The Wisdom in Your Body
Accessing the truth that lives within
by Betty Louise
The truth we speak of here is called “body intuition”. What is “body intuition”? Talking about intuition is not easy because of the intangible nature of it. Intuition opens up the world of hunches and gut feelings and moves away from the concrete world of rational thinking. Analytical thought is important, AND it is so much more powerful when combined with the intuition. Carolyn Myss, a famous medical intuitive, believes that intuition is not a gift but a skill that involves learning to interpret the language of energy. The intuition speaks in whispers and therefore it takes trust, patience and practice to hear the subtle messages from the body. This article will introduce the steps for you to begin the practice of accessing the guidance your body has for you.
Point#1: Notice and become aware of the natural and innate intelligence within.
It takes quiet to become aware of the information your body holds for you. If you are an “on the go” type of person, you may find this step very challenging. Be patient and loving with yourself as you experiment with getting quiet and listening. As I dealt with the pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis, I learned how to stop the pace and quiet myself so I could hear what my body wanted and needed. Once I heard from inside what impacted my body in the energy field I was able to protect myself from negative forces which had a dramatic affect on my fatigue level. When more energy returned, I was able to overcome the pain. Listening to the signal of what gives you energy and what depletes your energy can have a dramatic effect on your life. Notice your beliefs…where you have positive attitudes and where the negative sets in. It is an inner journey to access the wise person who lives there…you must find your unique way to hear that information. A key element of tuning into your body intuition is staying open to an inner awareness WITHOUT expectations. Don’t expect to hear anything…stay open to the possibility that it can happen. It is a commitment to work at developing the skill of body intuition so please celebrate and honor yourself for the work. Trust yourself that you are doing what is best for your highest healing good.
Practice suggestion: Learn to quiet yourself…start small…5 minutes of “just being”…keep increasing the minutes and listening inside. Everyday pay attention to what gives you energy and what takes your energy. Write this down at the end of the day. Explore what other subtle signs your body gives you.
Point#2: Appreciate and find gratitude in the information your body has to offer you.
I have learned the hard way how to appreciate the signals my body gives me. When I am gardening and my body is tired but I continue for another 2 hours attacking a patch of weeds, I am not appreciating the information my body has to offer. What should my response to my body fatigue have been? That’s right, rest. It may even be the case that I could go back to weeding after I took a break, but to continue on without even giving my body a chance to re-energize is abandoning it and the truth it tells me. There may be times when you are unable to stop and actually lay down and take a nap, so taking 30 seconds to breathe can actually be a mini-refresh until you can truly rest. When you at least stop for 30 seconds, it tells your body you are noticing the fatigue and acknowledging it. I learned to talk to my body saying things like “I see that you are tired. Thank you for letting me know. I will do what I can to take care of you until we get home and get in bed.” Your mind will send the signal down to your body that you “get it” and your body can relax into that knowledge. From my experience with chronic pain I know that if I ignore the signals from the body, the body will begin to yell louder and louder until I do appreciate the information. The funny (or not so funny) thing about the body is we usually pay attention when there is pain, but we do not stop and appreciate when we are feeling good and our bodies are seamlessly guiding us.
Practice suggestion: Every day find a time to notice and appreciate your body for getting up and being there with you through another day. I would recommend doing it as a ritual…same time everyday. Maybe it is first thing in the morning or right before bed…tie it to something you will always do. I challenge you to notice what your body does easily and celebrate that ease of movement. You will be surprised how hard this is to do unless you raise your consciousness. Good luck!
