Listening to the Body
You are the hero of your story and your body is with you each step of the way. Old injuries, our work, hobbies, and emotions become patterns that are carved deeply into the body. These habits may cause aches & pains, tightness, restricted movement and ultimately suffering. It can be easy to think that these pattern are who we are, but really they can shift to allow you to be who you are meant to be. Pain can be a powerful teacher. It can show us where we need to pay attention to. It could be a message from our body about the way that we are living our life. When things are working well, our body functions unconsciously. We become aware when pain stops us from doing what we love or what we need to do to take care of ourselves and our family.
The superficial layers of the body are connected to the deeper inner workings. Hopefully, harmoniously and seamlessly. This is why when we discover our body’s patterns, we discover ourselves. In many ways, our quality of movement determines the quality of our lives. Do we become rigid or stay flexible as we age? It’s not just the physical work and activities that impact how our bodies function, but the ways that we think and feel. Underlying the way that we carry ourselves is how we feel inside about ourselves and the world around us. Do we feel supported? Is the world safe or scary? Are our minds preoccupied with worry, are we experiencing sadness, anger or joy? It is through our bodies that we interact with the world. The walks we go on, the fun activities, and the hazards we encounter along the way, the rejections and shared passions.
What do we do, how do we react, when we encounter pain and restricted movement? Hopefully, you listen to the message it contains. Do what helps you to restore: get more rest, eat healthy foods, get support from community. Get help to treat your symptoms, maybe by getting a massage, acupuncture, chiropractic or physical therapy. Find an activity that you enjoy. Become invested in your routines, so that they become rituals that help you to align with your values and goals. Beyond freedom from pain and limitation of movement, tuning into the body’s messages can open up more freedom to be ourselves. We can learn about our life’s purpose through our suffering, and the clarity that it can bring. The pain is an invitation, a door, that we can walk through. As we seek help, and become open to possibilities, we can align with our purpose.