How to Listen and Give What your body needs
Whether you know it or not, your body is speaking to you all day long. It’s telling you on an ongoing basis what it needs to keep you healthy, comfortable, and happy.
The trouble is that we’ve all been taught to ignore what our bodies are telling us in order. From our earliest days we were told when and what to eat. We’re told how we should look, act, and live in order to fit in. And, over the years, we’ve learned to judge ourselves and our lives.
But what if you decided to stop, listened to your body and let it heal.
Here are some techniques you can use to connect with your body in a way that helps you feel, hear, and then honor its needs. Try them all and see what works for you.
Listening to Your Body
1. Respect it.
Begin by thinking about and speaking to your body with love and respect. If you’re not sure how to do that, try repeating this.
Dear Body:
I love you
Thankyou for telling me what you need.
Thankyou
The body speaks to you in many ways. Sometimes the signals come as hunches or silent impulses, at other times they come through feelings of comfort or discomfort. Listen to whatever the body tells you. It never lies.
2. Connect body and mind.
Tune into your body and what it’s telling you.
Is it tense? Relaxed? Tired? Hungry? Thirsty? exhausted? Notice if there’s a part that’s holding tension. Is that part tight or stiff? Does any part of you feel achy or anxious? Take a moment and really listen. You may be surprised at what you learn about what’s really going on inside you.
3. Ask what your body needs in the moment.
Now ask your body what it needs to feel better right away. When it answers, be ready to honor that need.
If your body is feeling anxious, try a meditation
If you’re hungry, grab a quick, healthy snack, your go to for feeling healthy.
If you’re thirsty, drink some water.
If you’re restless, take a break and go for a short walk.
If you’re achy or stiff, stretch or try a few stretches
If you are a parent and feel rundown, have a you day
If you’re tired, take a nap if you can. If not, try taking a two-minute vacation. Close your eyes and imagine yourself relaxing in a beautiful, peaceful place. Let your worries and exhaustion go for those two minutes while you soak up the feeling of calm relaxation.
4. Ask what your body needs to stay healthy in the future.
Next take some time and ask your body what it needs on a long-term basis to heal and thrive in the future.
Do you need to go back to the gym?
Do you need to stop eating at night?
Do you need to replace your mattress to get a better night’s sleep?
Do you need to ask for help at work, or at home?
Do you need to schedule a massage?
Do you need to forgive yourself or someone else?
Do you need to start speaking up for yourself?
Pick the one thing you know your body needs right now to help it heal. Decide on one small step you could take right now to make long-term healthy changes. Commit to taking that step. Then commit to taking another small step tomorrow, and the day after that, until it becomes a healthy habit.
The body does not know stress, yet when we interfere with the body’s natural healing work through poor diet, lack of exercise, or other unhealthy choices, the body’s ability to function at optimum efficiency is compromised.
When you listen to the body and honor your body’s needs, vitality improves and joy awakens in your heart. You know you are in sync with the body’s wisdom when the body “hums” with vitality and joy.