Our Layers of Being Human, Psychosomatically Speaking

Author: Gillian Maddigan - 29th March 2023

We, humans, are long-lived complex creatures with many layers to our being and our interactions.

From our physical bodies to our emotional and mental states, we are a culmination of our experiences and the way we have interacted with the world around us. Each layer of our being is intertwined and affects the others, creating a unique tapestry that is us.

When we look upon someone, we are seeing their entire history from the womb to the present moment and future possibilities. Each person's unique history shapes their future and influences their beliefs and values.

We are a product of the influences, conditioning and pattern from conception in the womb to this moment in time. We have created our bone structure to support us, and within the bone structure are the factors of influence between conception and about 18 years old in women and 24 in men.

That bone structure is the core of our identity formed over that time and is the core we go back to when we are in extreme distress. Because we have survived before, and the memory is in our bones.

This structure is our foundation upon which we build everything else. Our muscles and tissues develop and grow through repetitive patterning, becoming so ingrained in our subconscious that we do not even recognize the steps we take.

These muscles can be fast and strong or have a reservoir of energy that lasts a long time. Alternatively, they can be non-existent or weak. Our muscles reflect how we interact with the external world and how we handle stress and pressure. 

Above our muscles, we have a protective tissue that covers our organs and muscles, creating a barrier between the external world and our internal selves. This tissue can be thin and soft, absorbing energy from the outside world, or thick and resistant, bouncing energy away and blocking us in.

This protective tissue can ebb and flow, increasing and decreasing depending on our stress levels and other factors. We then layer ourselves with tissue for protection. The type of tissue speaks to what we want to protect and connects us to our deep-seated beliefs, values, and stories. 

Then comes the skin layer that holds everything together. This layer can be super sensitive, and those who have it tend to be reactive and highly sensitive to their environment or desensitized to it and takes longer to respond. 

The skin reacts to the moment and is fluid, unlike the protective fatty or desensitised tissue that takes hours or days to react. The muscles that change take even longer, as repetitive patterning needs to occur until the reaction of the muscles becomes connected at a bone-deep level and unconscious.

There is so much information within each of us that can be read gently to communicate and speak the language of the person we are engaging with, either with words or body language. But to truly understand others, we must first understand ourselves.

When we take the time to delve into our own patterns and stories, we gain a better understanding of how we may be misinterpreting others. We all have veils that we view others through and even ourselves, and understanding our own filters and triggers can help us see others more clearly.

Compassion for others doesn't mean we agree with them, but it allows us to have a reference point within ourselves to stand with others. However, to stand with others, we must first stand for ourselves. We must understand our own stories and how we create our reality.

In exploring ourselves, we need to be ready to embrace change, and change comes with negotiation with what we have and what we want. We must negotiate with the parts of ourselves that have served us well in the past but are now redundant in the present. By doing so, we can achieve the change we desire for the future.

In conclusion, understanding the layers of our being is a critical step towards self-awareness and compassion for others. Each layer is intertwined and affects the others, creating a unique tapestry that is us. By delving into our patterns and stories, we can gain a better understanding of ourselves and others, leading to positive change in our lives.

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