Love is You and Love is Enough
Love is Everything
When it comes to Love, have you ever questioned how much of our energy we put into convincing other people of our self-worth? It’s so easy to want to get people to like us. It’s validating when they do. However, it can hurt when our efforts pay no return. Are you familiar with this life strategy?
This is a common theme for many. “We hurt our own feelings by thinking we mean more to people than we really do”. Such disappointment! How in the world did our thinking arrive at such a conclusion to act this way towards ourselves?
It’s in our culture, it’s in our family lineages, in our belief institutions to put our energy out towards others first. “Others are more important than ourselves.” But it is a set up really.
Begin by being your own friend and Ally first. Unless we begin to come inward and find out who we really are, we will be slaves to the dynamic of putting others first, and wanting something badly in return. The love we think we want isn’t’ “out there.” It’s living inside of you. You only need to find and discover this internally to stop hurting yourself. Mindfulness is a good place to start. Moving toward restoration of mind, body and spiritual alignment is grounding and fulfilling.
Now I am not saying that we shouldn’t care about each other. We are all part of the interconnected web of life. But we can’t afford to neglect ourselves at the expense of others. It does us no good to demand from others what we won’t do for ourselves. Fill your wine glass right up. Take in pleasure and nourishment. Love yourself enough to welcome joy into your heart. Clear away the cobwebs and discover your own true nature and the rest of that flow has a bridge to stream out and from to clear a path to connect with others in a healthy way.
We all have love within simply through Being Who we are.
I recognize the love of all humanity within each human being. Even if it’s not always clear. The more I clear in myself though, the more clear I get in knowing this experientially in relationships. I only know this because I know myself. Get to know yourself too! Love is you!
With love,
Sharon Hartnett CST-D
703 509-1792www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com
Sensing into the Ticklish Body
Ticklish
Have you gone to get a pedicure only to find that your feet are super ticklish. Or maybe a massage where you twist and turn at the hips, the legs or under the armpits as the laughter bubbles up?
This is not unusual. After working close to 30 years with people, mostly on the table, my curiosity asked me again to consider what this ticklish business is all about. I have experienced more than a few people start to smile and laugh at the same time as trying to move away. Especially with light touch. Obviously, these two reactive expressions seem a bit at odds, right? You know how that feels when you want to get away from the tickles with your eyes sparkling while your legs twitch and activate to run away.
Not all things are equal when it comes to tickling. Usually the places where we are most ticklish are the location with a high amounts of nerve endings. Some places on the body may feel quite soothed with the same quality touch as compared to the ticklish zones. What I have read is that areas like the bottom of the feet or the rib cage are more vulnerable. Who knows how true this always is but it does makes sense from what I have experienced. What is known though is that the ticklish response is a mind (hypothalamus part of the brain) body communication between the brain and body when you don’t feel comfortable with what is happening. What I have seen is that tickles mean the body is reacting to not feeling safe. It’s usually a pattern which is reactive to outside and unexpected influences.
As a Craniosacral Therapist and bodyworker for so many years, I have found it intriguing and fun to help people work through the “tickles”. Especially since I have been so curious about the differences between the many other people who actually quietly enjoy the light stroking while on the other hand invokes the ticking response from others. So, if the body draws me into an area and I see the dynamic begin, I like to ask if we can explore the ticklish sensation. This is done with mindful consideration, and also permission. We explore the feelings and the sensations together. Quite often, the brain becomes desensitized by helping the person to release the associated energy fairly quick. Sometimes it is actually fun because the client laughs genuinely as they let go of the protective response. A light seems to go on for the ticklish person that this is a life strategy and it can be funny too.
Personally, my feet have always been ticklish. I was often tickled as a child. I liked it-perhaps because of the smiles and attention, but it stressed my body. What I do know is if a child is tickled, and it doesn’t stop, the body holds that tension. Whatever the reason for your ticklishness, consider it may be a protective mechanism, and it is possible to honor your body and also to free it from the feedback loop. Makes me think that one day I might need to go have my tickles set free from my feet as I write this. Smile.
How to Calm the ADHD Mind
How ADHD can be better treated with Craniosacral Therapy
ADHD is best diagnosed by a physician. Although, for those of us who have it, we probably have a good idea that we are challenged, have a difficult time with organizing, and can sometimes feel anxious or feel very self-judgmental.
ADHD can look different among different groups of people. Men have been studied more thoroughly, for example, than women. One symptom in particular that can present differently between the genders is hyperactivity. Some act out, but often women may feel more of an inner stress, and overwhelm. So it’s good to find an experienced professional to determine what is the best protocol for you to make life easier. Personally, I enjoy listening to Dr. Amen talk about the brain’s function, and how he treats ADHD. Very evidenced based.
