I have a resource that I would like to share with you, a worksheet I created for people with Global High nervous systems called, “Separate Trauma Reactions: Onto New Ground!” or STRONG. This worksheet walks you through a process of connecting with support, identifying feelings and beliefs in your body, and inviting your body to realize how the feelings and beliefs are not true and what might actually be true instead.
To tempt you to use the worksheet, here are excerpts of what I wrote when I worked through the worksheet while composing this newsletter. The process led me to realize (both in my mind and body) that every time in the past when I had this many responsibilities at once was a time when I wasn’t well connected to my body and I didn’t have enough support. Feeling and remembering that has helped me to relax and not take my feelings of pending failure seriously.
I let myself remember that I am loved and supported by beings and energies greater than myself. I am a part of the great love, and the people and things that are troubling me are also held in that love. I am willing to learn to remember that I am held and loved even when I can’t feel it.
I am willing to learn to disbelieve false truths from the past.
I need gentleness.
I value courage and perseverance.
I don’t like feeling responsible.
I feel strong. Huh, that feels surprising for some reason.
I don’t want to stay stuck believing old patterns and old fears.
I feel strong.
I need gentleness.
I value gentleness.
I am supported. That feels real. My body isn’t used to it. I am supported.
I am afraid I am going to screw it up.
I don’t know how to do this.
I feel frozen.
A part of me is afraid I’m going to screw it up.
A part of me doesn’t know how to do this.
A part of me feels frozen.
The feelings of fear, lack of competence and freeze are partly or wholly from the past and the thought that I can’t do this and will screw it up is probably not true.
Here is what might be true instead:
In my trauma recovery I have slowed my life down so that there’s not too much stress or responsibility at any one time. That has allowed me to slow down and build trust and comfort in my body.
I am not used to having a lot of projects and situations while also having trust and comfort in my body.
The presence of multiple responsibilities brings to mind(body) those periods in my life when I had to make it through very challenging times, I didn’t have enough support, and I didn’t have a good connection with my body, my feelings and my deeper resources.
Those times were really scary and painful, and I guess I have not fully digested those experiences as yet. So the stress from the past is showing up now when I am taking on a lot all at once.
It’s likely that I can do all these things and do them just fine. This is just my body being shook up from the past.
If you do try the STRONG worksheet, I would love to hear how well it works for you – or doesn’t. Thanks!
Thank you for directing toward me and my website the people in your life who might be supported by my resources. May you and your beloveds be safe.
