Embracing the Socially Awkward You

Social Life is a love not love experience for most of us. Especially in the middle school years, yes?

As a highly sensitive kid, I cracked easily under Social Pressure, then fretted as I instinctively knew that Social Failure was not good. Though the psyche blesses our precious young selves with Social Masks, mine seemed to be missing the element of “convincing.” Surprised I fooled no one EVER, I became indignant when met with pity or disdain for my seeming Social Incompetence, as I innately knew I was a Prize.

Like most kids, I felt greatness in me somewhere and fought to keep that sense alive, in spite of the Social Shame/Anxiety that came with losing Social Competitions; the center of middle/high school life where access to resources and power seem to hinge on one's Social Performance. Ugh.

Unaware in those tender years that it’s trauma that holds us in contracted states where we can’t think, move, feel or flow. Eventually, I found my way by turning my focus to the phenomenon of inner Social Experience; meaning how it felt in my body.

It was the 90’s and I’d spend hours feeling the movement, breath and sound of my Social Interactions — inside me, which freed me from the Social Customs of soothing and taming the nerves with wine, working the room for votes or pleasing the crowd.

I find “being with” my "FELT" Social Experience, is Socially Empowering and heals my Social Reality by constantly clarifying my sense of Authentic Social Belonging — where I am Sovereign and where others are too.

Embracing that which is Socially Awkward, has opened more doors than any Social Popularity has. She, He, It or They — all inner Social Selves and Creatures, all wellsprings of wisdom and virtue; all agents of Sovereignty when offered a haven of Safety and Love. I’m awed by the genius design of the humanly divine or divinely human experience.

Fully inhabiting my authentic Social Experience by dropping inside that experience with a spirit of curiosity, friendliness and support offers me over and over again — a clear and mighty path to loving myself, loving the Social, (with and without the Mask) and living free in the world. 🤍💫

About the Author

Gina Carlson Gina Carlson is a meditation teacher and mindset coach. Gina created EMBODITATE to help people access their heart intelligence -- essential for building the mental, emotional and physical agility needed to thrive in the modern world.