The Past as a Thought: Rewriting Memory Through Somatic Inquiry

One of the most liberating perspectives in Somatic Inquiry is this:

The past does not exist in the body.

It exists as a thought.

This is not a denial of trauma or memory.

It’s a recognition that the only way the past affects the present is through our ongoing relationship to it.

The Past Is Activated Through Attention

We cannot directly access the past.

We can only access:

• the thought of it

• the emotion tied to that thought

• the bodily response triggered by that emotion

This is why a memory can feel just as overwhelming as the original experience, because the nervous system responds to the present thought as if the event is occurring now.

Why We Hold On to Painful Memories

People often cling to painful memories because they believe those memories serve a protective function:

• “I need this so I don’t repeat the same mistake.”

• “This reminds me to stay safe.”

• “This helps me understand why I feel the way I do.”

But holding onto a painful memory does not prevent future hurt.

It recreates hurt in the present moment.

The memory becomes a script the body keeps acting out.

Letting Go Without Erasing

Letting go of the past is not about forgetting.

It is about releasing the meaning that keeps the memory alive.

Somatic Inquiry invites questions like:

• Do I need this memory to stay safe today?

• What does this story give me?

• What does it cost me?

• Who am I without referencing this moment from long ago?

The goal is not to eliminate the past, but to stop living through it.

When the Body Feels Safe, the Past Rewrites Itself

The most profound transformation occurs when the nervous system experiences genuine safety in the present moment. Without effort, the emotional charge of old memories begins to dissolve.

The body updates itself.

The past softens.

Identity shifts.

Meaning reorganizes.

You do not heal the past by returning to it.

You heal the past by becoming deeply present.

Somatic Inquiry reveals that the present moment, when met fully, is powerful enough to rewrite what came before.