Healing through connection

“Wonderful things happen when people feel felt, when they sense that their minds are held within another’s mind.”  - Dr Dan Siegel

What does it mean to ‘“feel felt”?

“Feeling felt” is the concept of empathy paired with acceptance and presence. It embodies not only understanding, but also resonance. Two people sharing a sacred and respectful space. No judgement, pressure or agenda.

It’s a space where there’s curiosity and openness to whatever comes, a space where things unfold organically.

Have you felt this with someone before? Completely held within this bubble of safety and connection?

It’s within this space that you can feel that someone outside of yourself, truly feels you, sees you as you are and radically accepts all of you.

Why is “feeling felt” important for healing?

There are 3 parts of your nervous system. The Ventral Vagal (social engagement system), the Sympathetic (fight or flight) and the Dorsal Vagal (freeze & collapse).

When experiencing anxiety disorders, depression, panic or trauma, you may be operating within the sympathetic & dorsal vagal (freeze) systems.

One of the most powerful tools for bringing your mind and body back to safety and connection is through resonance and co-regulation.

The human brain is finely tuned for perceiving the feelings and emotions in other people, especially from their facial expression, and interpreting from these signals whether this person feels safe or not safe. We then respond in kind through our own facial expression, words and tone.

Humans are fundamentally hard-wired for connection and engagement with others.

This is where healing happens.

Building Healing Connections

Since we know the power of connection to be healing, finding ways to make that happen is key to wellness and resilience.

Here are 3 areas where healing connections can happen – and they can happen with just a little intention and focus.

1.  Internal

     There is some evidence that stimulating both sides of the brain can help facilitate emotional processing. Activities like running, drumming, even knitting, drawing, or simply moving your finger from left to right can activate both sides of the brain.

2.   Communal

     Connecting with others – especially those with similar experiences & interests – can help to build trusting and healing relationships.

3.   Collaborative

     Doing things together – especially when they are strengths-based – can build those healing bonds that build personal & emotional resilience. Having a collective intention and focus to achieve a common goal. And with achievement, there is often celebration and shared joy.

No matter your experience or where you are on your healing journey, connection helps you navigate, ground and build resilience.