Today I wanted to share a breakthrough that happens for some people during their massage sessions. It seems that bodies release deeply when they express their needs. How can we pursue this deeper release?

When someone makes a request or shares about their experience during a therapeutic massage, I will often feel a corresponding shift in their tissues. Like a release of long-held tension. I understand this as a special manifestation of the mind-body connection, an indication that it is transformative to voice one's experiences and needs in the moment. I imagine they are venturing into new territory to verbalize their body experience with another person and make requests.

I apply this in my life when I am at a choice-point to express something or keep it internalized. As I learn my mind-body system better and better, I can tell when my resistance to expression is keeping me small, avoiding a growth edge. Especially when sharing feels like a big risk.

Recently, I heard ego defenses defined (in video below) as temporarily abandoning authenticity in order to behave in a way that you believe, on an instinctual and unconscious level, is going to ensure your survival. As social creatures, it can be risky to express feelings and needs. It is a high risk with a high reward to communicate and be authentic in spite of some internal fear. The high reward is deeper connection with others, because we are showing up in our fullness. Other things in life are low risk, low reward. And we get to choose.

For more on authenticity and high risk, high reward, check out this video by Heidi Priebe.