Connecting with my internal guide 11-05-2020
When we talk about health, it becomes almost impossible to separate the body from the mind. Our emotional state influences how our body feels; and as we nourish the body, it also affects our emotions. The body is an infinite source of information; therefore, it is essential to develop an intimate relationship with it.
If we can learn to listen to ourselves, we will have the best guide to our well-being, and this moment we live in requires it.
You can use these questions as a reference to awaken your inner guidance: How many hours of sleep does your body need to function at an optimal level? What foods give you energy? What activities connect you to your essence? Who are you when you're at your best? What actions take you away from who you want to be? How do your body and mind feel? Notice what your usual reactions are to certain emotions and what you do when you feel sad or angry. Notice if these behaviors make you feel worse. If so, maybe it's time to change them. Use your body as a thermometer. Pay attention to how you feel when an intense emotion arises and ask yourself how you realize that you are starting to get angry.What signals does your body give? The faster you can identify the emotion, the easier you can flow.
Using the body as a thermometer also helps you define what your limits are. What do you need at that time, socializing or being alone, moving or resting, hydrating or eating? Practice healthy boundaries with yourself. Allow yourself to be present, without distractions; notice how your body feels when doing an activity, living an emotion, eating something, or having an exchange with someone else or with yourself. Notice how you feel when you speak reproachfully and when you speak understandingly.
Sometimes we use food as a response to stress or uncomfortable emotions. We eat to suppress feelings instead of dealing with them. In times of uncertainty, we try to find stability in the things we can control and food tends to be one of them. If we do not pay attention to our eating patterns we can develop a disorder.
Eating is not as automatic as breathing or digestion. Before you put food in your mouth, there's always a thought. Food can fill many voids, we can use it as distraction, escape or comfort. When you're about to eat something, pause and ask yourself, “Am I hungry?” “Am I angry?” Do I feel lonely? I’m tired? Recognizing our emotional state is the first step to change. What void are you trying to fill with food? Maybe what you want is love, movement or a moment of loneliness.
Nowadays we have access to a lot of information and a lot of people know what to eat to feel optimal, but 'why do we eat' is the real question. That's why it's so important to be alert to our patterns of behavior. When we are unaware, we react instead of making the decision that most aligns us with our well-being. Developing a relationship with our body allows us to make more conscious decisions, taking into account our limits and emotions.
