206. How to Follow the Wisdom of Your Body with Dr. Hillary McBride
May 9, 2023
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Dr. Hillary McBride, an embodiment teacher and psychologist, joins Glennon to discuss embodiment and disembodiment, fear, and the blaming of our bodies. They explore the disconnect between the mind and body in society, the environmental impact of plastic laundry detergent jugs, and the importance of listening to our bodies. They also talk about reimagining workouts, small acts of self-care, and the admiration for Dr. McBride and her work.
Embodiment involves consciously reconnecting with our bodies, honoring our sensations, and being present with our emotions to disrupt societal norms and systems that perpetuate disembodiment.
Fear plays a significant role in our relationship with embodiment, and by developing a relationship with fear and seeking safety and agency in our experiences, we can navigate fear with compassion and self-attunement.
Disembodiment is perpetuated through cultural and historical contexts, leading to a disconnection from our bodily sensations and needs, and while therapy can support embodiment, it extends beyond therapy to cultural practices and reclaiming our birthright of embodiment.
Deep dives
The Power of Embodiment
Embodiment is the process of reclaiming the body as the central place where we experience life. This entails acknowledging the mind-body connection and understanding that our experiences as a body are shaped by power dynamics, cultural beliefs, and our own sensory development. Embodiment has multiple dimensions, with one axis ranging from dissociation and disembodiment to positive embodiment characterized by agency, desire, and a sense of self as a body. Many of us have learned to ignore or silence our bodily knowing, often due to early experiences of our needs being denied. This disembodiment can lead to a disconnection from our authentic selves and can contribute to mental health issues like depression. By consciously reconnecting with our bodies, honoring our sensations, and being present with our emotions, we can begin to disrupt societal norms and systems that perpetuate disembodiment.
Navigating Fear and Safety in Embodiment
Fear plays a significant role in our relationship with embodiment. Our bodies' fear responses are often conditioned by past experiences and the social discourse around safety and danger. For many individuals, particularly those in marginalized bodies, fear is a justified and necessary response to a world that is inherently unsafe for them. Embodiment involves learning to be okay with the fear that arises and recognizing that our bodies' responses are valid and truthful in the face of social and cultural threats. Rather than dissociating from fear or blaming ourselves, we can develop a relationship with fear, allowing it to inform us while also seeking safety and agency in our experiences. This process involves staying connected to our emotions and sensations, even in the face of uncertainty. It is a continuous journey of learning to trust our bodies and navigate fear with compassion and self-attunement.
The Cultural and Historical Context of Disembodiment
Disembodiment has roots in the cultural and historical context, including philosophical and theological ideologies, objectification of bodies for commercial gain, and societal emphasis on mind over matter. Consequently, we have internalized the message that the body is problematic and should be controlled or ignored to conform to societal expectations. Disembodiment is perpetuated through early experiences where our bodily knowing is dismissed or invalidated by caregivers or society. These experiences lead to self-silencing and a disconnection from our bodily sensations and needs. The resulting disconnect between mind and body contributes to widespread disembodiment. While therapy can be valuable in supporting embodiment, it is not the sole solution. Embodiment is a broader concept that extends beyond therapy, and examples of embodiment can be found in various cultural practices, such as religious rituals, indigenous traditions, and communal gatherings. Reclaiming embodiment requires listening to our bodies, honoring our needs, and recognizing that embodiment is our birthright, not exclusive to traditional therapy settings.
The Importance of Embodiment for Survival and Connection
Embodiment is crucial for our survival and connection with others. Dissociation can serve as a survival response, allowing us to escape the terror of being ourselves. However, updating our systems and realizing that we are now in a safe environment with loving people allows us to fully embrace our bodies. Our bodies are essential for expressing love and being fully present in the moment. Embodying ourselves means being in touch with our hands, legs, and feet, which are always in the present. This embodiment enables us to experience love, joy, and pleasure.
From Fear to Empathy: The Power of Embodiment
Embodiment not only benefits us individually, but it also deepens our connection with others. Through embodiment, we can develop empathy, which goes beyond perspective-taking. Empathy allows our bodies to instinctively respond to others' feelings with adaptive action tendencies, bringing us into right relationship. Embodiment enables sustainable care and boundaries, as anger, which is a physical sensation, helps us gain clarity on what doesn't work for us and what needs to change. By embracing embodiment, we empower ourselves and forge meaningful connections with the world around us.
Embodiment teacher, Dr. Hillary McBride, joins us to discuss: what embodiment and disembodiment are; dissociation as survival response, somatophobia, and how to get more comfortable with fear. She offers concrete practices to stop blaming our bodies, and help us become attuned to our body’s messages.
Dr. Hillary McBride is a Registered Psychologist, researcher, podcaster, author, and speaker, but she identifies most with being a mother. She has lived experience and clinical expertise in the areas of trauma, embodiment, eating disorders, and the intersection of spirituality and mental health. Her research has focused on women's relationships with their bodies across the lifespan, and her books include: Mothers, Daughters, and Body Image; Embodiment and Eating Disorders, and the bestseller The Wisdom of Your Body. Her next book – Practices for Embodied Living – will be released in 2024. Her CBC podcast Other People's Problems was listed in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal as essential listening.
