Your body and everything it holds and subsequently releases doesn't follow a linear timeline. As much as it would be convenient in our modern world if it did, it's simply not the case. We live in a culture that prizes efficiency, quick fixes (in the forms of medications and spiritual bypassing) and trackable progress, but our inner landscape operates on its own mysterious schedule. I'm sure if someone had figured out the magic formula, they would have packaged it up and sold it to the highest bidder already, but everybody is different. Every body's process follows its own timeline that cannot be rushed or forced – but it can be gently supported with the right personal approach. There is no one size fits all approach to wellbeing and healing.

Finding your edge

The trick is finding what works best for you, and with that comes exploring that delicate edge between pushing yourself—stepping toward growth—and resting a bit with whatever comes up during the process. What if it is possible to keep going when moving through big changes, but at your own pace with gradual steps forward, rather than avoiding challenges altogether or resigning yourself to false story of the logical mind that insists, “you will stay the same forever”.

The inherent instability of a growth state

Eventually, you get more confident in feeling unsteady within your physical, mental, emotional and energetic landscape, while simultaneously working with these new and unfamiliar feelings rather than against them. This is where the real transformation happens—not in the comfortable, predictable moments, but in those spaces where we're learning to dance with and lean into the uncertainty. Growth always feels strange and foreign when you're experiencing it for the first time or in a new form. The mind's first instinct is to retreat to old habits and ways of being that feel safe, but don't necessarily support who your soul desires to become at its core.

Outdated protection

Often the mind's protective instincts aren't always warranted in the present moment. This can be incredibly frustrating, but it's important to simply recognise this dynamic and work with it rather than fighting against your own nervous system. If you begin to berate yourself, shame yourself or put yourself down; you’re only adding excessive layers to the process.

When you notice a moment where you’ve perhaps entered an anxious state, or find yourself at the opposite end of the spectrum—feeling quite withdrawn and detached from the present—instead of defaulting to the mind's story that "there is something wrong" and adding fuel to the fire, can you instead play around with labelling the experience for what it is. For example, “I feel quite distant right now” or “I am experiencing anxiety in my chest”. You don't need to know exactly why it's happening or why you’re feeling a certain way. Instead, this simple act of recognition can support a subtle but profound shift within, bringing you back to the moment.

But what can help right now?

So, what can help when you’re surrounded by others, but feel far away and lost in your thoughts? Returning to your breath can be an effective way to anchor yourself back in the present moment. You might also try noticing what your five senses are experiencing—the feeling of your feet on the ground, the sounds around you, the temperature of the air on your skin. These practices can soften the grip that your mind has on the story of why you're going through this experience. It also supports relinquishing the hold it has over you so you can respond or act differently than you may have acted in the past.

The more you work with the body instead of against it, the more you’re able to transmute those outdated protective mechanisms that served their purpose some time ago but are now holding you back from living fully in the present. These old patterns were once necessary, but they don't have to define your experience forever.

A note on compassion

You can still be gentle with yourself through this process, but it's important not to get stuck wallowing in a victim mindset. There's a difference between showing yourself self-compassion and staying stuck because it's familiar while avoiding discomfort. Embody the type of energy where you know you’ve got your own back—where you're both your own loving supporter but you’re your own accountability. When you embody this energy, and let go of being a victim of circumstance you'll carry yourself differently through your day.

There’s no rush when working with your body

If you're moving through your own process right now with something big, remember you've got this – trust yourself. Don't rush yourself but know that it's not uncommon for things to feel different and uncomfortable when you're moving through the thick of it, and especially once you reach the other side. Life isn't linear, your timeline isn't fixed, and that's exactly as it should be.

Resonate with any of the above? Let's connect

If you've resonated with any of these words, I'd love to connect. Send me a message on Instagram @soulbygigi or email me hello@soulbygigi.com.au