“The human body is the best picture of the human soul”
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
As part of the ‘four pillar’ model for resilience in our book ‘How to Rise – a Complete Resilience Manual’ we address ‘physical resilience.’
As a physiotherapist and GP, you might be forgiven for assuming that we would make our focus towards loving the body on the physical. We do address hydration, weight management and posture here on the website but, just as important as these is the relationship that we have with this miraculous, faithful consort that accompanies us through the whole of our earthly existence.
When we are physically unwell our mental wellbeing is impacted and so we may feel despair, hopelessness or anxiety. Conversely, when we experience extreme changes in mood, our behaviours create situations for us that may adversely affect our physical health. For example, when are depressed, we may well avoid those things that we know are healthy such as a good diet or exercise. When we are overexcited, we may take unnecessary risks with our bodies.
The presence of a link between mind, body and spirit is irrefutable.
When something is wrong, it is the body that is first to alert us. We may experience a pricking on the skin or a lurching sensation in the stomach that says, ‘don’t trust it.’ When we ignore such messages, the body must shout louder in order to be heard and we hear the message as pain or discomfort rather than the subtle signal that was first given.
All our emotions are such signals. We often feel grief in the chest and stomach, anger in the chest, throat or head and unease in the back of the neck. We even use unconscious language that describes this phenomenon without realising, for example, ‘he makes my skin crawl’ or ‘I’m sick to my stomach of it.’
When we neglect to truly listen to our bodies’ signals, we experience them in a much more unpleasant way which can lead to a resentment of the body’s messages and a disconnection between mind, body and spirit. We can adopt the attitude of ‘why is my stupid body giving me all this pain?’ Or ‘I wish I had a 20-year-old body instead of this one.’ Every sensation is a signal. It is telling you something. It is and exchange of vital information and we are wise if we listen.
Try this:
Below are articles ranging from physical care of the body in terms of posture, weight management and hydration and to tending and nurturing the relationship that we have with our most beautiful and loyal companion - the body. Some articles have a tool to try including recipes provided by our talented associates, meditations, visualisations and practical exercises.
Try them and make a note of your progress so that you can add them to your daily rituals or call on them in times of need.
For more insights and a host of tools and techniques for exploring the Self and improving your human experience see our book:
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