Are You Listening to the Wisdom of Your Body?
Have you ever had a ‘bad feeling in the pit of your stomach’? Or had just a few notes of a song raise the hairs on the back of your neck? Our bodies are incredibly intuitive organisms, and they’re often sending us message after message that we would be smart to listen to.
Unfortunately, many of us have learned to tune our bodies out.
We’ve been told to ‘think with our heads’ and ‘use reason’ so many times that we stop believing in the wisdom that our own body holds. I think this is a true shame as our bodies are often much smarter than our minds when it comes to intuition, first impressions, and red flags.
Here are just a few ways that our bodies can clue us in to what’s happening in our environments and how we truly feel about it:
Our bodies can pick up on tension. Have you ever walked into a room and, without hearing one word that’s been spoken, can sense the people in the room have been fighting? We’ve all heard expressions like, “The air was so thick you could cut it with a knife.” These expressions are around for a reason. Our bodies are in tune with the vibrations of others, and when those around us are upset or angry, our first cue often comes from our bodies.
Our bodies can sense danger. You just know you should not send your child on the school bus one morning but you can’t put your finger on why. This is an example of your body telling you that potential danger lies ahead. It can manifest as a heavy feeling in the pit of the stomach or an outright feeling of impending doom. Your body is trying to tell you that something is on the horizon and that a difference choice needs to be made.
Our bodies can make snap judgments. Most of the time, the word ‘judgment’ has a negative connotation. However, in this case, listening to our bodies when we first meet a person can be very helpful. Our bodies often pick up on nuances and auras from others that our minds can’t yet process. If you’ve shaken someone’s hand and instantly think, “This is a dishonest individual” or something similar, you’ve listened to your body’s ability to interpret first impressions.
Our bodies can tell us when we need to make a change. We can justify many things in our own lives. Women in particular tend to give to others and put themselves last, all the while justifying that we’re doing it out of love and that there’s no other choice. It’s not until we get physically sick or have a nervous breakdown that our bodies are finally able to break through and ring that warning bell that we need to take care of ourselves. If you learn to listen, your body can give you many early warning signs that you need to slow down. This will help you take a break and prevent a total breakdown from occurring.
Tuning into your body is not difficult. It can start with simple meditation or just taking some quiet moments throughout the day to be still and listen to what your body is trying to tell you. The more in tune you get with your body, the easier it will be to benefit from its infinite wisdom. This will allow you to act authentically from your core and experience the fulfillment that comes from staying true to yourself.