“Currently philosophers recognize that formulations [articulations, expressions, statements] don’t stand alone, but this fact has them stuck. Much worse — the current understanding is that there is no truth at all, no values either, because people still think that if the attempts at a single truth contradict each other, then there isn’t any truth at all.
“Knowing Focusing, of course you don’t think that there is no truth just because there is a variety of stated truths. Rather, you know, perhaps without having thought about it, that truth consists in one or more RELATIONSHIPS between what is stated and…..[what we call] “experiencing”, but it would be better to say “experiencing, situation, the body, our interactional living, “…” Still better, just call it dot dot dot.”
— Eugene Gendlin, A Philosophical Car for Focusers, 1999 Model
The felt sense leads us to a new “place”, where our understanding of the original issue is no longer what it “was”.
When we know Focusing, we go inside and follow the unclear “something”, the dot-dot-dot. This is the bodily felt sense of a situation or issue or feeling that we want to explore. As we follow the felt sense with our inner listening, it changes and develops, leading us to a new “place”. In this new place, our understanding of the original issue or situation or feeling is no longer what it “was”.
Here’s a good example of such at process.
The vital presence of the Listener
The Listener provides protected time and space for the Focuser to accompany the felt sense as it develops and unfolds into meaning. The revealed meaning makes sense directly to the Focuser. It feels true because the original bodily sensation changes. It releases, eases, feels better.
The Listener wordlessly receives what the Focuser says. If the Focuser requests it, the Listener repeats back the Focuser’s words as each new development emerges from the felt sense. Reflecting back what the Focuser says, helps the Focuser check inside to feel if the words resonate with the bodily felt sense of the situation.
To foster this world-changing process toward truth, Listeners put aside all opinions, ideas, suggestions — all attempts to be “helpful”. The Listener is in receptive mode. This receptivity provides space and time for the Focuser to go beyond the initial statement of the problem and allows the wisdom of the body to emerge.
What is needed along the road to truth
In Focusing partnership, the Listener doesn’t have to understand the details, the “story”, or the context behind the Focuser’s expressions. The Listener relaxes into knowing that the felt sense is leading the Focuser to the right next step. Both partners honor what the felt sense does as it develops and reveals meaning. You will understand this knowing and honoring once you experience the Focusing process for yourself.