How well do you listen to your body?
How well do you listen to your body? When you’re hungry, do you eat? If you eat something that doesn’t make you feel quite right, do you pay attention and take that item out of your diet or keep eating it? When you’re tired, do you go to sleep, take a nap or just ignore it and keep pushing thru? When you’re driving down the road, do you ever get a feeling you should go a different way, maybe accompanied by an ill feeling in your gut? Do you listen?
Well, I’ve realized over the past couple of years that our bodies truly do try to give us signs to help us along the way. I’ve been trying very hard to pay attention to those signals, be grateful for them and validate them over the past year especially. I’ve completely changed my diet by listening to what makes me feel energized, happy and stronger. I’ve cut out things that, no matter how good they tasted, have made me feel ill, sluggish, and just plain awful after I’ve eaten them. I’ve tried different exercises like weightlifting, circuit training, yoga, swimming, hiking… to see what makes me feel good and what doesn’t make me feel so good.
When you’re tired do you sleep? I have never in my life required much sleep. Usually, I sleep 4-6 hours and I’m good, maybe a 10-20 min catnap during the afternoon, but that’s it. With this said, every 6 weeks or so I find myself needing a “down” day, where I literally stay in my PJ’s all day, usually in my bed, catching up on TV shows and just vegging out.
Well since I moved back to Utah 5 months ago, I have not allowed myself this “down” day. I’m not going to make excuses, even though there always seemed to be one, I just didn’t “listen to my body” and take time for me. Well let me tell you this, that will never happen again. My body literally just said “Screw you!” and I spent 4 days in my bed with the worst flu I have ever had in my life!
I guess the point I want to make is that so many of us struggle with our weight, getting enough sleep, stomach issues, headaches, joint/body pains, mood swings….. and we search the internet for solutions, we ask our Doctors and friends for their advice, and many times, if we just pay attention, if we listen to the signs our bodies are trying to give to us, then many of these issues would go away.
We have to stop letting other people tell us what is best for us. Stop feeling guilty because you need to take a break or get something to eat or you need to spend a day in your room. These two were big for me. The way I eat now, I have to eat at least 6 times a day or I get very cranky and lethargic, but you know what, I am healthier than I have ever been in my life and I have more energy than ever.
I challenge you to pay attention to yourself for one month…. If something makes you feel good, then keep doing/eating it! If it makes you feel bad, then stop and see how different you begin feeling.
I would love if you share your results….
Celeste - (@motheringhealing) 🙏🏻💕🙏🏻
