April 15, 2026 • 11 mins
In this gentle episode of the Infinitely Precious Podcast, James invites listeners into a simple but powerful practice of checking in—with the body, the mind, and the heart. Noticing what feels heavy and what feels light, he offers a compassionate way of holding our experiences without judgment. Drawing on his personal rhythm of “recognize, release, return,” this episode creates space to step back from the noise, reconnect with ourselves, and rediscover what is truly ours to carry.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Intro (00:00):
Welcome to the Infinitely Precious Podcast produced by
(00:03):
Infinitely Precious LLC. Yourhost is James Henry. Remember,
you are infinitely precious andunconditionally loved for the
gift you already are.
James (00:12):
Hello, beloved. It's me, James, And it's good to be with
you for another episode of theInfinitely Precious podcast,
where we get to be on thisjourney of life together. I'm so
thankful that you join me here,that you share the podcast when
it's helpful to you with otherswhom you know. And I'm just
(00:32):
always hopeful that I'm puttinga positive voice out into the
universe, making some kind ofdifference in that way. That's
always my hope.
So I'm thankful you're here withme. And I'm thankful that I get
to be here with you. I was upuntil about five minutes ago
(00:53):
sitting in my spiritual chairjust across the room from where
I am sitting now, looking outthe window and having an
afternoon cup of coffee. Hadlots of different work to do
this morning and in the earlyafternoon. And I just needed a
little space to catch my breath.
(01:13):
And I was thinking to myself,what will my topic be today
trying to rush to the placewhere I had something particular
to say And suddenly I realizedas I was gazing out the window,
as I was drinking my coffee, asI was thinking, pausing from the
(01:37):
day that maybe it was time forus to do something we've often
done together or at leastseveral times in the duration of
the podcast. And that's to justtake a little moment to check-in
with each other. Let's justpause for a moment because
(01:57):
there's a lot going on in all ofour lives, I suspect. Some of
it's emotional. Some of it'sphysical.
Some of it's the stress oflooking around at the world in
which we live and experiencingit as a place of division and
chaos. And it might overwhelmus, might leave us feeling
(02:20):
uncertain and in need of space.Trying to solve all the world's
problems is often something thatwe find ourselves trying to do.
And of course, discovering thatwe cannot do everything. So
let's just take a step back fromthat for a moment.
Let's just take a pause. Andfirst let's check-in with our
(02:45):
bodies. What are you feelingphysically? Are you feeling any
particular tensions? And if youare, where are those tensions
arising?
I noticed as I sat in my chairthis afternoon as I sat down
that I was feeling the tension,the stress and it always appears
(03:08):
for me the very first across myshoulders. Could feel the
tension in my shoulders. So Ijust kind of practiced letting
it go. But where are youfeeling? What are you feeling
physically?
Are you feeling any kind ofheaviness maybe in your
shoulders? Any tension in yourgut? Perhaps it manifests in
(03:34):
other places for you. You noticethat you've got a furrowed brow
that you're constantlytightening the space above your
eyes. Wherever you feel that, Iwonder if you might as you
notice whatever you're feelingthere, something that is tense
(04:01):
or maybe you're feelingsomething really positive in
your body, just appreciate thebody's ability to communicate
with you.
It is a tool we have. It allowsus to experience the world.
Whatever faculties we have allowus to experience the world we're
(04:21):
in. And so appreciate the bodyand try to let some, if it's
stress or tension, let some ofthat go. If you're feeling
really positive about somethingthat's going on in your life and
you feel that kind ofexhilaration that rises up
inside of you, you can let thatstill for just a moment and
appreciate how your bodyremembers these things.
(04:45):
It remembers these things and itholds these things for us. And
it warns us. The fight flightresponse that comes from our
amygdala that happens in ourbodies. Those kinds of responses
are the way that the body triesto protect us, encourage us, and
be a part of what we're doing.And since that is the case, we
(05:12):
have the opportunity to stepback.
What feels heavy right now? Arethere things in your life that
feel heavy? It's a good place tocheck-in because the things that
feel heavy are usually thethings attention, that need us
to intentionally maybe theheaviness is an invitation to
(05:35):
stop for just a moment andappreciate perhaps it's the
world around you. Perhaps it'sthe stress of your personal
life. Perhaps it's arelationship you're struggling
in.
Perhaps it's trying to figureout what your post is in this
universe. What place are youmeant to hold? Those are all
things that could feel heavy.Maybe it's something else I
(06:00):
didn't even name. What feelsheavy right now?
And can you name it? Now on theother side of that, are there
any things that you've beencarrying that felt heavy before
that today in this moment, inthis listen, feel a little bit
lighter? Maybe you're a personwho travels with a lot of to do
(06:23):
lists and maybe you completed athing on the to do list and that
thing was a big thing or even asmall thing. But having
completed it leaves you in aplace where you feel lighter
because it was a task thatyou've been struggling to get
done. Or maybe it was the onethat you just weren't looking
(06:46):
forward to but it's done now.
