numbness affect your ability to connect with others?
        Emotional numbness can lead to isolation, making it difficult to connect with others on an emotional level. This can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and further detach you from meaningful relationships.

        Why is it important to approach numbness with curiosity and compassion?
        Approaching numbness with curiosity and compassion helps to create a safe environment for your body to open up. Self-blame and frustration can reinforce numbness, while a compassionate approach can encourage healing and reconnection.

        What simple practices can help you start reconnecting with your body and emotions?

        Click here to have all the details

        Questions for Reflection:

        • Have you ever experienced emotional numbness? How did it affect your daily life?
        • Can you identify any triggers that lead to emotional shutdown for you?
        • How do you typically respond to feelings of numbness?
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          20 min
        • # 4 - Redefining Happiness: Understanding Contrasting Emotions

          In this episode, we dive into the intriguing concept of "holding contrast" – the experience of feeling two seemingly contradictory emotions simultaneously. Through personal anecdotes and reflective insights, we explore how emotions like joy and sadness can coexist, challenging the conventional understanding of emotional experiences.

          Today we will explore

            • The meaning and significance of holding contrasting emotions
            • The difference between experiencing sequential emotions versus simultaneous emotions
            • My personal journey of accepting and understanding holding contrast
            • Rethinking the definitions of positive and negative emotions and the societal expectations around happiness
            • Letting go of separation and embracing wholeness
            • FAQs About Holding Contrast


                What is the meaning of holding contrasting emotions? 

                Holding contrasting emotions means feeling two or more seemingly contradictory emotions, such as joy and sadness, at the same time. This experience challenges the traditional notion that emotions must be felt separately and highlights the complexity and richness of human emotional life.

                How does experiencing sequential emotions differ from experiencing simultaneous emotions?

                Experiencing sequential emotions involves feeling one emotion after another, like feeling joy and then sadness. Simultaneous emotions, on the other hand, involve feeling multiple emotions at the same time, which can be confusing but also reveals the layered nature of our emotional experiences.

                Can you share your personal journey of accepting and understanding holding contrast?

                Initially, I felt confused and overwhelmed by holding contrasting emotions, as my mind struggled to label the experience. However, by focusing on my body's sensations and being curious about the experience, I began to accept and understand that it's natural to feel multiple emotions simultaneously.

                How should we rethink the definitions of positive and negative emotions and societal expectations around happiness? 

                Traditional definitions of positive and negative emotions often lead to self-judgment and an unrealistic pursuit of constant happiness. By accepting that emotions can coexist and that happiness is not a fixed destination, we can embrace a more authentic and fulfilling emotional experience.

                How can we let go of separation and embrace wholeness? 

                Embracing wholeness involves accepting all emotions as they come, without trying to separate or label them. This means being present with our full emotional experience and recognizing that it's natural to feel a mix of emotions. This approach fosters a deeper sense of self-acceptance and emotional well-being.

                Questions for Reflection:

                1. Have you ever experienced holding contrast? How did it feel in your body?
                2. How do you define happiness for yourself? Has your understanding of happiness evolved over time?
                3. Can you recall a moment in nature that made you appreciate the coexistence of contrasting qualities?

                4. —————————————————

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                  15 min
                5. # 3 - Softening Inside: Relaxation Redefined

                  Have you ever heard the phrase “Coming home to yourself is all about softening inside” and thought, “Yeah right, who has time for that?” but deep down, you craved a simple way to do it? I get it. I used to roll my eyes too, until I discovered a perspective that made it all click.


                  In this episode, we’ll explore how to truly relax and soften from within, even in the midst of a hectic life. Today, you’ll discover:

                  • My personal take on what "softening inside" really means. I'll share how creating an inner space to welcome and process emotions can transform your experience.
                  • Why softening and relaxing can be so challenging. We'll delve into the societal pressures that keep us in a constant state of tension and how they impact our well-being.
                  • How our environment influences our ability to relax. Discover how the stress around us seeps into our cells, making it difficult to find calm, and what we can do about it.
                  • The concepts of expansion and contraction and their impact on your well-being. Learn how these natural processes affect your body and emotions, and how you can use them to your advantage.
                  • A simple practice to help you create space in your body and mind. This practice is a powerful tool to invite relaxation into your daily life and break free from the stress cycle.

                  • We'll also discuss why pushing and achieving are so ingrained in us and how to shift towards a state of relaxation by working with our bodies rather than our minds.

                    Join me in this conversation to learn how to invite relaxation into your daily life, even in a stressful environment. By softening your body, you soften your mind, creating a ripple effect of relaxation that can positively impact those around you.

                    Have a listen now to begin your journey of embodied living!


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                    19 min
                  • # 2 - Discover Your Inner Senses: Meditation Practice

                    Following the last episode where we gently started to scratch the surface of coming home to our bodies, I thought, why not explore a hands-on practice through a guided meditation. Don’t worry, the 2 episode are connected so you can enjoy this one as a standalone.


                    Before we start the meditation I talk about the importance of tuning into what’s alive in YOUR body, as some of my guidance might not resonate with what you’re feeling from moment to moment.


                    For a long time, guided meditation and such practices made me feel uneasy. My inner dialogue was along those lines… ‘what’s wrong with me, why can’t I feel what the instructions are saying’; ‘I’m not doing this right’; ‘I’m too numb’… those messages took me further away from my body because I was trying to live the experience of another person. Use this meditation to reclaim your space, make this exploration your own. If I’m changing direction and you don’t feel like it, follow your intuition.


                    The invitation, through this guided meditation is to tune into the state I’m in, being in resonance with the feeling state rather than getting caught up in the words I’m saying. I’m using words to create a framework and support you into the exploration. Those words are tainted with my own experience so if they don’t land in your body, be curious about what’s happening for you & reclaim that moment. 


                    Wanting to feel a sense of belonging is at the core of being a human so it feels safe and reassuring to feel the same way as another being and to have an experience in common. Yet, learning by contrast is an amazing teacher. If I feel something and you feel otherwise, you realise that there’s a difference, that’s the opportunity to be more curious about yourself, own your experience and bring yourself closer to you. 


                    I hope you will enjoy this time with yourself.


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                    20 min
                  • # 1 - Beyond the Mind: Embracing a Multi-Sensorial Life

                    Have you ever thought and longed to feel home in your body but never knew how to articulate your thoughts or even found the right person to talk to about this topic without being perceived as weird creature?

                    For a long time, I kept this longing for myself, which created more disconnect with myself and others. How about we start this conversation now, together. 

                    In this episode, we’ll talk about expanding the perception of our lived experience by engaging all your senses. Today, you’ll wander about:

                    • Why relying solely on your mind can limit your experience.
                    • The importance of inviting your senses into your daily life.
                    • Going from a binary vision to a full, immersive sensory experience to enrich your life
                    • Moving Beyond Words: discovering the magic of expressing through movement and non-verbal cues.
                    • Why Feeling more connected and present with yourself is fulfilling your innate need to be seen and loved.
                    • …. and we finish with one-minute exercise to expand your sensory experience.
                    • Have a listen now to begin your journey of embodied living! 


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                      ✨ Check out the Show Notes for this episode

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                      21 min

                    About Embodied Living

                    From the publisher's feed

                    Welcome to Embodied Living, a podcast dedicated to exploring your body in a way that invites a profound connection to yourself. As we dive into the realm of the senses and give a voice to the often hard-to-articulate experiences within us, we will learn how to be in relationship with our body. Each episode invites you to get curious and discover your inner territory, embracing all parts of yourself exactly as you are.