Mindful & Somatic Monday: Week 2 The 12-Steps Re-imagined
- waltercombs
- Jan 19
- 2 min read
Step 2: The Sensation of Hope—Finding the "Pilot Light"
Last week, we got honest about the "tug-of-war" inside. We noticed the bracing of our Managers and the pull of our Firefighters. It can be exhausting to realize how much internal conflict we’ve been carrying.
Today, we move toward Hope.
In our IFS-Integrated model, Step 2 is: "We came to believe that a Healing Presence (Self-Energy) and a Higher Power could bring clarity and harmony to our internal system."
Hope is Not a Thought—It’s a Physical State
For many in recovery, hope feels like a "wish" or a "theory." But in this practice, we want to find the Somatic signature of Hope. Hope is the feeling that there is something inside you that is not the conflict. It is the "Pilot Light" that stays lit even when the storm of addiction or anxiety is at its peak.
Today’s Practice: Finding the "Self-Energy" Anchor
Take 5 minutes today to sit quietly. We aren't looking for a "fix"; we are looking for a Presence.
Acknowledge the Noise: Briefly notice the parts that are still "pulling the rope." Give them a mental nod of acknowledgment.
Shift Your Focus: Imagine your awareness moving away from the "tug-of-war" at the surface and dropping down into your center—your heart or your belly.
Look for the "Pilot Light": Notice if there is even a tiny spark of something else. It might feel like:
A slightly cooler breath in your nostrils.
A moment of stillness between heartbeats.
A sense of "spaciousness" in your chest, even if it’s surrounded by tightness.
Breathe into the Anchor: When you find that tiny bit of calm or curiosity, breathe into it. Don't try to make it bigger; just acknowledge it. Say to yourself: "There is a part of me that is already at peace."
The Somatic Shift
Hope begins when the body moves out of "Defense Mode" (Fight/Flight/Freeze) and into "Connection Mode." Even a 5% shift toward calm is a sign that a Power greater than your polarized parts is at work.
Today’s Mantra: "Behind the conflict, there is a Calm. I am coming to believe in the Healing Presence within me."
Reflect on this today:
As you go about your day, can you find 30 seconds to "drop down" beneath the noise? You aren't trying to make the noise stop; you are just checking in with the "Pilot Light" that is always there.
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