Also, I have found that Craniosacral Therapy can be very helpful in treating ADHD as well. At first, sometimes a person on the table feels very stimulated. Closing the eyes and feeling inward may take some time. However hard this can be initially, eventually they do to quiet and learn to enjoy lying down and receiving. As they begin to trust the therapist, and allow the experience to unfold, they begin to learn how to drop down into stillness. This is very soothing to the mind and of course the body.
Craniosacral Therapy is very gentle. It is focused on the interconnectiveness of the nervous system. By relieving stress there, through working with the fluids in the craniosacral system, clients often feel more focused, sleep better, and feel better emotionally.
In my practice, I enjoy working with people who deal with ADHD and the challenges that come along with it. I understand it. I have seen positive results. It’s also a nice way to help the brain and body to relax without medication.
If you are looking for overall wellbeing, Craniosacral Therapy ought to be one of your first stops. It’s natural and powerfully effective in helping to regulate ADHD stress.
Find peace in your life.
Sharon Hartnett CST-D
703 509-1792
www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com
Making Our Clients Comfortable
Feeling Comfortable is the Number One Priority
Being Comfortable is key for my clients. That’s why I do everything to create the most comfortable environment from the onset. For me this begins at the beginning of the first call. It’s important for me to listen quietly to the concerns from the point of view of the person on the other side of the phone. People deserve to be heard and understood when they are looking for help.
Together we discuss different approaches to healing, using Craniosacral Therapy as the primary vechicle to healing and growth. In addition, I also offer support with Energy Healing (Barbara Brennan School), Visceral Manipulation, Hakomi Techniques, Trauma Support and more. Mostly though, I listen. Whether that is with my hands, my eyes, my ears or however information comes to me from your Deepest Inner Wisdom. It’s the combination of your words, and how your body speaks. Especially the unfolding of the most subtle of cues offer deeper ways for the body to self-correct. When this happens we develop a dynamic therapeutic relationship which supports wellness.
In any given session, comfort is enhanced when we are mindful, present, and there is good communication. That’s why Craniosacral Therapy is focused on staying neutral with the people who trust us in this therapeutic setting. What this means, is we hold a stance of non-judgment and checking in quite often. This doesn’t mean we don’t think or feel, but our awareness is centered on melding with our clients as we touch into the Craniosacral System. Nourishing the nervous system this way brings balance and peace. Also comments are specific to the process which originates from you. A skilled Craniosacral Therapist will want to meet and address your real needs.
Feeling comfortable is truly about feeling safe and deepening into trust. It allows people to go silently inward or on the opposite side to express what is going on for them. Often clients fall deep into silence or enter into a reflective mode. Craniosacral Therapy is a beautiful therapy which helps you to heal as your are ready.
If you want to find out more about Craniosacral Therapy, give me a ring. Aligning mind, body and spirit in the. Columbus, Ohio area.
Sharon Hartnett CST-D
703 509-1792
www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com
How to Surround Yourself with Healthy People
Prioritize Healthy Friendships
For people to survive and thrive, we need to build healthy relationships. Social connection supports us in meeting our life needs and goals. Putting effort into friendships can create a lifestyle that feels fulfilling and whole. In order to surround ourselves with healthy people, we need to put some intentional energy forward.
Benefits of Developing Deep Friendships:
- Having a person in your life through the lows and the highs feels supportive and balancing.
- Having a friend to mirror your core essence qualities helps you to remember you inner light.
- Keeps us from feeling isolated and constantly alone.
- Brings about emotional support.
- Builds trust and a sense of security
- Boosts Self-Esteems through acceptance and positive mirroring.
- Offers companionship
There are so many other pluses, it’s hard to name them all.
So how do you meet and build healthy friendships?
First ask yourself, “What do you find valuable in friendships”? Each of us appreciate different qualities. Continue with questions like, ” What does a friend mean to me? In the past, what did you find comforting and worthwhile in relatioships?
Next, put yourself into action by going out into the world doing things which you enjoy. Sometimes this feels like a risk, putting yourself out there, but it is well worth the while to feel connected and to share meaning in life.
Lastly when you add these two things together, it’s time to trust the process of building. It’s an opportunity to blend, learn and grow. How this happens it by choosing to focus on others. Ask questions. Listen. Show interest. Feel into what feel good to you. Create healthy boundaries. It’s an ondgoing process of deepening and understanding.
Healthy Friendships have a huge impact on our lives. In an age of computers and texting, it takes effort to be social. It takes effort to love. However, surrounding yourself with healthy people will teach you so much about you, and it will nourish and bring many joys to your life.
Sharon Hartnett CST-D
703 509-1792
www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com
