Creative Edge Focusing E-Newsletter

Getting A Felt Sense #3:

"Clearing A Space" for Instant Serenity

Dr. Kathy McGuire, Director         Week Four

Newcomers, Print and Practice!!!!!
 
This is your Getting A Felt Sense exercise for this four weeks. Print it out, keep it handy, and try it whenever you have time...I will also send a "reminder" copy by email every week...YOU CAN TRY IT IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE EMAIL COMES! a MOMENT TO RELAX AND CHECK INSIDE! 
 
E-Newsletter Archives!!!!
 
If this is your first e-newsletter, you can catch up with previous e-newsletters in this cycle at the Creative Edge Focusing Archives (you don't have to; you can just start right in today). You can access these from the link under Free Resources at Creative Edge Focusing, but here are the most relevant ones, Week One of this Clearing A Space exercise, Week Two: Clearing A Space -- Illness and "I'm OK", and Week Three: Clearing before Focusing Turn.
Pre-Focusing Practice B. Getting A Felt Sense #3: "Clearing A Space"
(from Complete Focusing Instructions) Week Four of four weeks of practice

 

You are learning to "take an inventory" of all the various issues and items you are carrying inside, carrying in your body. You may start out feeling overwhelmed, confused, even numb. But as you let each item arise inside, spend a moment finding the "intuitive feel," and some "handle" words/images for naming the item, and then, "wrap it up and set it outside of yourself," you will experience big sighs of tension release.
 
Eventually, you will get to a place where you can honestly say, "Except for all that out there, I am perfectly okay," and spend some minutes relaxing in this "cleared space." You may even have a spiritual experience of union with a Larger Something. Then, if you choose, you can bring one item back inside (it can be an issue or even a good experience from the week) for a longer Intuitive Focusing Problem Solving Session.
 
Remember, especially at the beginning, time those "1 minute" pauses. You will be amazed at how long a minute is, how seldom we ever pause for a whole minute!!!
And it is exactly in the PAUSE that the Creative Edge comes.

Allow 20 minutes

---Lie down or sit in a way that's comfortable for you---if you tend to fall asleep, you might vary your posture to reduce those cues---loosen any clothing that is too tight---

1 minute

---Spend a few moments just noticing your breathing---noticing your breath going in---and out---

1 minute

---Now, ask yourself, "What's between me and feeling perfectly all right?" and wait and see what issue rises to consciousness: " Well, there is that whole thing about---'money'---or 'my relationship' or 'my son' or 'that work issue'---"

1 minute

---Spend a moment with this issue, noticing how you carry it in your body---10 seconds

 

---Is there a tension in your neck?---Or butterflies in your stomach?---Or a clenched jaw? ---Or furrows in your forehead?------See if you can find a physical manifestation of this issue as a tension in your body---10 seconds

 

---Now, ask your self, "What is the "intuitive feel" of this thing?"---Look in the center of your body, inside the chest/heart area, for that right-brain "intuitive feel" that is more than words---not the tension itself, but the "felt sense" of "the whole thing 30 seconds

 

---Don't try to go into the issue or try to solve the problem, just notice the "intuitive feel" of the whole thing---30 seconds

 

---Find some words or an image for the feeling or the "quality" of that whole thing---like "scared, "knotted," "confusing," "stretching," "frustrated"---30 seconds

 

---Now, imagine that there is a counter or a table out in front of you and imagine that you are wrapping that "whole thing," - the issue, the physical tension, and the intuitive feel-all of it, up like a parcel and setting it outside of yourself for a moment ---you may experience a "sigh" of relief as you imagine lifting it and setting it outside------ahhhhhhh!!---10 seconds

 

---See if you can set "that whole thing" outside for a while---You can come back and solve it later---Right now, just see if your body can be free of it for a moment---30 seconds

 

---Now, ask again, "What else is in the way of feeling perfectly okay?" and see what issue arises next---30 seconds

 

---Again, just name it---10 seconds

 

---Notice if there is a physical location for the tension of it---10 seconds

 

---Get the "intuitive feel" of the "whole thing, before words,  in the center of your body---30 seconds

 

---Find a word or an image that captures the quality of that whole thing---30 seconds

 

---And imagine wrapping "that whole thing" up and setting it out on the counter for a while---30 seconds---

 

---Continue in this way until all the issues have been named and set outside-

3-5 minutes

 

---Now, check to see if there is any background feeling still inside---a basic feeling tone that is always present---30 seconds

 

---If you find such a thing, again, notice it, find a word or image that captures the quality of it, and try to wrap it up and set it outside for a while---

1 minute

---Now, you might want to take an inventory of all the positive things in your life at this point, in the same way, naming each--- getting the feel of it--- finding some words or an image---and then wrapping it up and setting it on the table

3 minutes

---Now, just enjoy the experience of the "cleared space" in your body---

1 minute

---Sometimes, people experience a state of spiritual Oneness at this point---If that happens to you, just savor it---

1 minute

---You might want to create some words or an image for this good feeling state, so that you can come back here whenever you want---

1 minute

---If you were going to continue with Focusing at this point, you would choose one issue, bring it back into the center of your body, and ask "What's this all about?" and proceed in a Focusing way

More Help and Support: Online e-group, Audio Tapes, Teachers
 
  Remember, it can be much easier to learn Intuitive Focusing in the company of a Focused Listener. You can learn all about Focusing Listening, and find resources and teachers, at the website for Creative Edge Focusing

 

You will also find this Getting a Felt Sense exercise in the Complete Focusing Instructions download at Creative Edge Focusing, p.10 : B. Getting A Felt Sense #3: "Clearing A Space". You get it byjoining our e-support group for further support in practicing Listening and Focusing.OR YOU CAN FIND IT AS A FREE DOWNLOAD AT DR. MCGUIRE'S BLOG.

 
If you order our Self-Help Package, you can listen on audio CD Intuitive Focusing: Disk One , Track 10, "Clearing A Space," with Dr, McGuire's peaceful voice to keep you company -- and help you stay on track!!
 
And many of these exercises are in the Spanish version of the manual, Focusing En Comunidad. Order from our Store Self-Help Manuals, CDs, DVD.

 

Kathy McGuire, Director

About Creative Edge Focusing
Located by Beaver Lake in Rogers, AR, our goal is to support people in the practice of listening/focusing skills, throughout the world, and for personal growth, interpersonal conflict resolution, and creative individual and group problem solving.

Disclaimer: The instructions in Creative Edge Newsletters are offered purely as self-help skills. In providing them, Dr. McGuire is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Creative Edge Focusing (TM)
Dr. Kathy McGuire
Director