When the lights went out: A Real moment of Interoception in Action.

When the lights went out ... just like this candle!

The power went out right at the beginning of the Mental Health First Aid training I was delivering last week. One moment, everything was flowing, the room was engaged, there was loads of excited chatter, slides were up, and everyone in the room was keen to begin two days of impactful learning. The next moment, darkness + silence ... a little jolt of surprise.

In that pause, something really beautiful happened.

I noticed my breath.

I felt the quick thud of my heart.

And instead of reacting, I simply paused.

That pause, that gentle space between what happens and how we respond ... is the very heart of Interoception.

What is Interoception?

Recently, I have been taking you on an education journey when it comes to Interoception, that is, if you've been paying attention to my socials.

Interoception is our ability to notice and interpret the internal signals of our body, the flutter of nerves, the warmth in our chest, the sinking in our stomach, the rhythm of our breath.

It’s how we tune in to what’s happening within, so that we can respond with awareness rather than react out of habit or overwhelm.

When we strengthen our Interoception, we strengthen our self-regulation.

We give ourselves the chance to recognise, 'I’m getting anxious,' or 'My body needs a moment,' before the emotions take over.

Staying Grounded When the Power Goes Out

In that moment, standing in front of a room full of people, I had a choice.

I could have panicked, rushed to fill the silence, or let my nervous system run the show.

Instead, I took a slow breath, softened my shoulders, and grounded through my feet.

It is from that steady space, a solution appeared.

The room stayed bright.

The group stayed connected.

The energy stayed calm.

I departed to make some phone calls AND we found ourselves a solution.

All helping out, we moved ourselves to another training venue in Ulverstone for the day.

It all worked out well.

That’s Interoception in practice — feeling what’s happening inside you, regulating, and responding with clarity.

Why This Matters ...

Life, and leadership, are full of unexpected 'power outages.'

Moments when plans shift, emotions rise, or uncertainty takes over.

Our ability to pause, notice, and regulate in those moments is what allows us to stay anchored, authentic, and responsive rather than reactive.

For me, that day was a reminder that our greatest tool isn’t what’s on the slides ... it’s what’s happening within us.

Try This ...

Next time something catches you off-guard, take a moment to pause.

Ask yourself:

• What’s happening in my body right now?

• Can I slow my breath just a little?

• What might I need in this moment?

This is how we build Interoceptive awareness, one pause, one breath, one grounded response at a time. It's the continued repeating of this process where our Interoceptive muscles power up.

At The HUB, I help you to slow down enough to hear your own body’s wisdom.

Through counselling, yin yoga, drum therapy, and practices of awareness, you learn to stay steady in the moments that don’t go to plan, the pauses, the power cuts, the unexpected turns.

Because these are the spaces where growth quietly begins, in the breath, in the body, in the stillness that reminds us we’re already okay.

I couldn't wait to share my little journey last week with you.

Oh one last thing ... we finished the training and we now have eight new Mental Health First Aiders on the Coast!

With warmth + care

Jodhi x