EMBODIMENT
Your Body Is The Subconscious Mind
Getting to the Root
I spent my whole life clenched, holding my breath in the fawn response — disembodied.
We start breathing improperly around age 7. I was taught bellies aren't respectable or powerful — so I learned to stay in my head, away from my body, which holds the truth and all the feelings we fear.
I was a people-pleaser in the fawn response, self-abandoning to avoid abandonment. Most people don't know the real me because I was terrified my authentic self would get me rejected.
We start breathing improperly around age 7. I was taught bellies aren't respectable or powerful — so I learned to stay in my head, away from my body, which holds the truth and all the feelings we fear.
I was a people-pleaser in the fawn response, self-abandoning to avoid abandonment. Most people don't know the real me because I was terrified my authentic self would get me rejected.
Personal Recognition: When did you first learn that your belly, your breath, or your authentic self wasn't "respectable"? How has this kept you living in your head?
The Spiritual Reset: A year and a half ago, I had what I call my "Hot Tub Time Machine" moment — a spiritual experience in a friend's jacuzzi that completely reset me. My body scrunched in the fetal position, every joint clenched, as energy moved from the base of my neck down to my fingers.
At the peak (about an hour in), I got a clear message:
"My breath has been the problem the whole time."
"You don't have a leader because the power is inside you."
I breathed it out for two hours, letting go a little each time.
At the peak (about an hour in), I got a clear message:
"My breath has been the problem the whole time."
"You don't have a leader because the power is inside you."
I breathed it out for two hours, letting go a little each time.
Your breath has been the problem the whole time.
The power is inside you.
The power is inside you.
Your Reset Moment: Have you ever had a moment where your body gave you a clear message? What was it trying to tell you?
The Fawn Response & Polyvagal Theory
Your nervous system isn't trying to make life hard — it's trying to keep you alive. And it's wired to do this with ruthless efficiency.
When your brain perceives threat — real or imagined — it activates survival modes that dictate your body and behavior.
Your nervous system is like a paranoid security guard who thinks every shadow is a threat.
When your brain perceives threat — real or imagined — it activates survival modes that dictate your body and behavior.
Your nervous system is like a paranoid security guard who thinks every shadow is a threat.
What's the fawn response?
It's the "people-pleaser on steroids" state. When fight or flight feels too risky, your nervous system switches gears and tries to survive by appeasing, pleasing, and avoiding conflict at all costs.
You:
Why? Because your body thinks that disconnection = death. Rejection, abandonment, or anger feels like a life-or-death emergency.
It's the "people-pleaser on steroids" state. When fight or flight feels too risky, your nervous system switches gears and tries to survive by appeasing, pleasing, and avoiding conflict at all costs.
You:
- Self-abandon and suppress your needs
- Silence your truth
- Hide your needs
- Obsess over how others feel
- Avoid conflict like it's a death sentence
- Take care of everyone but yourself
Why? Because your body thinks that disconnection = death. Rejection, abandonment, or anger feels like a life-or-death emergency.
Fawn Response Recognition: Where do you recognize these fawn patterns in your life? What situations trigger your people-pleasing survival mode?
Stephen Porges' polyvagal theory breaks it down:
Here's the truth: You cannot heal, rest, or emotionally connect unless you're in parasympathetic mode.
- Sympathetic nervous system: Gets you ready to fight or run — your classic stress mode
- Parasympathetic nervous system: The "rest and digest" state that lets you heal, regenerate, reduce inflammation, and emotionally connect
- Fawn response: A survival hack to avoid triggering fight or flight by appeasing others
Here's the truth: You cannot heal, rest, or emotionally connect unless you're in parasympathetic mode.
Ask yourself "But did you die?"
Nope? Then chill — your nervous system is crying wolf.
Nope? Then chill — your nervous system is crying wolf.
🚨 My Safety Patrol Patterns
What my nervous system perceives as "threats":
How I respond when I feel disconnection:
Where I stay in survival mode unnecessarily:
Your Body as Truth Compass
Your body is your subconscious mind — your truth compass, guiding you with physical sensations and emotional signals.
As Candace Pert explains, your body is your subconscious mind. You were taught to distrust your body's signals. Breath was suppressed. Bellies were "rude" or "unrespectable," so you stopped belly breathing — and with that, lost your core strength and stability.
As Candace Pert explains, your body is your subconscious mind. You were taught to distrust your body's signals. Breath was suppressed. Bellies were "rude" or "unrespectable," so you stopped belly breathing — and with that, lost your core strength and stability.
Disconnection = Danger to Your Body:
- Your body held tension, trauma, and inflammation in your fascia, waiting for release
- Your nervous system is primed to react to every micro-threat because it still thinks you're fighting for your life
- You've been trained to distrust your body's signals and suppress your breath
Embodiment is the only way home.
You can't emotionally connect unless you're regulated.
You can't regulate unless you're embodied.
You can't emotionally connect unless you're regulated.
You can't regulate unless you're embodied.
Body Awareness Check: Right now, scan your body. Where do you hold tension? What is your body trying to tell you?
Breathwork is the foundation of embodiment and the body's most powerful safety signal.
Belly breathing sends your nervous system a message: "I'm safe. I'm here. No need to panic."
Practice right now: Take 5 deep belly breaths. Notice what shifts in your body.
Belly breathing sends your nervous system a message: "I'm safe. I'm here. No need to panic."
Practice right now: Take 5 deep belly breaths. Notice what shifts in your body.
