How Your Body Shapes Your Experience (And Why It Matters)
"The shape of our body is the shape of our experience." — Richard Strozzi Heckler You've done the inner work. You've identified the identity you're operating from. You've selected the one required for your moonshot. But here's the question most people skip: Are you embodying it? Because insight without embodiment is just theory. You can understand who you need to become intellectually. But if your body is still holding the old identity, the shift won't stick. What Does "Embodying" Mean? Embodying is the process of integrating what you've unfolded into your physical body. It's not enough to think differently. You have to be different in your body, in your posture, in your breath, in your presence. The way you hold your body shapes the way you experience the world. And the way you experience the world shapes the actions you take (or don't take). Here's an Example: Imagine two versions of you walking into a high-stakes meeting. Version 1: - Shoulders slightly collapsed - Chest constricted - Breath shallow - Jaw tight What does this body shape evoke? - Mood: Anxiety, caution, self-protection - Tempo: Rushed or frozen - Quality of contact: Withdrawn, disconnected - Sense of possibility: Limited, defensive - Sense of dignity: Diminished, unsure Now imagine Version 2: - Spine upright, shoulders open - Chest expansive - Breath deep and slow - Jaw relaxed What does this body shape evoke? - Mood: Confidence, openness, presence - Tempo: Grounded, deliberate - Quality of contact: Clear, connected - Sense of possibility: Expanded, creative - Sense of dignity: Strong, inherent Same meeting. Same strategy. Different body. Different results. Your Body Holds Your Identity Here's what most people don't realize: Your old identity is stored in your body. The hustler who can't delegate? That's held in a body that's always tense, always doing, never resting. The perfectionist who can't launch? That's held in a body that's constricted, holding back, afraid to release.