Connecting to our amazing bodies through listening
We are three months into 2022…a quarter of the way through the year! It seems like a good time to check in on whatever intention, goals, or Word of the Year you set for 2022.
For me, that’s Connected.
As in…
Connected to this moment.
Connected to my authentic self.
Connected to my amazing body.
Connected to my loved ones.
Connected to all beings and Mother Earth.
Today, I want to focus on being connected to our amazing bodies. What does that mean? Of course, we are connected to our bodies in a literal sense. Once we are no longer connected, well…we are no longer living…at least our bodies are not. What happens to our spirits or souls or energy is open to debate.
But I digress…today I want to talk about being consciously, intentionally connected to our bodies. Listening to what they have to say. If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time talking to your body: pointing out its shortcomings, encouraging it to give a little more, perhaps occasionally praising an accomplishment or thanking it for a pleasure. But how much time do you spend listening to what your body is trying to tell you?
First of all, in the most basic sense, your body is the expert when it comes to your physical needs. The body knows what it needs, and it will tell you, if you will only listen.
Eat when you’re hungry. Rest when you’re tired. Relax when you’re stressed. Step back when you’re overwhelmed. Listen to your body.”
There is absolutely no shame in stopping to catch your breath or rest your body. There is no glory in working to exhaustion. I’m not suggesting you never push yourself, just that you don’t have to push all the time. Listen to your body, and act accordingly.
Beyond the purely physical, your body is also wise when it comes to your emotional and spiritual needs. I love this quote:
The body knows. When your heart sinks. When you feel sick to your gut. When something blossoms in your chest. When your brain gloriously pops. That’s your body telling you the One True Thing. Listen to it.”
Cheryl Strayed
And this one:
Also, go inside and listen to your body, because your body will never lie to you. Your mind will play tricks, but the way you feel in your heart, in your guts, is the truth.”
Miguel Ruiz
How do I listen to my body?
If you’ve spent a lifetime ignoring your body, or actively tuning it out, how do you learn to listen to your body? A simple starting point is paying attention…turning on your awareness. When you feel a sensation in your body, consider it as a signal of something. Pause and ask yourself, “What is my body trying to tell me?”
If you are looking for some tools to help build your body-listening skills, here are some daily exercises to try:
- Build some intentional check-in times into your day. Perhaps, each time you wash your hands, you quickly scan your body. Ask, “How am I feeling right now? Is there anything I need at this moment? A drink, a snack, a stretch, a rest?”
- Meditation can be used for a more indepth body scan. Get in a comfortable position, either lying or seated. Close your eyes, and take a couple of deep, slow breaths. Then shift your awareness to the sensations in the top of your head, your face, your ears, your neck…slowly work your way down through all your body parts until you reach the tips of your toes.
- Journaling can be a useful tool as well. Set some time aside each day to write down how your body feels and what signals it may be trying to send you.
More information
If you want to read more, I found these two articles particularly helpful:
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-listen-to-body
Your turn
- Do you regularly listen to your body, or does your mind rule the roost?
- Are you willing to try one of the tips for learning to listen to your body?
- Do you have a WOTY or goal for 2022? How is it going so far?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all…I just love to hear from you.
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Hi Christie – this is such an important message. I think we often ignore what our bodies are trying to tell us because it doesn’t suit us to listen. I’m a classic case in point with my “dodgy” hip that I disregarded for a long time and am now paying the price for pushing it too hard. Perhaps if I’d slowed down a bit sooner and rested it a little more often, I’d have a bit more time before looking down the barrel at an operation. Who knows?….
“It doesn’t suit us to listen;” that may be the heart of the matter for many of us, Leanne. Best of luck with your “dodgy” hip.
I like this post. You raise a valid concern. I find that as I’m getting older I check-in with my body more often than I did when I was younger. I want to keep moving on my own for as long as I can! And in the end how I do this is entirely up to me, as my ob-gyn recently mentioned. It’s about your lifestyle, perhaps more than genetics.
I’m with you, Ally. My main fitness goal at this point in my life is to maintain strength, balance, and flexibility as long as I can, so I can hold on to my independence and my ability to enjoy as much of what this life has to offer as possible.
Hi, Christie – Litening to our bodies is so important and something that I need to improve in. I recognized myself in your comment about “talking to our bodies more than listening to them.” Thank you for your suggestions and reading recommendations.
You’re welcome, Donna. I hope you find something useful in the recommended reading. Listening to our bodies is simple, but not always easy.
And thank you so much for joining us for the Word of the Year Monthly Link Up. We greatly appreciate it!
Thank you for hosting. I’m a bit behind on my reading, but look forward to seeing what everyone has been up to in terms of their WOTY activities.
