Y = Yield with Curiosity
The Third Stage of the LAYERS Method™
By now we've explored the first two stages of the LAYERS Method™:
💚 Listen
💗 Acknowledge
We pause.
We notice.
We acknowledge what is present without judgement.
But then something interesting happens.
Most of us immediately want to move into fixing mode.
We want to stop feeling anxious.
We want the sadness to go away.
We want the overthinking to stop.
We want the discomfort to disappear.
And that's understandable.
Nobody enjoys feeling uncomfortable.
Yet what if the emotion isn't the problem?
What if it's trying to tell us something?
This is where the third stage of the LAYERS Method™ comes in:
💛 Yield with Curiosity.
The word "yield" is often misunderstood.
It doesn't mean giving up.
It doesn't mean surrendering.
It doesn't mean allowing your emotions to take over.
Instead, it means softening your resistance long enough to become curious.
Curious about what sits beneath the surface.
Because often what we think we're struggling with isn't the whole story.
The anxiety may be highlighting uncertainty.
The anger may be protecting hurt.
The frustration may be pointing towards an unmet need.
The overwhelm may be a sign that you've been carrying too much for too long.
When we become curious, we move away from questions like:
"How do I get rid of this feeling?"
and towards questions like:
What is this really about?
What might this feeling be trying to tell me?
What am I afraid might happen?
What need is asking for my attention?
What sits underneath this reaction?
In therapy, some of the most powerful moments don't happen when people find immediate answers.
They happen when people become willing to explore the questions.
Because curiosity creates understanding.
And understanding creates choice.
This week, I'd like to leave you with a question:
What feeling have you been trying to solve that might instead need understanding?
Because there is always more beneath what we see.
Love Pamela x
Pamela Statham - Creator of The LAYERS Method™
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