Scott Mills, Ph.D.
"I am larger, better than I thought,
I did not know I held so much goodness."
- Walt Whitman, "Song of the Open Road"
The New Year has begun and many of us are busy making resolutions about our body. Perhaps we would like to lose weight, gain muscle or change our level of health and vitality. All of these are great goals that are worth pursuing.
Unfortunately, we often pursue these goals as if we are a general on a battlefield and our bodies are the enemy. We work out so hard that we hurt ourselves or we eat in ways that are unnatural and sometimes even damaging to our health.
Ultimately, this battlefield mentality leads us to distrust the regulating mechanisms of our bodies that are designed to keep us healthy.
Why not start the New Year with a whole new relationship to your body. You can begin with three simple ideas.
1. My body is my ally in health and healing. It is your friend and companion on a journey into your own wellbeing. Can you imagine how your friends would react if you treated them like you treat your body? Would you want a friend who treats you like you treat your body? You can begin your healthy journey by appreciating all of the amazing things that your body accomplishes everyday. Enjoy how you never have to think about breathing or beating your heart or moving food through your digestive track. All of these are miraculous systems that we take for granted all the time.
2. My body has valuable information to guide me in my wellness journey. Seems pretty simple. Our bodies have all the information that we need to know what to eat, when to eat, when to move and when to sleep. If we listen to our bodies they will guide us towards greater health. Of course, sometimes we have so caffeinated our bodies or numbed them out that we have a hard time hearing what they have to say. What would your body be directing you towards right now if you were listening? How can you act on the information?
3. Your body moves in its own time. Sometimes our New Year's goals come with a strict timeline. I will lose this much weight by March 1. And while it's great to put timelines on your goals, sometimes your body needs more time. As long as you are moving in the direction of health, feeling better all the time and listening to your body you are on the right track. It's much easier to adjust your time line a bit than to adjust your basic body functions. Consider being gentle and working with your body's natural timing as you move towards greater wellness.
Comments