by Endorsed Mind-Body Coach CrisMarie Campbell

Even before I became an Endorsed Mind-Body Coach, I subscribed to the belief that what I don’t feel, shows up in my body. In his book the Mindbody Prescription, Dr. Sarno describes this linkage quite well.  But instead of dealing with my discomfort with anger, sadness and all those icky-ucky feelings that can be a part of one’s life, I focused on solving my physical ailments by looking for the answers outside of myself. As I result I wound up choosing:

• Relationships that I didn’t want because I didn’t think I had a choice.
• Careers I didn’t want because I didn’t think I had a choice.
• Friends I didn’t want because I didn’t think I had a choice.

I had developed a habit of listening to people outside of myself and not making my own feelings matter. I focused on achieving and making others happy in order to gain approval and success in life. And succeed I did. On the outside it didn’t look bad at all. I had a successful consulting business. I lived in a great house. I was acting in the community theater and had a great relationship. However, I found myself saying, “I hate my life,” which I didn’t understand.

So what was the problem?

Ring of Fire

Rather than pretend that everything was okay or look for answers outside of me from yet another doctor or guru, I went through Abigail Steidley’s Mind-Body Coach Training and looked inside. There were two main things I did (and still do):

• I learned how to slow down and land or grounded in my own feet. Yes, energetically, I am constantly out of my own body and focused on my environment. I developed a practice of bringing my energy back into my own shoes. As I do this, I usually take a deeper breath.
• Then, I get curious about: What am I feeling, now? This may sound simple, but when I first started doing this, I did it about 50 times a day, because I didn’t know how I felt. I was so used to not knowing, having ignored my feelings for so long.

The Mind-Body training was transformational for me. I am someone who didn’t realize that I regularly dissociate from my body and don’t know how I feel. Going through the Mind-Body training helped me land in my own two feet, my body and feel what was really going on inside me. This lead to making more self-honoring choices in my life.

Sure, I plummeted into a “Ring of Fire” which was certainly uncomfortable, but it was a way of catching up to myself and realizing that I matter. The training was a pivotal point in my life to help me learn how to continually re-align my life to my souls’ wisdom. I think it is a phenomenal experience!

So here is how you can give it a try: slow down and land in your own body. Ask yourself, “What am I feeling now?” and make what you feel on the inside matter more than what is on the outside, even for just a minute. See if you get any information that you can use to take care of yourself more effectively.

And in the process, if taking Abigail Steidley’s Mind-Body Coach Training is calling to you, apply now.   You and your body will be so happy you did!

As for me, I quit my job and left my relationship. I wound up meeting someone that I am still in a relationship with. We started our own company together, thrive!, and moved to Montana. I took up acting and have since been in five plays. And I have finally gotten around to writing—doing what I wanted to do oh so long ago.

Now, here I am, living my very fulfilling, joy-filled life, typing away, feeling…yes, grateful.  I am grateful for my own illness, and no, I am not delusional, and yes, I do remember the physical pain I felt.   

In her upcoming book, Steering by Starlight, Martha Beck writes about a concept she calls the Ring of Fire.  This is one of the most difficult places to be and also one of the most incredible places to be – the ring of fire transforms your life.  Going through the ring of fire burns up all of your beliefs about yourself, your life, who you are supposed to be, and lands you squarely in the Core of Peace.  Obviously, the core of peace is peaceful and a very pleasant place to be. 

Most people require a little push into the ring of fire.  We don’t generally seek out such emotionally intense transformational processes on purpose, because they are difficult and not a lot of fun.  They are, however, worth it.  The core of peace is a place of certainty, where you know yourself quite well, are comfortable, love yourself, and feel a deep sense of purpose and well-being.  It is the home of your Inner Healer. 

When illness lands in your life unexpectedly, you are kicked unceremoniously into the ring of fire.  Everything you thought you knew about yourself, everything that used to describe you, changes.  You feel lost, at sea, alone, and confused.  You no longer feel a strong sense of identity.  Though this sounds awful, it is actually the perfect moment for your journey to begin.  If you can accept that you are now journeying forward toward your core of peace rather than fighting with all your might to move backward to the old you, you will be rewarded with speedier travels.  I don’t know about you, but anything with the word “fire” in its title is something I’d like to hurry on through. 

After surviving illnesses, people often seek new careers, volunteer for causes, change relationships, or make other bold, life-changing moves.  Being booted into the ring of fire accelerates the process of becoming who you are meant to be, not just in terms of careers and other labels, but in the sense of that deeper, more meaningful perception of yourself.  Arriving at your core of peace is much like the sensation of coming home.  You’ve just come home to yourself.   

It’s such an amazing experience that I am absolutely grateful for my illness.  It hurtled me into the ring of fire, a place I would not have gone willingly.  Without my illness, I would not have come home to myself.  And I really, really like it here.