Fist Of Insight: Listening To Our Bodies

'Listen to your body while it whispers. If it starts screaming, you won't hear anything else.' This saying powerfully encapsulates the experience of many individuals grappling with chronic stress. It's well-established that chronic stress takes a toll on us, both physically and psychologically. We also intuitively know that our bodies often register what's happening within us long before our rational minds fully grasp it. Yet, despite this innate wisdom, we often maintain a profound disconnection from our physical sensations, sometimes prioritizing our rational minds to a fault. Yes, we diligently try to care for our physical needs through proper nutrition, sleep, and exercise, but are we truly listening?

The good news is, this deep connection isn't lost forever. There are ways to re-establish this vital communication with your inner wisdom.

Recently, a hard-working professional in her 30s came to our session and mentioned experiencing recurring strong stomach pain. With no medical explanation for the discomfort that significantly impacted her quality of life, we decided to explore the underlying causes together. I utilized a technique called Core Transformation (a gentle, body-centered technique) which operates on the principle that every part of us holds a positive intention. We began to explore what that positive intention might be in her case. I guided her into a relaxed state, allowing her to tune into what her body was trying to communicate. This is part of our conversation:

'Imagine the part of yourself that's causing you pain. What do you see?'

'Fist. It's big and angry.'

'What does it want for you?'

'Not to worry.'

'And if you were to have that, what would that get you?'

'Peace and calm.'

'Where in your body do you feel it?'

'Everywhere. There's no tension, like floating on water, in the sea, waves.'

'Ask the fist what you should do to get there.'

'I need to rest daily. Switch off my brain. Walk.'

'If you were to walk and rest daily, would the pain still be there? What does the fist say?'

'It doesn't trust me. But it's no longer angry.'

We prepared the action plan that included daily walks. During the follow up session, the client reported that the pain was gone. But she also mentioned that during one of her walks she tried to squeeze in shopping in the local store. As soon as she entered the store, she felt a squeeze in her stomach. She got out of the store and that was gone. Now she's able to talk to her "fist" – her body's signals – without outside support and ensures that she listens attentively. Her experience serves as a powerful reminder for us all: by tuning into the subtle whispers of our bodies, we can often address issues before they escalate into a deafening scream.

What is your body whispering to you today?