DAY SIX

Physical health is one of the areas where I have been the most out of alignment because my actions have not consistently lined up with my values.  I’ve always told myself a story about needing to get my head together before I could pay attention to my body and develop healthy habits. When you take your health for granted, physical symptoms eventually begin to show up and nothing touches every aspect of your life more than your physical health. 

We often don’t realize how much we stress ourselves out with the constant loops of incessant thought going around and around in our minds.  One of the best ways to relieve ourselves of that stress and prevent burnout is physical activity.  

It’s not all about exercise. It’s about listening to your body and giving it what it needs.  If you feel tired, rest. If eating fast food makes you feel sick, don’t eat it. It’s asking yourself how you want to feel and making sure that your habits support what you say you want. 

If you grew up watching your parents and family practice unhealthy habits, physical self-care is being intentional about changing that cycle.  We can start by developing more loving relationships with our bodies. 

Taking the time each day to see how your body feels: your head, your heart, your gut, your limbs.  Think about the wonder of your body and how it’s held you for your whole life. Self-care is asking yourself: what does my body need today?  

how you want to feel

Often the last thing we think about when we want to feel better emotionally is our physical health.  How we feel physically and emotionally affects our social and professional lives as well.  If we are facing frustration in those areas, we don’t necessarily think about our diet or if we are getting enough exercise or rest, but they do have a big impact. 

Developing a self-care mind set means looking at every area of your life where there is conflict, stress, and strain and seeing how you can nurture that area to change the energy and create better feelings.  

I challenge you to think about physical self-care in terms of how you want to feel on the inside and let that inspire the changes you make.  Through journaling, we can figure out what really moves us and find creative ways to bring more of it into our experience.  

For example, I always want to feel energetic and inspired. My morning walk makes my body and my mind feel warm from the movement and full of ideas.  Some mornings I feel tired and want to skip it, but I know how good I will feel when I’m done and I know that this practice benefits my long-term wellness in more ways than one.  

Please take a look at the questions below and keep in mind how you want to feel.  I look forward to reading your reflections!

reflection questions

What do you love about your body?  How do you show that love?

How do you honor your body day-to-day?

How does your body support you day-to-day?

Where do you feel tension in your body?  How is this affecting other aspects of your life?