When we experience pain of any sort, emotional or physical, we often contract away from the world to protect ourselves. We draw inward and build a small nest. This worksheet invites you to look at where you may have done that, and where you might be ready to open up.
About the nest
There are times when retreating is the best way we can care for ourselves. A nest can also become so comfortable that it keeps us from other people and from the wider world, even while pain is still present. The worksheet says there are no right or wrong answers and nothing is expected of you; use it as a tool for self-discovery.
Reflection questions
- Have you built yourself a nest to protect against pain? How has it served you?
- How would you describe your nest? Use as many adjectives as you can, even if some seem to contradict each other.
- In what ways does the nest support you, and in what ways does it limit you?
- What do you fear might happen if you step beyond it, or express yourself in a vulnerable way?
- What gifts might come to you if you step outside this comfort zone?
- How might you safely explore what lives beyond your nest? Consider the next, slightly bigger steps, and what you can do daily to open up a little.
This is a reflection tool, not a treatment. If pain, physical or emotional, is affecting your daily life, it complements care from a doctor or therapist and does not replace it.