🌬️ My Breath Assessment
How I usually breathe (chest vs. belly):
What I noticed after 5 belly breaths:
When I hold my breath during the day:
What You Need to Know
Essential Embodiment Truths:
- Embodiment means tuning into your senses, feeling what's really happening inside your body, and getting out of your head and into your skin
- You can't use your body as a GPS to navigate your emotions, boundaries, and life until you're embodied
- The only place you can heal, regenerate, reduce inflammation, and emotionally connect is in parasympathetic (rest & digest) state
- Your body holds tension and trauma in your fascia (connective tissue) — like a tight, bound web
- Disembodiment leaves you emotionally numb and disconnected from yourself
You're not broken. You're fundamentally conditioned — trained to avoid feeling because feeling once meant danger.
Your nervous system is constantly scanning for micro-threats because it learned disconnection = danger.
The fawn response is your body's survival hack — shutting down your needs and pleasing others to avoid rejection.
The only way to calm your nervous system, reduce inflammation, and heal is to enter parasympathetic state.
You can't emotionally connect or regulate without embodiment.
Stress is your body thinking it needs to mobilize for a threat — but often, it's a false alarm.
Belly breathing is vital — it strengthens your core, acts as a main stabilizer, and reduces pain and stress.
We have to give our bodies as many signals of safety as humanly possible.
Truth Integration: Check the truth drops above that create the strongest recognition. What do you notice about your embodiment patterns?
Implementation: Nourishing Morning Routine
After my dad died, I was depressed and struggling to function. Starting a nourishing morning ritual was the only way I could get through the day.
I wake before I need to and create a container of time where I do what nourishes me. No rules — just preference.
Options to include:
Remember: We're hardwired for bliss. I prefer joy, pleasure, and bliss — not exhaustion and survival mode.
I wake before I need to and create a container of time where I do what nourishes me. No rules — just preference.
Options to include:
- Cacao
- Bath with Dead Sea Epsom salts
- Vibration Plate
- Hammock time
- Zero gravity chair
- Somatic exercises
- Journaling
- Reading (paper or audio)
- Dancing
- Walking
- Roller skating
Remember: We're hardwired for bliss. I prefer joy, pleasure, and bliss — not exhaustion and survival mode.
☀️ My Nourishing Morning Routine Design
Time I'll wake up: _________________________
Duration of my routine: _________________________
5 things that would nourish me most:
1. _________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________
How I'll create this container of time:
Bonus Grounding Tool: The 5-4-3-2-1 Sensory Method
When overwhelmed, get present by noticing:
This calms your nervous system and signals: I'm safe here.
When overwhelmed, get present by noticing:
- 5 things you see
- 4 things you feel
- 3 things you hear
- 2 things you smell
- 1 thing you taste
This calms your nervous system and signals: I'm safe here.
🌱 My 5-4-3-2-1 Practice
Practice this right now and record what you notice:
5 things I see: ___________________________________
4 things I feel: ___________________________________
3 things I hear: ___________________________________
2 things I smell: ___________________________________
1 thing I taste: ___________________________________
How my body feels after this practice:
Journal Prompts to End Suffering with Embodiment
Prompt 1: When was the last time I truly felt my body — not just my thoughts? What was that like?
Prompt 2: Where do I hold tension or numbness in my body right now? What story do I tell myself about that feeling?
Prompt 3: How do I avoid feeling by staying in my head or distracting myself?
Prompt 4: What does my body want me to know if I'd only listen?
Prompt 5: What small embodiment practice can I do today to come back to myself?
💡 Key Insights from Embodiment Journaling
What patterns, themes, or revelations emerged from these prompts?
Embodiment Practice Tracker
Week 1: Awareness
Noticed my breathing patterns
Identified where I hold tension
Practiced 5-4-3-2-1 grounding
Started morning routine container
Week 2: Practice
Daily belly breathing practice
Body scans throughout day
Somatic exercises 3x week
Recognized fawn response triggers
Week 3: Integration
Felt more present in my body
Used breath to calm nervous system
Trusted body signals more
Experienced parasympathetic state
Week 4: Embodiment
Body as reliable truth compass
Natural belly breathing
Regulated emotions through body
Felt safe in my own skin
🌟 My Embodiment Journey
How my relationship with my body has changed:
What I've learned to trust about my body:
How embodiment affects my emotions:
The difference I feel in my nervous system:
Real Talk Recap
Your body is your subconscious mind — your truth compass.
You can't heal what you don't feel.
You can't heal what you don't feel.
Essential Reminders:
- Breathwork and somatic tools aren't luxury — they're essential survival skills
- The only place you can heal is in your body — embodied, regulated, and safe
- Your breath has been the problem — and the solution — the whole time
- The power is inside you
Stress is your body locked and loaded like a gun, ready to fire at a false alarm. You need to bubble wrap yourself in safety, preferences, and fun to heal.
Remember: we're hardwired for bliss. You deserve joy, pleasure, and bliss — not exhaustion and survival mode.
Remember: we're hardwired for bliss. You deserve joy, pleasure, and bliss — not exhaustion and survival mode.
Come Home to Your Body
Your body has been waiting for you to return. It holds your truth, your wisdom, your healing. Every breath is an invitation back to yourself.
You are not broken. You are not too much. You are a human being deserving of safety, regulation, and the profound peace that comes from being fully present in your own skin.
Welcome home.
🏠 My Commitment to Embodiment
What does "coming home to your body" mean to you? What's your commitment to this practice?
