What Does It Really Mean To Be “Resourced”?

By Tara McGee, MSW, RSW, Dip TiRP, Psychotherapist, OCSWSSW, Yoga Therapist, IAYT

In the world of healing, the word “resource” gets tossed around a lot. But what does it actually mean?

Most people hear “resource” and think of external things—money, oil, tools, shelter. But in psychotherapy, our most essential resources are within us. They are the innate capacities that support healing: breath, movement, visualization, sound, focus, memory, intuition, connection, and more. Each of us holds these gifts in different proportions—and learning how to access and activate them is a key part of growth.

“Resourcing” is the process of choosing one of these inner tools, activating it, and using it to support our system. It’s how we come back to ourselves when we feel scattered, shut down, overwhelmed, or numb. And “being resourced” means we’re anchored in our bodies, attuned to our feelings, and co-conscious with our thoughts, emotions, and sensations. It’s not about feeling good all the time—it’s about being here for ourselves, especially when things are hard.

But here’s the challenge: many of us didn’t grow up in environments that taught or modeled how to self-resource. Instead, we learned to disconnect. We learned to cope. And now, in a world filled with distractions, convenience, and chronic overwhelm, many people are struggling to stay connected to themselves at all.

We see this disconnection everywhere—from the numbing out that happens on our phones, to the social anxiety that makes staying home feel “safer,” to the cultural tendency to avoid distress rather than move through it. But what if the real medicine isn’t more comfort? What if it’s “more connection”—to our bodies, our breath, our inner knowing, and to each other?