Getting Our Bodies Back Blog Series: The Five Intentions Pt. 3

In the first blogs, we explored how to bring awareness to our bodies and introduced The Moving Cycle, a step-by-step process of reconnecting with our true essence. Now we will begin to dive into the five intentions within the Moving cycle. The five intentions are: to nurture, to support, to challenge, to reflect, and to create space. We will explore how each of these intentions helps guide us into a deeper understanding and self-discovery.

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To Nurture:

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To nurture means reconnecting with our needs. According to Caldwell, to nurture ourselves is to do for ourselves what should have been done when we were born. Nurturing requires prioritizing ourselves and recognizing that our needs are essential. Many of us did not have our needs fully met as children; however, as adults, we take responsibility for meeting and prioritizing them.

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To Support;

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To support is to have a safe space in which we can disclose how we feel. As Caldwell puts it, to support is to have a container in which our feelings can occur. This can be explored in various ways; for example, journaling provides a safe space to express your feelings and can be done at any time. Seeking professional help is also a great option, as is turning to our family or loved ones for support.

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To Challenge:

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The challenging stage is both powerful and delicate. It requires moving through the earlier stages in order to confront negative patterns, beliefs that no longer serve us, and areas where we feel stuck. It is within this stage that meaningful change begins to occur.

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To Reflect:

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As Caldwell puts it, reflection has to do with accuracy, with perceiving the whole, without praise or blame, without distortion. The Reflection stage helps us see where we are, where we are hurting, and where we feel stuck. For reflection to be effective, honesty is essential. At times, we may suppress parts of ourselves out of fear or judgment; however, reflection invites us to accept ourselves as we are and to remain open to feedback.

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To Create Space:

Lastly, to create space invites us to make time to dive deeper into our emotions and feelings. Meditation, journaling and therapy are a great way to create space. By creating space, we allow ourselves to reflect, and simply be in our essence, creating the space for deeper awareness and healing.

In the next blog series, we will explore the five interventions that are within the moving cycle. If you are curious about deepening your body and mind connection, feel free to reach out to our team of professionals at Olive Branch Counseling Associates. We are located at 6819 167th St, Tinley Park, IL 60477 (708) 633-8000.

Mariana Rodriguez, Graduate Intern, 2025.

Reference:

Caldwell, C. (2018). Getting our bodies back: Recovery, embodiment, and self-compassion. Shambhala Publications.

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