Credit to Dar Williams
I must give credit to one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Dar Williams, for the title of my blog. Her latest CD is called "My Better Self." Here is what she says on her website about the title:
..."Your better self is not always the one you plan out or even motivate yourself to be ... As much as I love to control what I write and perform, I know my better self is not an intentional construction. It's a spontaneous creation that I stumble across while I try to tell the truth."
I love that. I am trying to listen more to that truth. I think it relates to Feldenkrais, the new method I am learning to help heal my chronic neck and back pain. It's about letting your brain re-learn how to move your body effortlessly and without pain. Your brain knows, my instructor says, but I have been too busy holding and tensing and working hard, rather than letting the brain do its thing. Frankly, I am still skeptical, but I am trying to let my body and mind rediscover its truth.
..."Your better self is not always the one you plan out or even motivate yourself to be ... As much as I love to control what I write and perform, I know my better self is not an intentional construction. It's a spontaneous creation that I stumble across while I try to tell the truth."
I love that. I am trying to listen more to that truth. I think it relates to Feldenkrais, the new method I am learning to help heal my chronic neck and back pain. It's about letting your brain re-learn how to move your body effortlessly and without pain. Your brain knows, my instructor says, but I have been too busy holding and tensing and working hard, rather than letting the brain do its thing. Frankly, I am still skeptical, but I am trying to let my body and mind rediscover its truth.
posted by Alyssa at 1:12 PM
3 Comments:
This makes me think of neurofeedback, which is "a technique in which we train the brain to help improve its ability to regulate all bodily functions and to take care of itself."
Yay! I'm so glad you're blogging. I don't really journal anymore either, but that tailed off before I started my own blog. As you say, it's a mystery ...
I hope the Feldenkrais is helpful for you. Chronic pain issues definitely seem to hit high achiever types more than others, so I think your instructor is on the right track. I firmly believe there's a lot more to this whole body-mind thing than our rationalized Western minds want to admit.
I think you're right about the body-mind connection, Kristi. It's still a struggle for me to comprehend sometimes, though, because when I hear body-mind connection I immediately get on the defensive and think I'm hearing "Your pain is all in your head." And I know for sure that's not true. I still need to read Sarno, but based on your recommendation I just ordered "Effortless Pain Relief" by Bacci. Thanks for being on this journey with me.
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