Interoception is a term that came up in last week's episode about understanding what slow breathing actually does to brain and body.
Interoception is your nervous system sensing, interpreting, and responding to signals coming from inside your body.
For example, this can be as simple as knowing that you're hungry, that that sensation in your tummy is your digestive system communicating that it's time for some more food.
So why is this a thing? Why is it relevant?
Well, if you have the ability, the available time, and the mental bandwidth to pay attention to these signals and to understand what they mean, then you can do something about them.
Maybe you notice, hmm, my shoulders are tense and tight. Hmm. This might then lead you to realise you've actually been pretty tense about this impending deadline, and so then you can take action. Maybe you go for a calming walk or even just do some mindful shoulder rolls at your desk.
Ultimately it allows you to do something about improving the situation 💛
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🫶 Your free resources
✏️ Journal prompts for building interoception
Distraction (including doom-scrolling!), can sometimes offer short-term relief, and there’s no need to judge yourself for doing it. But when it takes you away from what matters to you, noticing earlier, might just open up another choice.
That’s the invitation in these gorgeous journal prompts - to notice, pause, respond… Grab yours here
🎧Nervous System Regulation: A Practice of Listening
If you’d like to practise rather than just learn about interoception, this free guided practice on Insight Timer invites you to notice signals of activation and settling without trying to force yourself into a particular state.
Listen free on Insight Timer here
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