I’m happy to admit that I’m very much learning, as I go along- about how to navigate around my newly freed-up mind. I left the shackles of it in February ’23.

Mind – combing is my own-made-up phrase, and method. It’s about stimulating and nurturing a growing sense of conscious awareness. Or living in awake mode, rather than functioning in unhelpful auto pilot.

There are aged behavioural knots, that still threaten to influence our functionality: even though we may not notice them for a long time. If at all… I attribute several years of eating properly, and exercising within the restraints of the cerebral palsy, that’s afforded me the increasing sense of clarity.

The more I mind comb, untangling knots I hadn’t before noticed: The more my vision seems further encompassing. Yet, I’m talking about the fine, or less obvious knots which only seem to reveal themselves more lately. I do believe a good diet has helped, and I encourage you eat well. We truly are what we eat.

What I mean are things like trying to accomplish an unrealistic quantity of tasks, and getting frustrated if I don’t complete them. But, prior to mind-combing, not realising this behavioural flaw.

In my case, I now know the reasons are centred around my feelings about mother’s machinations. The details are not needed, the results being that for all my life: I hate asking of even the simplest favor. I realise that I have an unnecessary desire to be in control. Historically, for the safety of my siblings and I – I had to learn, and then master far too many practical and emotional things, whilst adhering to mother’s hefty lists of to do chores… and with ongoing mind combing; I have come to realise more of my unrequired habits. Such as: racing around the house, despite the increasing physical pain; all because I still hear, or imagine, or have been programmed to react on a basis of fear: The chink of her keys at the back door.

I am still trying to harness this as I write. I do it well – when I remember to say things nicely to self and aloud: “Come on darling, slow down, don’t be silly, you’re a grown-up now.”

So, we must keep waking ourselves up. Because in doing so, we benefit from unearthing our true personalities, before they were impinged. Be consistent and practice it regularly. Persist with getting to know your true character as though it were like brushing knotted hair. And until you’ve either fixed that issue, or that you’re practicing it daily, and have that strand of it in hand.

This is because if you’ve been poorly contained and felt unsafe in your early years, then you have an undercurrent of anxiety, which you may not have even noticed yet. You will lapse, as I do, and numb things out. When you don’t live in a state of conscious awareness, you will revert to the hindering autopilot mode.

We must keep nudging ourselves to wake up, grow as we deserve and yearn to: so that we can excavate our original authentic selves.

An easy and pleasant way to keep awake is by brushing your hair. It helps to ease anxiety, and dissipates headaches too. I simply sit on the bed in front of mirror and get brushing, making myself do so for ten-minute bursts. If you don’t have hair, involve a loved one – or your pet, and simply get combing.

Don’t over-think, simply enjoy the sensations, perhaps you can comb through a hair mask, or apply a leave-in conditioner to accentuate the experience. A comforting scent adds a heightened sense of relaxation.

Take time doing it, and start making it habitual.  Do it thoroughly, and keep observing self in mirror. Or if you’re doing this with a friend, or pet, then chat about how it makes you feel. It’s a little spot of relaxing self-care. The more you brush your hair then the easier it will become to start giving voice to your sub-conscious thoughts. Because you’ve sought-out the time to quieten your busy mind.

With practice, this easy form of mindfulness will soon reveal your sub-conscious mind knots, and you can start to untangle them, one gentle brush at a time.

I hope you find this helpful.

With SUNNY wishes,

Emma x