O’s life coach, Martha Beck, guides her new client on a search for meaning—and leads her where the wild things are.
THE BACKSTORY
Dixie Laite, 55, is in a slump. Laid off in 2015 from her job as an editorial director for a TV network, she’s currently a self-employed writer and brand consultant—but now that she has flexible hours, she’s spending a lot of time on the couch. Her energy is low, her spirits are lower, and despite reading “hundreds” of motivational books, she just can’t shed her existential malaise (or the 40 pounds she’s gained).
Fortunately, O’s life coach, Martha Beck, is here to help Dixie locate her missing purpose. First Martha advised her new client to quiet her racing mind and pay attention to her physical sensations. Though Dixie’s not a fan of meditation, she gamely agreed to take some deep breaths as Martha led her to focus intently on one part of her body at a time. Let’s join their exercise in progress.
Martha Beck: I want you to be very aware of each area as we get to it. Try twitching the muscles in your thighs. How does that feel? These deep breaths are toggling your nervous system from the anxious fight-or-flight mode to rest and relaxation. We want to get to a place of stillness so we can check in with your body, which is even more key to awareness than your brain. It’s estimated that the body sends the brain about 11 million bits of information per second, but the conscious mind can process only about 40 bits.
Dixie Laite: Which part is unhappy about the fact that my thighs are touching?
MB: You’re joking, but it’s a good point. Is the sensation of your thighs touching physically painful? DL: If I take thinking out of it, I guess not.
MB: That’s because you’re aware of your body, but you aren’t judging it.
This story is from the February 2018 edition of The Oprah Magazine.
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This story is from the February 2018 edition of The Oprah Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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