Cats, Dogs, and Humans Part 1: How Pure Feeling Shapes Us Before We Can Think or Speak

Send us Fan MailWhat if everything you thought you knew about emotions was backwards? Our journey begins with a startling truth: before you could think, speak, or even know who you were, you existed as a creature of pure affect. We dive deep into the fascinating world of pre-cognitive emotional experience, exploring how babies communicate through their first language—the language of feeling expressed through their bodies.We examine the profound implications of being born with an underdeveloped stress response system, where feelings don't just occur—they become your entire reality. Drawing from the work of pioneers like Winnicott, Reich, and van der Kolk, we unpack how these early affective experiences create lasting patterns in our nervous systems. The conversation reveals how dynamic vitality affects—the choreography of our core feelings—continue to influence our movements, relationships, and responses decades later.Perhaps most importantly, we discover that these patterns aren't fixed. Understanding how the body becomes its own echo opens pathways for healing and transformation. Through awareness of these deeply embedded rhythms, we can begin to author new stories about ourselves and our capacity for connection. The vulnerable creature you once were still lives within you, and learning its language might be the key to understanding yourself more completely.Subscribe and share your thoughts on how early emotional experiences have shaped your own patterns of feeling and connection.Support the showFor more information about Scott and his practice, articles, videos, and more: https://linktr.ee/scottconkright