Are you a robot? Doing all the right things at work, getting things done at home, living in your head with your to-do list, obligations and responsibilities. Using negative self-talk for motivation to keep going, ignoring your body’s signals for rest, care, connection and play?

Your soul incarnated on this earth, with your specific body for a reason. Everything you experience in life has a feeling attached to it and feelings originate in your body. So robot mode will never feel satisfying. Your soul wants to experience the full range of human feelings. When we alienate our body; stop listening to messages or ignore feelings and longings, we lose touch with the unique desires of our true selves.

When I took a deep dive into the longings of how my true self wants to be expressed through my body, here’s what I found.

My true self wants to:

• Express freedom and joy through a healthy, vibrant body – Dancing, singing, hiking and swimming. Feel exhilarated with the power, skill and grace of my body. 
• Be in nature – Feel it, appreciate it and care for it. Lakes, mountains, forest, sun, rain, beach, ocean, fields and flowers. Dig in the soil, plant trees and grow food.
• Be in my heart – Feel a full range of emotions, giving and receiving all types of love in all kinds of relationships, find community anywhere I go. Make eye contact, smile, laugh and connect with those around me, wherever I am.
• Be creative – Feel inspired by new ideas, intriguing  projects, and new stages of life. Tap into my natural creativity that comes with experimentation and play.
• Be in my mind for my own happiness – tap into the wisdom of the mind/body connection, set intentions, learn life lessons, see new perspectives, organize thoughts about my goals, dreams and values, integrate new knowledge and apply it. 

Then I found all the blocks to feeling into my body, trusting the sensations and following through with action.

I couldn’t express myself freely without embarrassment, self-consciousness or fear of looking silly. I had to be alone at first to slowly allow my body to move instinctively and feel the pleasure of it. I started to sing louder in the car. Moving my body vigorously was new to me. Challenging my endurance and not fearing weakness or failure required letting go of old beliefs about the capability of my body.

I was in the habit of not prioritizing my own needs, living a fast-paced life. Down time was recovery time, not fun time.  I avoided being outside in natural settings. It was a struggle to let go of my responsibilities, quiet my thoughts and slow down to the rhythm of nature.

Feeling into my heart was the most elusive sensation. It felt like a stone in the middle of my chest. I was wary of what others would think of me being open and genuine with my feelings. There was fear of being judged or rejected. Practicing kindness to myself and others was the first step, along with lots of compassion and forgiveness of myself and others.

I didn’t think I was a creative person and felt guilty spending time and money on experimenting for my own pleasure. Low self-worth was the block I had to bust through to turn the things I loved into creative projects. I love rocks, shells, candles, pottery and photos. I’m not great at making any of these items, but I love experimenting with colors, shapes and textures, so I found I enjoyed interior design.

Anxiety and self-doubt kept me from being present in my mind. I wanted a clear and organized mind for my soul’s expression. Overthinking, confusion and overwhelm were blocking my natural intuition and wisdom. I had to do a big overhaul with lots of meditation, visualizations and journaling to find clarity and peace of mind.

My journey, allowing my soul’s expression through my body, lead me to live and love as my true self. You can start your journey by just trying new things. Experiment with what feels enjoyable, fun and rewarding. Trying feels easy and free flowing, no need to accomplish anything, become proficient or complete anything in these first stages. I’m also a big fan of baby steps. Take care of your nervous system as you step into new experiences. My book, LOVABLE, is a guidebook for women who are looking for support on their path to discovering and expressing their true self. Purchase your copy here: https://andreapaquettenp.com/order-my-book