Belief Inventory || By Chardin Bersto MA
In the last blog I asked you to do a “Belief inventory”. This is the foundation of how things were communicated to you in those early vulnerable days of your life. In the words of Jon Anderson of Yes “All senses open to discovery”. So, not just the words but the tone used, the intention behind the words, and maybe facial expressions, touch, etc. The organism (our body) registers all of it in order to know what we are dealing with.
Was the language used in your childhood delivered with love or fear. If the style is fear the organism senses the fear the organism goes into protection mode. Muscles contract, blood supply is routed to the muscles preparing for fight or flight, the organs of the body are deprived of vital blood and nutritive fluids, which also suppresses the immune system.
To the contrary, messages sent with loving support enables the organism to flourish, be strong, and healthy. This process becomes what can be viewed as a homeostatic calibration of the infant/toddler’s Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) or what I like to refer to as “presets”. Presets are kind of like the settings in a computer. These settings tell the computer how to process pieces of information as the information is input to the operating system. Whenever an individual perceives a sense of disconnection (this could be facial expression, body language, verbal miscues, communication confusions, or even subtle “energetic” cues nonverbally) the ANS can fall back on the pre-verbal response patterns (preset) and could have the system wide hyper-excitation the infant/toddler experienced.
This may appear somewhat complex, but we all know how this feels. For many there is a “sinking” sensation that could be accompanied by an increase in heart rate and maybe nausea (anxiety or panic) associated with feeling like we did something wrong in the relationship. This is not limited to a relationship outside of us. It can happen internally in our self-perceptions also and becomes associated with self-concept. At any rate, on a homeostatic level, our bodies are in neuro-hormonal excitation (stress response) which an aspect of is suppression of the immune system.
The fact that this response (shame) is a preverbal phenomenon makes it an insidious event. As an aspect of the “autonomous” nervous system it lies in wait, vigilant to attach itself to any experience that may be deemed a bit uncertain. I consider it the “free radical” of emotion in that it attaches to experiences like the free radical attaches to the open bond of any molecule. The resolution of this response is the expressed Love and nurturing of the care giver which, in the long run, becomes Self Love; Love is the “antioxidant”.
From the work of Bruce Lipton (The Biology of Belief, and The Biology of Perception [DVD series}) we learn that the cell membrane is prepared to respond to the “environment” in the most effective way to insure survival of the cell. In an environment bombarded with uncertainty and inadequate nurturing the cell membrane is proliferated with “excitation” receptors. This limits responses and behaviors to that range of expression.
The neuro-hormonal recipe that goes with this experience creates a scenario of anxiety, uncertainty, self-doubt, self-judgment, and powerlessness.
The language of the body is non-judgmental. A sensation appears it merely implies pay attention. It doesn’t mean something is wrong, right, up or down, it just is. If we have a belief about ourselves like “there’s something wrong with me” or “I’m not good enough” then we interpret our sensation through those screens and the sensation will intensify. To really “know” what a sensation implies we need to allow its presence and be with it. It may only be asking us to breathe and let go, no naming necessary.
The issue becomes, then, when the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is set for alarm. This happens for numerous reasons: diminutive self-beliefs (mentioned above) or traumas (current or historic-closed head injuries, physical or sexual abuse). All these events interface with perception and this determines what actions need to be taken. The current rise in Trauma Therapies comes as a result of a deeper understanding of the ANS and has afforded many with tools to short-cut the ANS. In order to make the appropriate response to any situation we need to see it clearly and Trauma Therapies are equipped with tools to enable this process.
An effective tool used in many Spiritual Processes and by self-growth systems like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, The Course in Miracles and such is belief inventories. Beliefs are the foundation of perception. As a system of survival beliefs form the environment we occupy. In essence, perception creates the information the cellular community needs to negotiate survival. Information enters the organism though the senses then into brain centers that process the information. In perception theory literature we understand that once processed the “best guess” is elicited followed by behavior.
This is where it gets tricky; is the “best guess” accurate? This all depends on what the aggregate beliefs provide information for the “best guess”. If the environment has taught us uncertainty and fear the ANS is going to go into hyperdrive, and we will respond as such. This shows up as reactivity to a situation. It could show as anxiety, aggressiveness, or “spacing out” but what is needed is a moment to slow down, connect with the breath and assess what is actually presenting itself other than what we think is presenting.
The Somatic experience is a wordless space. It is the space aimed at in the practice of Meditation. It is a place where we can make contact with the body without trying to name every sensation or figure out what is going on. A challenge with today’s world is there is so much information available to us and it is a natural impulse to pursue it thinking we are building a knowledge base. Mind you, information has its perks, but fueled by fear it becomes an untamable brush fire. The cell, our cellular community, wants to be set free from our personal perception so it can do the job it is designed to do for the betterment of life.
When you catch the sensation of a perception, you are at a choice point. Can you expand in your heart to trust you know what is needed or do you shrink away and distrust?
About the Author: Chardin has been an Adjunct Practitioner at People House since 1998. He is the creator of Advanced Body Therapeutics (ABT). It is a new orientation of creating synergy in the body systems. ABT uses assessment tools from Osteopathic Theory, Chinese Five Element Theory, Applied Kinesiology, Yoga Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, and Structural Therapies to determine the relationship of the metabolic systems of the body as well as address common structural issues related to stress or trauma.
The goal in his body work is to create balance in the body and neutralize the polyvagal responses. In doing so, it reduces pain, calms emotion upset, and strengthens the immune system.
Chardin’s web address is www.abtherapeutics.net
