Episode 73: About connection, with Elissa

As we’re emerging from lockdown, we’ll be experiencing a newfound sense of connection to each other after a prolonged period of disconnection. How do we navigate this? How do we find ways to more authentically connect to each other in our workplaces and beyond?

In this episode, I share a Body-Mind Centering framework that helps us understand the importance of establishing safety and comfort before we can genuinely connect to and bond with each other. We have the opportunity create a new paradigm if we’re willing to do the work to truly show up and connect... 👯‍♀️

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Show Notes:   

Recap

• 0:00 - Elissa shares the new theme for the month of May, Connection. What is connection?
• 3:33 - Our human existence exists on three levels: the gross plane, the plane of meaning, and the plane of totality. On the gross plane we are all individuals, on the plane of meaning we are all connected, and on the plane of totality we are all one.
• 5:45 - Connection is an important topic for us right now as we come out of lockdown. We have a newfound connection with each other, after a prolonged period of disconnection.
• 8:00 - Elissa shares a framework from Body-Mind Centering about primary human needs, in order: Safety, Comfort, Bonding, and Curiosity.
• 14:30 - Another factor affecting how we connect with each other is how we talk about and address systemic issues of social and racial justice. 
• 16:47 - Can you think of an example in your life where you were supposed to do work, but you didn’t feel safe or comfortable? Did you feel connected to your co-workers? Were you able to do a good job?
• 18:15 - Elissa talks about the idea from the Bhagavad Gita, “Established in being perform action.” Once you are established in being, then do. 
• 22:15 - Elissa talks about what we can do incrementally to become more connected to each other. For instance in the workplace, we can do check-ins to start our meetings.
• 27:00 - Elissa explains that connection does not mean sharing everything, all the time. 
• 29:24 - Elissa discusses what leaders can do. Spoiler alert: We are all leaders!
• 32:49 - Our Voice Body Connection process check-in. Elissa feels achy.

Resources

The meditation teacher Elissa mentions is Thom Knoles. 

This is an article from Body-Mind Centering teachers at the Babies Project that describes the Safety-Comfort-Bonding-Curiosity model I describe (they’ve added Orientation as a stage). 

This is a Psychology Today article explaining the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

This Psychology Today article speaks to the 1940’s experiment and the importance of human touch. 

The colleagues I reference who do diversity, equity, and inclusion work are: Kellie Wagner, founder of Collective DEI (listen to her on this podcast here), and Christina Blacken, founder of The New Quo (listen to her on this podcast here).

This blog talks about the phrase from the Bhagavad Gita, “Establish in being, perform action.”

The Washington Post article about the primary traits of successful employees at Google.

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Production Credits:

Our Editor is Sean Brennan

Our Photographer and Graphic Designer is Laura Sills

Our Videographer is Miguel Garzón Martínez

And our theme song is “Waters of Body” by Strange Weather

Please note that Amazon links in the show notes are connected to the Voice Body Connection Associates account. All other partner links are acknowledged. Thank you for supporting the podcast!