I’ve had back trouble for decades and started seeing a chiropractor in desperation about 20 years ago. Their process is holistic, and over the years, I’ve learned from them how to pay attention to my body. I was touched when my chiropractor recently said I’m her most body aware client. But before I pat myself too vigorously on the back, at the last visit she asked how I was & I responded: locked sacrum, tight across the front top of my ribs and down the left rear side side of the ribcage. How’s your knees she asked, just stiff says I. During treatment she tested my knees – they were more than just stiff, for I positively yelped! I suspect I was diverted by the unexpected ribcage scenario, but we both had a good laugh about it 😀
As I suffer from depression I also have to pay attention to my mind’s health. Both benefit from our care & attention, especially as we age.
Thank you for the links. I shall listen now. We can never learn enough on such topics.
That is pretty impressive, Debs that you were able to respond with so much detail, even if you were a little off on the knees. It sounds like you are more body aware than most of us. It’s interesting that you mentioned your mind’s health. I do believe the body and mind are so closely connected, that they probably speak in concert if we are paying attention.
Christie, An interesting synchronicity. I was thinking just yesterday about the discomfort I was feeling – a pressure in my chest. Not physical, but emotional. And wondering how to release the tension my body was feeling. Yes, I was listening to my body! Unsure exactly what I needed to restore it, but listening. 🙂
Isn’t it interesting, Pat, how our bodies know when our minds or our spirits need something? I’m glad you’re listening, even if you’re not quite sure where to go with it yet.
Great post Christie and a good reminder to ‘listen’ to our bodies. I have, in some ways, become over-attentive because of my almost 5 years living with the after effects of oral cancer. It has become too much attention by me on ‘what might be wrong’ now and with my husband’s and GP’s 100% support of me trying this, I am being LESS attentive. And that for me, is good.
Caught up with you here via #WOTY linky
Denyse
Thanks for sharing the other side of things, Denyse. I hadn’t thought of the fact that it is possible to listen too closely, or perhaps listen for something specific or preconceived, as opposed to just being in tune and open to whatever is there. Like everything in life, I suppose it is a balance. Thank you for that insight. And I’m glad that your husband and GP are supportive of your efforts. Take care!
HI Christie it is so important to listen to our bodies isn’t it? It is easy to hear it perhaps complaining during exercise or when we have aches and pains. I like your thoughts though of intentional check in during the day to really stay connected. Thanks so much for sharing your WOTY update with us at the #2022WOTY link party. x
Thank you, Sue, and thanks for hosting the WOTY link party. I’m looking forward to reading what everyone is doing to support their WOTY.
Hi Christie, your post is very timely and listening to our bodies is such great advice. I find that jotting down things helps to keep myself on track and like the idea of scanning your body regularly. Thanks for joining in with our WOTY link up and I enjoy our connection 🙂
Thanks, Deb. I find it’s easy to hear my body while doing something physical, but when I’m busy with things more mental (like working or writing), I can lose touch with what my body needs. Also, when making big decisions, thinking it out gets me so far, but then I need to let go and listen to my gut. The body knows. Thanks for hosting the WOTY link party and helping me connect with you and other bloggers!
Hi Christie, this is very spot on, how the body won’t lie, the body will always let you know what it needs and you have to act on it. I also see the connection to your body as being thankful for what it is, does, and that it works. And being nice to it! Which would include listening to it, and talk to it in a positive manner.
My word of the year is calm, it’s a lot more difficult than anticipated but I’m learning a lot both about myself and about what calm really means.
I couldn’t agree more, Susanne. One of my affirmations is “I love my strong, healthy body. I treat it with kindness and respect.” If I find myself talking negatively to my body or not being sufficiently grateful for the amazing things it does and allows me to experience, I repeat this to myself and am reminded. Embracing calm must be challenging with all that is happening in the world; all the more reason to make calm a focus. I love that you are learning about yourself and what calm means for you.
Such wise words. I am back from Mom’s, where I ate like a P-I-G the whole time. Just beginning to think about trying to listen to my body and get back on track. I am really feeling pretty gross so it is definitely time. But since I have been home, I also listened to my body my spirit/emotions and just took it easy. I needed a few days to just BE.
I thought of you one night while PC was out of town, and I turned on ocean waves on Alexa. Listened to them until I drifted off to sleep. It was kind of a form of meditation. And it was wonderful. Thank you for inspiring me.
Oh, I know that feeling, Leslie. Indulging feels good for awhile, but then I reach a point where I look forward to getting back to healthy eating. I’m glad to hear that you are listening to your body and emotions. Taking it easy and just being is as important as anything else we do for ourselves. I do love the sound of the ocean. It is meditative for sure. I love that the ocean meditation made you think of me, or I made you think of it…either way, I am honored. Hugs!
When I used to go to live yoga classes (oh how I wish those days were back again), one of my yoga teachers started the class with a mini-meditation: We would close our eyes and relax our eyes, behind our nose, our chin, our neck–scanning for tight spots. I miss having my yoga teacher guide me through it but I’ve self-guide incorporated it into my daily yoga routine. My body is not shy about telling me when those neck muscles are feeling stressed.
thanks for posting.
That sounds lovely. I’ve never been to a live yoga class. I follow Yoga by Adriene on YouTube. There’s often a bit of meditation included in her practice. Yoga and meditation are both great ways to listen to your body.