Does it feel lighter evenbriefly? Can you feel that in
your body, in your psych? As youlook around at the world, are
there things that feel lightereven now? And in keeping with
(07:12):
what we often talk about in theInfinitely Precious podcast, Can
you hold the things that you'reholding whether they're heavy or
light? What's going on in yourbody, stress or otherwise?
Can you hold those thingsgently? Can you not judge
yourself for the things you'reholding? Whether it's in your
(07:35):
body, whether they feel heavy,whether recently they felt
light, whether you're exuberant,can you feel those things and
hold them in your body, Holdthem in your spirit. Hold them
in your person gently. Can youhold this space in a gentle way?
(08:01):
Recently, I've been payingspecial attention in my own life
to an important pattern. Andthat pattern is to recognize
when I'm being distracted bythings, to recognize that thing
that's rising as it is risingup, to pay attention to its
(08:24):
rising. And as I recognize it,to also say, I release you. I
release it. Now sometimes itrises right back up and I
recognize it and I release itagain.
(08:46):
Recognize and release. And thenI, as the last movement
normally, return and I mthankful for the return. So
often I get caught up in thethings that have distracted me
and let them be judgment pointsfor myself. But now I have sort
(09:08):
of reframed the whole experienceto just be thankful that I m
returning. Just be thankful thatthe thing that was rising has
been released and for the momentI m returning.
Returning from the thing thatmight have distracted me. Even
though it may be rising up justas in that moment. So the
(09:30):
practice of recognize, releaseand return. Now sometimes I
recognize something and Irealize it's something that I
need to spend some time with,that it's a deep hurt or
something. And I use that timeto go deeper into that space
because it's rising for areason.
And I spend a little time withthat. But I recognize normally
(10:00):
the pattern really stays.Recognize, release in return. So
I don't know if that's helpfulto you or not as we do this
check-in, as we look at thelives that we're in. I do think
it's very important, and I'llshare this with you, for us to
(10:20):
check-in with ourselves to seewhere we are in our body, what's
going on in our mind, what isheavy to us now, what feels
light.
Are there things we can let goof, The things that we can
recognize that are not ours tohold because part of our work is
discovering for ourselves whatis the post that is ours to
(10:43):
hold. And that is ours to hold.Too often the heaviness in our
lives can come, can come, notalways but can come from holding
things that are not ours tohold. So listen, I hope this
(11:03):
check-in has been helpful foryou. I encourage you to do it
regularly, not just with the Ionly do it periodically myself
here on the podcast.
I do it regularly personally.But let yourself check-in,
figure out where you are. It'salways a good thing to know what
you're perceiving, what youmight be missing because you
(11:25):
rushed past it, and what you canlet go of and return the gift of
return. So those are my thoughtsfor today. Remember that you are
infinitely precious andunconditionally loved for the
gift you already are.
And until the next time, I wishyou all the very best, my
(11:47):
friends.
Welcome to the Infinitely Precious Podcast produced by
(00:03):
Infinitely Precious LLC. Yourhost is James Henry. Remember,
you are infinitely precious andunconditionally loved for the
gift you already are.
James (00:12):
Hello, beloved. It's me, James, And it's good to be with
you for another episode of theInfinitely Precious podcast,
where we get to be on thisjourney of life together. I'm so
thankful that you join me here,that you share the podcast when
it's helpful to you with otherswhom you know. And I'm just
(00:32):
always hopeful that I'm puttinga positive voice out into the
universe, making some kind ofdifference in that way. That's
always my hope.
So I'm thankful you're here withme. And I'm thankful that I get
to be here with you. I was upuntil about five minutes ago
(00:53):
sitting in my spiritual chairjust across the room from where
I am sitting now, looking outthe window and having an
afternoon cup of coffee. Hadlots of different work to do
this morning and in the earlyafternoon. And I just needed a
little space to catch my breath.
(01:13):
And I was thinking to myself,what will my topic be today
trying to rush to the placewhere I had something particular
to say And suddenly I realizedas I was gazing out the window,
as I was drinking my coffee, asI was thinking, pausing from the
(01:37):
day that maybe it was time forus to do something we've often
done together or at leastseveral times in the duration of
the podcast. And that's to justtake a little moment to check-in
with each other. Let's justpause for a moment because
(01:57):
there's a lot going on in all ofour lives, I suspect. Some of
it's emotional. Some of it'sphysical.
Some of it's the stress oflooking around at the world in
which we live and experiencingit as a place of division and
chaos. And it might overwhelmus, might leave us feeling
(02:20):
uncertain and in need of space.Trying to solve all the world's
problems is often something thatwe find ourselves trying to do.
And of course, discovering thatwe cannot do everything. So
let's just take a step back fromthat for a moment.
Let's just take a pause. Andfirst let's check-in with our
(02:45):
bodies. What are you feelingphysically? Are you feeling any
particular tensions? And if youare, where are those tensions
arising?
I noticed as I sat in my chairthis afternoon as I sat down
that I was feeling the tension,the stress and it always appears
(03:08):
for me the very first across myshoulders. Could feel the
tension in my shoulders. So Ijust kind of practiced letting
it go. But where are youfeeling? What are you feeling
physically?
