Navigate Stress Using Kinked Hose

The world is changing and incredibly challenging. How do we navigate this? The invitation is rather than look away from the challenges or experience numbness, to look at what is not working with compassion and curiosity.

I have felt incredible sadness and anger recently at what has been appearing in the world. By being present with these experiences through awareness practices with support, I have been able to move through the intense discomfort and pain.

Awareness is an important step toward healing and growth. One way of being aware is the metaphor of the kinked hose.

How can the idea of a kinked hose bring us closer to self-awareness? What if you imagined your body as a hose and the energy that flows through it is dependent on the hose being free flowing. This state is one that allows more love and joy to flow freely. However, if the hose is kinked, it is harder for positivity and action to flow.

Similar to when you might be watering a garden or washing a car with a hose, and the flow slows down, you might need to see why. Sometimes there is one and sometimes several kinks.

The first step toward releasing a kink is to see it.

What are some signs of low flow for you?  We often constrict our bodies and energy when we have:

·    unconscious beliefs

·    limiting beliefs

·    withholding

·    worry

·    pain buried from past

·    worry about the future

By noticing these constrictions and using tools-some of which are listed below- to support ourselves through them and or release them, we can ease the tension or constriction and “unkink the hose” and open up to positive experiences such as joy, love, empowerment and gratitude.

Other signs of low flow include:

·   snappy

·   tired

·   brain fog

·    distraction

·    low energy

·    fear

Unkinked and Kinked Hose

So much more water flows from the unkinked hose. Our bodies are similar, we can create more focus and impact on what matters in out lives when we unkink blocks in our body, mind, energy and nervous system..

What to do?
Once we recognize a kinked hose in our body and energy, celebrate that we noticed. Any activation of the brain showing difference helps secure these new neural pathways of self-awareness; that is why celebration is helpful.

Next, we can get curious about the cause of the kink. Through curiosity it is helpful to take a breath and wonder what is at the root of the constriction. It might be a tension in the back or discomfort in the head or belly. Invite a breath into that part of the body and get curious about what's causing the constriction. We can even ask the body if there is something simple it needs right now. Be sure to take time to listen. It might be a worry about something we cannot control, or a limiting belief. Journaling can help, getting support, and making a small commitment toward resolving the worry in an area where we do have control.

Here are three other ways to unkink the hose:

1.      Fear melt

2.     Get community support

3.      Obtain individual support and or professional help

There are also ways to maintain an unkinked hose more often. They include:

·       Eating healthy

·       Getting rest

·      Slowing down

·       Exercising, dancing and practicing yoga

·       Being in nature

·       Being playful

·       Exercising, dancing and practicing yoga

·      Getting rid of clutter

·      Getting a massage

·       Using your phone applications less or removing them

I would love to know...what most supports you?

Being Curious as a Practice

Being curious about noticing the kink in the hose can be a regular practice that helps us keep it flowing. Also, recognizing what keeps it unkinked is great to look at. Can you check your hose every day? What if you took a breath and rolled your shoulders more frequently and wondered about the flow of energy through your body.

The world is full of increasingly large numbers of distractions and challenges. This means that managing our flow of energy is more critical to protect and strengthen regularly. Sometimes unkinking the hose can release a state of feeling frozen or experience of numbness. The release can then open us up toward action. Even small actions in the right direction can bring change and growth personally and for the world.

Shay Marie is a Big Leap coach certified with Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks in the Big leap coaching program. The kinked hose concept in this blog is from the Big leap coaching program, please refer to their web site for many more resources . Shay Marie is also a writer. Writing, learning, growing and supporting others is her passion: and in particular, the dance between nature, awareness and our growth. Please reach out for feedback, questions or support.