Our senses tell us about our own inner experience, as well as being our windows to the world.
Our inner or 'body based' senses of touch, 'life' (our biological rhythms and interoceptive processes), balance (our vestibular system), and movement (our proprioceptive system) give us our sense of self.
They tell us 'this is me', give us a sense of our place in space, and are dual-coded with our emotions.
Our sense of smell, taste, vision and hearing bring us information about other people and the world around us.
When there are differences in filtering, organising and putting all of these sensations together, we might find it hard to feel at ease in our own skin, in relationships, or in the world we live in.
We may feel overwhelmed, or like we are missing bits of information we need. We may have a protective urge to avoid experiences, or an urge to seek out specific sensations to feel okay.
As awareness and discernment of our body signals is the foundation for understanding our feelings, it is therefore also the basis for our capacity to regulate, that is: find a sense of inner balance that is congruent with our contextual surroundings.
Recognising and understanding our own sensory differences and preferences supports us to regulate in a way that is authentic and sustainable, advocate for our or our children's needs, and choose tools and accommodations with intention.
