The Gift of Letting Go

Do you spend time judging yourself? Comparing yourself to your younger self or, worse, to someone else? We judge our thoughts and our movements all the time. “Why is one leg stronger, tighter, or weaker? Why can’t I turn equally on both sides?” “Why don’t my eyes respond the way they should?” For me, “Why can’t I read faster? Why can’t I improve my time in the pool?” I am giving you permission to STOP!

Accept yourself where you are and who you are. I have a secret for you: we are not symmetrical inside and out. All of life is a series of changes. The one thing we know is that our mind, body, and spirit are always changing. Who we were in the past and who we are in the present determine who we will be in the future—if we listen to ourselves.

It’s time to use the information our body and mind provide us, and not judge how or why we do things. We know the brain tells the body what to feel,how to move,how to respond. By listening to the signals, we can make changes.

I see this with myself and my clients every day. People ask me how I know how to cue clients to move more efficiently and easily. The answer is that I watch every move, from head to toe, including your eyes. Your brain and body help me guide your next move, so we can start to develop new movement patterns. It is fascinating when I instruct you to do something and I know you hear me, but the body isn’t responding. That tells me we have to dive into your senses. Either visual,vestibular,or,proprioceptive system. Once we find your secret sauce, the magic happens. All of a sudden, the movement is easier.  

Embrace the good, the bad, and the ugly. By watching, thinking, and moving, we can begin to change our mind, body, and spirit.

When we think we are doing things wrong, our body and brain undergo several interrelated changes that can affect movement, behavior, and emotional responses. Here's a breakdown of what happens:

Brain Changes

1. Emotional Response:

   • The amygdala, which processes emotions, may become activated, leading to feelings of anxiety, stress, or fear, especially if the perceived mistake has social consequences.

2. Cognitive Dissonance:

   • The brain experiences cognitive dissonance when there is a conflict between beliefs and actions. This can lead to feelings of discomfort, prompting a reconsideration of behavior or thought patterns.

3. Increased Stress Hormones:

   • The release of hormones like cortisol can occur, which prepares the body for a "fight or flight" response. This may lead to physical tension and hinder fluid movement.

4. Executive Functioning:

   • Areas of the brain responsible for decision-making and planning, such as the prefrontal cortex, may work harder to evaluate the situation and predict outcomes, sometimes slowing down decision-making.

Body Changes

1. Muscle Tension:

   • Anxiety or concern about doing something wrong can lead to increased muscle tension, particularly in the back, shoulders, and neck, which may impede movement.

2. Altered Coordination:

   • When feeling uncertain or anxious, motor skills may become less coordinated. This can happen due to overthinking movements or feeling distracted by negative thoughts.

3. Postural Changes:

   • Physically, individuals may adopt closed or defensive body language, such as crossing arms or slumping shoulders, which may signal hesitance or lack of confidence.

4. Diminished Motivation:

   • A feeling of doing something wrong can lead to reluctance to move forward or take action, reducing overall physical activity and potentially impacting health.

Implications for Performance

In scenarios like sports, public speaking, or even daily tasks, the fear

of doing something wrong can create a cycle of negative thoughts and feelings, hindering optimal performance. Addressing these feelings through mindfulness, positive self-talk, and practice can help mitigate these effects, allowing for more confident and fluid movement.