Sense: Learning to Notice Yourself

Our bodies are constantly communicating with us, but we don't always know how to listen.

We might notice tension in our shoulders, warmth when someone touches us, a feeling of excitement, or a sudden desire to pull away. Sometimes these sensations are obvious. Other times, they're subtle enough that we overlook them entirely.

Sense is the practice of noticing what you're experiencing in your body.

This includes physical sensations, emotions, energy, comfort, discomfort, arousal, and changes in how you respond to different situations.

Many of us have learned to pay more attention to what other people expect than to what we're experiencing ourselves. We might push through discomfort, ignore exhaustion, or assume our bodies should respond a certain way because the situation seems right.

Sensing gives us an opportunity to become curious about our experiences instead of immediately judging or overriding them.

It's important to remember that sensations are information, not instructions. Physical arousal doesn't necessarily mean we want sex. Anxiety doesn't always mean something is wrong. Feeling comfortable with someone doesn't mean we owe them intimacy.

Our bodies provide valuable information, but understanding that information takes practice.

Sensing might begin with a simple question: What am I noticing right now?

There doesn't have to be an immediate answer or decision. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is recognize what we're experiencing before trying to figure out what it means.