The general practice of mindfulness is built on the concept of nonjudgmental attention. Many Christians use mindfulness with an intention to connect with God.[6]

that self-hatred/contempt is the most pervasive reason folks continue trying to white-knuckle their way through life.

Many of us who’ve relied on white-knuckling as a way of getting through life don’t realize that in addition to feeling anxious and overwhelmed, we may be dealing with elements of dissociation.

Urges to move or flee Increase in heart rate Unexplained anxiety

earned secure attachment, which appears to happen in two steps.[12] First, we internalize a secure/autonomous attachment after developing a meaningful emotional relationship with a close friend, significant other, or therapist. Because of this nurturing connection, we are able to create a healthier “inner voice,” one that sounds like the parent we

emotional response is one way our bodies express the stories they hold. Understanding this helps us to recognize why there is a clinical distinction between our emotions and our feelings: The sensations and nervous system states that we experience in our bodies = Emotions The names we give those expressions = Feelings[3]

When we are not paying attention to our inner worlds, we are susceptible to emotional burnout, exhaustion, emotional dysregulation, and chronic pain.[13]

The space between hyper- and hypoarousal, what might be thought of as the “just right” amount of intensity, is the range in which we can experience emotions, sensations, and experiences without feeling physiologically overwhelmed. First named by Dr. Daniel Siegel but additionally strengthened through the work of Dr. Stephen Porges, this range is ou

We are not simply bodies walking around; we are our bodies. They are not all of who we are, but they are an essential part. We always pay a price when we try to live disembodied lives. The grief, anxiety, fear, or heartache we won’t let ourselves feel will come out in other ways. As we discussed in chapter 2, each of our bodies is a system that lon