Are you feeling any kind ofheaviness maybe in your
shoulders? Any tension in yourgut? Perhaps it manifests in
(03:34):
other places for you. You noticethat you've got a furrowed brow
that you're constantlytightening the space above your
eyes. Wherever you feel that, Iwonder if you might as you
notice whatever you're feelingthere, something that is tense
(04:01):
or maybe you're feelingsomething really positive in
your body, just appreciate thebody's ability to communicate
with you.
It is a tool we have. It allowsus to experience the world.
Whatever faculties we have allowus to experience the world we're
(04:21):
in. And so appreciate the bodyand try to let some, if it's
stress or tension, let some ofthat go. If you're feeling
really positive about somethingthat's going on in your life and
you feel that kind ofexhilaration that rises up
inside of you, you can let thatstill for just a moment and
appreciate how your bodyremembers these things.
(04:45):
It remembers these things and itholds these things for us. And
it warns us. The fight flightresponse that comes from our
amygdala that happens in ourbodies. Those kinds of responses
are the way that the body triesto protect us, encourage us, and
be a part of what we're doing.And since that is the case, we
(05:12):
have the opportunity to stepback.
What feels heavy right now? Arethere things in your life that
feel heavy? It's a good place tocheck-in because the things that
feel heavy are usually thethings attention, that need us
to intentionally maybe theheaviness is an invitation to
(05:35):
stop for just a moment andappreciate perhaps it's the
world around you. Perhaps it'sthe stress of your personal
life. Perhaps it's arelationship you're struggling
in.
Perhaps it's trying to figureout what your post is in this
universe. What place are youmeant to hold? Those are all
things that could feel heavy.Maybe it's something else I
(06:00):
didn't even name. What feelsheavy right now?
And can you name it? Now on theother side of that, are there
any things that you've beencarrying that felt heavy before
that today in this moment, inthis listen, feel a little bit
lighter? Maybe you're a personwho travels with a lot of to do
(06:23):
lists and maybe you completed athing on the to do list and that
thing was a big thing or even asmall thing. But having
completed it leaves you in aplace where you feel lighter
because it was a task thatyou've been struggling to get
done. Or maybe it was the onethat you just weren't looking
(06:46):
forward to but it's done now.
Does it feel lighter evenbriefly? Can you feel that in
your body, in your psych? As youlook around at the world, are
there things that feel lightereven now? And in keeping with
(07:12):
what we often talk about in theInfinitely Precious podcast, Can
you hold the things that you'reholding whether they're heavy or
light? What's going on in yourbody, stress or otherwise?
Can you hold those thingsgently? Can you not judge
yourself for the things you'reholding? Whether it's in your
(07:35):
body, whether they feel heavy,whether recently they felt
light, whether you're exuberant,can you feel those things and
hold them in your body, Holdthem in your spirit. Hold them
in your person gently. Can youhold this space in a gentle way?
(08:01):
Recently, I've been payingspecial attention in my own life
to an important pattern. Andthat pattern is to recognize
when I'm being distracted bythings, to recognize that thing
that's rising as it is risingup, to pay attention to its
(08:24):
rising. And as I recognize it,to also say, I release you. I
release it. Now sometimes itrises right back up and I
recognize it and I release itagain.
(08:46):
Recognize and release. And thenI, as the last movement
normally, return and I mthankful for the return. So
often I get caught up in thethings that have distracted me
and let them be judgment pointsfor myself. But now I have sort
(09:08):
of reframed the whole experienceto just be thankful that I m
returning. Just be thankful thatthe thing that was rising has
been released and for the momentI m returning.
Returning from the thing thatmight have distracted me. Even
though it may be rising up justas in that moment. So the
(09:30):
practice of recognize, releaseand return. Now sometimes I
recognize something and Irealize it's something that I
need to spend some time with,that it's a deep hurt or
something. And I use that timeto go deeper into that space
because it's rising for areason.
And I spend a little time withthat. But I recognize normally
(10:00):
the pattern really stays.Recognize, release in return. So
I don't know if that's helpfulto you or not as we do this
check-in, as we look at thelives that we're in. I do think
it's very important, and I'llshare this with you, for us to
(10:20):
check-in with ourselves to seewhere we are in our body, what's
going on in our mind, what isheavy to us now, what feels
light.
Are there things we can let goof, The things that we can
recognize that are not ours tohold because part of our work is
discovering for ourselves whatis the post that is ours to
(10:43):
hold. And that is ours to hold.Too often the heaviness in our
lives can come, can come, notalways but can come from holding
things that are not ours tohold. So listen, I hope this
(11:03):
check-in has been helpful foryou. I encourage you to do it
regularly, not just with the Ionly do it periodically myself
here on the podcast.
I do it regularly personally.But let yourself check-in,
figure out where you are. It'salways a good thing to know what
you're perceiving, what youmight be missing because you
(11:25):
rushed past it, and what you canlet go of and return the gift of
return. So those are my thoughtsfor today. Remember that you are
infinitely precious andunconditionally loved for the
gift you already are.
And until the next time, I wishyou all the very best, my
(11:47):
friends.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
iHeartRadio 24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com