Some Inner Accompaniment.
In my personal practice today, I spent time with my nervous system and re-encountered an old but familiar feeling from my childhood: the sense of being entirely on my own. As I attuned to the rest of my body, I also sensed my gut tightening, weak knees and elbows, and a headache. These parts sometimes react to my attending to them as they are still not used to; they don’t completely trust me, and they question whether I really care.
Unmasking the Problem-Solver
I then encountered a “problem-solving” part that has historically defined my life by the obstacles it felt I was supposed to overcome. This part realized it had been “on task” since my childhood, and internalized the belief that life is a series of problems to be solved. By offering this part my presence—and remembering Marshall Rosenberg’s advice to “don’t just do something, sit there”—I started feeling a shift. A younger, creative part (around ages 8–12) emerged, excited by the possibility of a life guided by self-discovery and exploration rather than problem-solving and worry.
Mutual Gratitude
My session ended in a fascinating and touching state of mutual gratitude. My parts didn’t need to “do” anything or even speak; they expressed that simply being with me, feeling accepted, and having me remain present with them was amazing. As my gut repeatedly loosened and the tensions in my head released, I was struck again by how meaningful and sufficient my personal presence was: I didn’t need to offer solutions, a consistent “physical” presence was enough. My parts ended by thanking me for my presence and me thanking them for showing up today.
These posts are personal reflections on my own n=1 experiment with IFS and somatic inquiry. They are shared for educational purposes and are not intended as medical or psychological advice.