So, I've tuned in and I'm aware of sensing the floor, cold beneath your feet, that I'm feeling grumpy and I'm thinking about tinsel – what do I do with that information?
Well, nothing actually.
What tuning in does is gives me a chance to reconnect with myself rather than giving me information I need to do something about. Stay with me.
Let's tune in again.
This time I can feel tension as stiffness in my shoulders, I'm are feeling slightly sick and I'm thinking about those gorgeous shoes I promised myself I would buy when I am thin.
I would point out gently to myself that feeling sick is physical sensation – and have another go at how I'm feeling?
Ok. I’m feeling cross.
Excellent. I remind myself that I can buy those shoes now – that they will look fabulous now! Buy the shoes!
I keep on tuning in...gathering information.
I like tuning in as a way of noticing when I’m overeating and a way of reasoning from cause to effect – I find it helps me.
For example, I’m aware that I’m eating and I’m not hungry so I tune in. Hmm. I’m aware of a slight throbbing headache over my left eye. I’m feeling anxious and I’m thinking about all the things I meant to have done by the end of today. Which I haven’t.
Of those three, the feeling anxious is the one that helps me to realise why I am reaching for the food and now I can choose whether I eat to soothe that feeling or whether I let the feeling run its course and eventually give way to another feeling.
I have learned that no feeling lasts very long. (Editor’s note: if you so wish, click on this interesting post by Tiny Buddha to find out more about feeling awareness…Basically echoing that no feeling lasts forever!)