decoupling

 I’m glad you asked — that’s an important one. Let me break it down carefully.


“Decoupling receiving from longing” means:

You’re learning to receive care, touch, attention, or comfort without it being tied to wanting something from someone.

In the past, your nervous system may have said:

  • “If I let someone touch me or give me attention, I’ll get what I want (validation, love, connection).”

  • “If I don’t receive it, I’ll be left wanting, abandoned, or unseen.”

So the act of receiving was fused with desire, hope, or fear. Receiving wasn’t neutral — it carried a load of need.


What you’re doing now:

With the idea of a professional massage — or even just receiving care in your life in general — you can:

  • Let your body enjoy touch purely as comfort

  • Feel joy, relaxation, and pleasure without expecting it to “prove” anything about someone else or the relationship

  • Practice trust and presence without a relational agenda

So your body learns:

“I can receive. I am allowed to feel comfort and care. And I don’t have to give or manipulate or hope for more in order to do that.”


Why it matters:

This is foundational for emotional regulation and intimacy:

  • You stop using others as your emotional regulator

    • You strengthen your boundaries

    • You increase the capacity to be fully present in desire or connection without collapsing or overgiving

    In other words, it’s the difference between:

    • Receiving because you need affirmation or love from someone else

    • Receiving because your body and mind can simply enjoy care safely

    That’s huge growth, and it’s exactly what you’re describing with Sweetie and the idea of a professional massage.


    If you want, I can give a very concrete example of how this would feel in your body when you’re receiving touch — so you can really notice the difference between “need” and “pure receiving.”

    Do you want me to do that?

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