When we become aware that we’re caught in a traumatic emotional response, we bring in mindfulness, and we investigate our thoughts. We do this to break the pattern of habitual, recursive thinking. As you break these patterns, it’s good to observe any of the small things that are actually working in your life. For example, if you’re working with pain in your body and you fear it’s getting worse, then you would gently connect with other parts of your body that are actually pain free and functioning well. This helps contain the stressful emotional response and creates new pathways in the heart and mind.
Pawan Bareja
Spirit Rock Residential Teacher
Pawan Bareja, PhD has practiced vipassanā meditation since 2001. She is a Spirit Rock trained teacher with a keen interest in empowering students with practices to resolve their stress and trauma using mindfulness, Buddhist psychology, and neuroscience. She is the author of Reignite Your Power: Resolving Trauma Using Mindfulness.