Getting the Most Out of Virtual Connections

"There's something very nourishing and alive in that moment when we were all breathing together."

Welcome! We’re Rick and Cathy, and we’re delighted you’ve chosen to circle up with us. Even though a screen or a phone line separates us physically, we can still feel the spark of presence rise the instant we pause, breathe, and lean into one another. We’ll explore simple, sensory‑rich ways to make virtual gatherings feel vivid, real, and wonderfully human.

Turning Up Presence — Feel Your Body First

"If I also can feel my body, you may even be able to feel the difference in presence that I bring just by doing that."

Let’s start right where you are. Allow your sit‑bones to settle, close your eyes if that feels good, and invite awareness into every inch contacting the chair. When we speak to the tiny green dot of a webcam, anchoring into the body makes us simultaneously more grounded and more available to everyone on the call. Presence is contagious; turn yours up and watch the whole circle soften.

Try It Now

• Exhale with an audible haaa; sound vibrates the vagus nerve and signals safety.
• Imagine the room dissolving into a welcoming circle. Feel the difference as you claim your seat.

Vitamin C for the Heart — Connection & Co‑Regulation

"We have a circle. We can get a lot of vitamin C from just being here right now."

Humans thrive on the invisible vitamin of co‑regulation—the way our nervous systems sync when we breathe, laugh, or tap together. Even through headphones you can amplify that nourishment:

• Breathe in unison. Let every exhale hiss or sigh so the sound waves remind us we’re not alone.
• Picture someone you trust seated shoulder‑to‑shoulder. Wiggle as though you’ve just nudged them with a playful grin.

Stay curious about which inner “antenna” picks up the group signal—hearing, seeing, somatic intuition—and gently dial its volume upward.

Guided Heart Meditation — Listening to the Beat That Loves You

"Your heart has beat every few seconds of your entire life, whispering ‘I love you, I love you…’"

Sink a hand onto your chest. Ride the pulse as it circulates warmth down arms, belly, thighs, and toes, then sweeps back bearing what you no longer need. Let the rhythm remind you: your own body is already in conversation with you. We’re simply joining that loving dialogue.

Courage to Lean into the “Uh” Feeling

"That dull, achy ‘uh’ tells me I’m a work in progress—not that something’s wrong."

When growth edges surface, the nervous system often shouts, Too hard! Always will be! Instead of running, we tap. Follow along, speaking the words out loud or in a whisper.

EFT Tapping Round — Meeting the “Uh” Feeling

Side of Hand: This feels too hard. It’s always going to feel this hard. This horrible uh makes me want to run away; it reminds me of times I failed—yet what about the times I succeeded?

Top of Head: When I first tried to tie my shoes.
Eyebrow: Probably the same feeling when I was learning to walk.
Side of Eye: I’m really glad I kept trying.
Under the Eye: Crawling everywhere would have really sucked.
Under the Nose: But I have that uh feeling about some things right now.
Chin: Feels like it’s never going to get any better.
Collarbone: I don’t want to be stuck here.
Under the Arm: What if this feeling just means I’m trying something new?

Top of Head: I’m building some solid courage, and it won’t always be this hard.

Take a luxurious inhale… and sigh it out. Notice what shifted.

Imagining Touch, Smell, and Sound — The Brain Doesn’t Care if It’s “Real”

"Our senses can make a virtual moment feel as real as sitting side‑by‑side on a sofa."

• Close your eyes and recall the scent of a loved one’s hair. Let it float into the present call.
• Invite their warm palms onto your shoulders. Roll them back as tension melts.
• If you need reassurance at 3 a.m., picture a friend holding your hand; the heart reads that image as genuine comfort.

Imagination is connection.

Shared Experiences that Spark Joy

"Shared food, a movie cued up in synch, even lighting the same candle binds us in real time."

• Movie Night: Count “three‑two‑one‑play,” mute your mics, and un‑mute to gasp or giggle together.
• Meal or Coffee Date: Nibble the same snack or sip matching mugs. The brain recognizes mutual feeding as tribal safety.
• Co‑Working: Keep video on, mics off. Glance up, wave, or ask a quick question—instant office energy minus the commute.

Spacious Solidarity — Closing the Circle

"You really rock. Your courage and willingness to explore make this world gentler for everyone."

As we step back into our individual spaces, remember that even one regulated heart can shift an entire group. Keep dialing up presence, vitamin C, and imaginative play, and watch every virtual room you enter grow warmer.

Until we meet again—whether by screen, phone, or the shoulder‑bump of in‑person delight—know that we’re in this circle with you.

With warmth and a playful nudge,
Rick & Cathy