The Healing Power of Touch - Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 7) 🎧Episode 70

🎧 Episode #70 The Healing Power of Touch - Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 7)

Today's episode is on my mom's language of touch. Her 7th life lesson was how important and healing a touch can be; the way simple, physical gestures like a hand on the chest, a stroke of the forehead, or a hug can calm the nervous system and communicate love without words.

In this episode, we’ll explore how touch can regulate stress and anxiety through somatic practices, how early experiences with affection shape the way we give and receive love, and how the body, especially the gut, holds and communicates emotional truth.

Press play and explore the power of touch to communicate love, compassion, empathy, connection, and wellness to others and yourself.

💭Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• Touch is a powerful, non-verbal language of love. Physical gestures can sometimes communicate safety, care, and connection more effectively than words.
• Somatic touch helps regulate the nervous system. Gentle, intentional touch (like stroking the forehead or placing a hand on the chest) can reduce stress, lower your heart rate, and promote calm.
• The body holds emotional memory and can quell grief. Experiences of touch, especially from those you love, can remain with us long after, shaping how we process comfort and connection. My internal memory of my mom's healing touch has been a great comfort to me since her passing.
• The gut plays a central role in emotional awareness. The brain-gut connection influences mood, intuition, and physical responses to stress, making body-based awareness a valuable tool.
• You can use touch as a self-soothing practice. Simple actions like light pressure, circular motion, or still focus on a body part can help manage anxiety and reconnect you with your body.

Lemonade, It Flows

By Jill Hodge

I’m never quiet it seems
I long to hush the talk, but when I do I find
That I have sprouted holes
Across my body and in rows
And from each hole a geyser flows
It’s lemonade.
Sweet and sour

It flows from me in starts and spurts
It’s tart at the beginning
But ends on a sweet note
I thought I’d rest a while
Let go and release on a cloud
A soft, puffy pillow will surely work
But my mind is spinning

And out comes more lemonade
And it seems to be talking
wants to show what it knows

I suppose, and notions and possible avenues
Just grow and grow
Until I’m not sure where I started
Or which way the wind blows

So I place my hand on my chest
And suddenly overcome by deep breaths
The body knows where the valves are
And in time, they turn them off

The lemonade is gone now
And all that’s left is the sticky, sugar residue
It’s all around, and I think I can live with that

I can live with that

Journal Prompts to Explore Healing Touch & Somatic Awareness

Here are some journal prompts to reflect on the power of healing touch in your life. Write or reflect on these prompts.

My mom’s touch was a miracle. It calmed me down instantly and made me feel loved and respected. It communicated in a visceral, impactful way that has stayed with me for years. I can carry this love language of touch with me during these challenging times since her passing. I’ve found that I’ve internalized some of those touches, remembering the way her hands felt on my forehead. It’s a comfort to have her physical essence with me. The gift of the healing, nurturing, and quiet power of loving touch was the 7th lesson my mom taught me. 🌞

Podcast Music: My thanks to all the musicians who make incredible music and have the courage to put it out into the world. All music and sound effects for my podcast are sourced and licensed for use via Soundstripe.

Songs in this podcast episode: Whatever Weather by Basket; Some Kind of Wonderful by Nu Alkemi$t; Con Sazón by In This World

Resources:

10 Somatic Exercises and Techniques for Anxiety: Expert-Approved The Gut-Brain Connection

Related Episodes:

Learn the Language of Nature — Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 6) - Episode 69

Being Hateful is Incompatible with Being Whole – Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 5) - Episode 68

Giving Without Expectation – Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 4) - Episode 67

Take Notice of Little, Beautiful Things — Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 3) - Episode #66

Recognize the Good in Others — Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 2) – Episode #65

Let People Know You Love Them — Lessons My Mama Taught Me (Part 1) – Episode #64

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Journaling Resources

30-Day Journal Challenge (Writing Prompts to Get Started)

Here’s a fun & simple 30-day journal challenge for beginners (or those who need inspiration). Use the daily prompts to rediscover yourself.

Let the Verse FlowJill Hodge

Journaling 101: An Inspirational Guide to Start (or Revive) a Practice

Whether you write, doodle, draw, or keep memorable quotes, journaling uncovers YOU. Let your unconscious mind speak, download my free guide.

Let the Verse FlowJill Hodge

Let the Verse Flow (and its companion newsletter Flow & Voice) is a creative project created with love by writer, podcast host, and narrator Jill Hodge. If you subscribe today, you'll have full access to the website and newsletter, including articles, podcast episodes, and the Flow & Voice monthly note. Members are vital to building a rich community of diverse voices. Join us by subscribing today; consider a paid subscription to support Jill's work. Thank you!