My body is failing me. It’s broken. Why is it doing this to me?
Whether or not I realized it, I was approaching my body this way: as if I was separate from it and not a part of the actions causing it discomfort or stress. My body was fighting against me or resistant to functioning optimally – at least that’s how I was treating it – but we aren’t trapped inside these bodies. We embody every bit of them, every cell. If you feel trapped, take time and connect. Breathe. Scan your body. Try to feel yourself from the inside. We can battle against our bodies, or we can tune in, listen to feedback, and assist in healing. Whether it’s an upset digestion or an achy shoulder, addressing the root cause places accountability on me. It removes the “my-body-is-the-enemy” mentality. When an issue arises, we can change the relationship with our bodies by simply asking why.
#4 Heal it.
It may seem unrelated, but the state of my digestion strongly influences how I feel and how I see myself. It is nearly impossible to feel strong or sexy or capable with a constant – even if minor – discomfort, which I’ve experienced for years. This has felt like a battle, and I’ve resented my body for being sensitive.
I thought I understood the concept of “food as medicine” – anything we put in the body has the potential to heal like medicine – but it is more than potential, because every food affects the body. There is no neutral food. As Melissa Hartwig puts it in It Starts with Food, every food “makes us more healthy or less healthy.” Food is the foundation – it is not just like medicine but instead was the original medicine – affecting the body at a cellular level. It’s more than recognizing some foods upset my digestion in an obvious way.
This was a big shift in the way I began to approach food. Rather than dwell on the frustrations of my food sensitivities, I began to actually treat food as fuel for my body. As I was learning to celebrate and love my body it hit me: why would I want to give my body something that harms it, even in the subtlest way? Though it started by avoiding foods that left me feeling sick or weak, it has evolved into focusing on foods that make me feel awesome and vibrant.
I feel my body healing itself. I feel my “core strength” again.
The kind of life I want to live requires optimal health and agility. I want to get outside often, explore, climb, and turn upside down. If I sweep feedback from my body under the rug, I hurt myself. The shoulder continues to ache, inflammation moves from the gut to the rest of the body, or I miss positive feedback and the opportunity to help my body – help myself – thrive. It takes awareness and aligning priorities, but being connected to your body doesn’t have to rule your life. It actually liberated me from obsessively analyzing every bit of dietary information out there and second-guessing my choices. I can trust myself - trust my body - because I’m working with myself rather than against.
Intention without obsession.
It’s led to simple, delicious meals and richer meal time experiences.
I no longer obsess over meal planning and grocery shopping. I let my body and the situation decide what will serve me best. I connect to the moment. I connect to my body. This is becoming the basis for enjoying food…and for more fully enjoying life.