One simple thing I think we often miss is that our improved health begins when we stop fighting our bodies. Every day our bodies are constantly striving to obtain the best alignment and health it possibly can. Our cells are always creating a homeostatic environment and striving to balance our systems collectively.
While you are talking, while you’re sleeping, while you’re engaging in your daily activities, and even when you may be complaining, your body is moving behind the scenes. Think about it. How many times a day do you remind your heart to beat every minute? How often do you ask your lungs to exchange the air you need to breathe? When you touch something, do you ask your nervous system to feel for you every time? We can take a lot for granted that is constantly happening for us.
While you have your amazing body functioning on your behalf each and every day, how are you treating it in return? Do you care and respect it as much as you would your family, home, or even work? Do you put it last? Often we trade our cars, homes, and jobs when we need an upgrade. We can’t do that with our bodies. We may improve them, but I haven’t found a store where you get the full trade.
From the way we speak to ourselves (remember our cells are always listening) to the way we take care of it and give it rest and nutrition, our body works with what we put into it. Perhaps when we step back and feel gratitude for all that is going on internally on our behalf, we can inspire better care of ourselves.
You don’t have to reroute your entire life to do it. There are times that your health may call for extreme health care during a crisis, but I’m talking about the things you can do each day. Those steps in self care magnetize to better health.
Being patient with yourself is a good start. Giving your body water more often enables your cells and organs to do so much more on your behalf. Giving it some movement, and also balancing it out with ample amounts of rest and sleep. There is a time for both in optimal health. One of the biggest things I see from clients is the need to set more healthy boundaries on stress.
If you are being pulled in too many directions in life that prevent you from rest and self care, I highly recommend a re-evaluation of your life. It’s very healthy to do from time to time. Especially since not all commitments are meant to be for a lifetime. It may be only of use in seasons. Like life, our needs and balance change. You may be on the spectrum of walking away from some things and you may be on the spectrum to get out a little more and pick up some new things. We can easily get out of whack on both sides.
The investment in time towards your health can be of great reward. Especially if you yearn a long healthy life. You can enjoy your loved ones more. You can engage in the things that bring you passion easier when you feel well. Just as you would tend to your child, elderly parent, a pet, and even plants, you deserve as much attention as you give to others.
Many people think that if they care well for themselves they are being selfish and taking away from others. I found it to be the exact opposite. The better you care for yourself, the better you feel, and the better you are to others. You actually seem to crave wellness for others when you feel well.
So…take that time for yourself. Get a massage, take a nap, go to bed a little earlier, drink more water, try some yoga, make a few minutes for silence or meditation, go on a nature walk, or think grateful and loving thoughts towards yourself. Be creative and simply ask your body what it needs. It’s always communicating with us; we just often aren’t listening. And spend more time learning to listen to your body. I’ve found it to be people’s best guru.