Listen to “Your Body is Talking. Are You Listening?”.
Our bodies speak to us 24/7, and they can provide instant feedback on our safety, environment, sense of balance and place in the world around us. There is no disconnect between what goes on in the mind and body. Physical symptoms can create emotional reactions, and emotional states can develop physical symptoms.
Not every symptom requires a more in-depth look. However, while some do require a medical assessment, looking past the surface and the obvious, or the simple medical diagnosis, can provide powerful insights into our state of being, helping us to identify what is out of balance in our lives, whether physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, creative or another need.
Signals can get distorted or overlooked and, when they do, the body roars back with louder signals until it can no longer be ignored. When physical signs go unnoticed or ignored for long enough, they will eventually escalate into chronic pain, fatigue and other recurring health issues.
Repressing emotions, consciously or unconsciously, leads to subtle physiological changes – like muscle tension, and activation of the fight or flight response – including restricted blood flow and increased production of stress hormones. It can also lead to a lack of passion and enthusiasm, leaving you feeling flat, and eventually depressed and/or anxious. This leads to a downward spiral.
When we feel our needs are not being met and when we are not in harmony with our being, we tend to take poorer care of ourselves – eating carbs and sugar, overeating, not exercising, engaging in negative thought patterns, etc. Ultimately, unmet needs and poor habits can lead to actual diseases.
Awareness can enhance your health and feeling of being centred and clear-headed, and it can help you make better choices for yourself.
Being more aware of what your body is telling you can help you to notice:
- Where in your body, your stress is being stored.
- How you feel in various relationships, social and private
- When to rest, when to push harder, when to move and when to remain still
- How you feel when you eat various foods – both your mood when eating them and how the foods affect how you feel afterwards.
- Emotions associated with your lifestyle habits – which feel good to you and which don’t.
Sometimes just allowing emotional energy to move through your body will be enough. For instance, sadness will help you let go of things you no longer need, fear will help you focus, and anger will help you healthily strengthen your boundaries.
Sometimes an action will be required – a change of direction, physically letting something go, or putting yourself out there and allowing your voice to be heard.
Acting on the information your mind-body-emotion system gives you, will not only keep you feeling great physically, but it will also keep you on the path to your best, most fulfilling, and joyful life.
