Something I find interesting is that if an output doesn't feel challenging and full of psychosomatic tension, it must not be hard enough; we must not be putting forth enough effort. In my previous post, I discussed how the space between our self-image and our perception of environmental demands may often be the source of tension and rigidity. Taking this a step further, I wonder how many times we only feel "right" when moving or emoting with heightened tension - particularly the things we perform automatically that should be effortless: walking, bending forward, even swallowing. Is this the most efficient way to move and perform within the environment?

How are we aware of the space between what we want or need to do and what we think we are able to do? It's a feeling, isn't it? An underlying sense of tension, resistance, and insecurity if the space is wide enough. It seems that when there's a discord between our self-image and the perceived demands of the environment — whether social, athletic, functional, or a combination thereof — we begin to feel and express tension and rigidity. These are the manifestations of insecurity. ​This tension is not only physical, that of the neuromuscular system, but also cognitive such that thoughts become repetitive and lack flexibility. ​When the gap between our self-image and our perception of the environment is large and pervasive enough across several domains, we experience these tensions in a way that is difficult to relieve and affects both function and performance.