Question:

Is tension in my body causing tension in my mind or is my mind causing the tension in my body?

Phillip Replies:

There is a wonderful New Yorker cartoon in which a chicken and an egg are talking, and one says to the other, “What does it matter who came first? We’re both here now.” In this moment, it doesn’t matter which came first. You work where you can skillfully work. Maybe you are more able to work with tension in the body, so you focus there.

Over time become interested in whether there is a pattern of tension arising in your body and mind. See how quickly you can notice that tension is present and reflect, “Was this tension here before?” You can become habituated to one causing the other such that you always experience the two together. Ask yourself, “Can I be in a bad mood and not have tension in my body? Can I have tension in my body and not be in a bad mood?” Notice if you are conflating the two and see whether you can separate them.