Deepak Chopra writes;
“The key to happiness starts with your body's signals. Simply ask yourself right now, "How do you feel?" What you do with the answers you receive may make all the difference when it comes to living a balanced and joy-filled life.
If I could pick one ally in the pursuit of happiness, I would pick the body, and that means everyone's body, not just the beautiful, young, fit ones. I know how millions of people feel about their bodies. America is getting to be an obese nation, reaching down into childhood. A bad body image is the chief source of shame and disappointment for many women in particular.
Yet at this moment your first and most reliable guide to happiness is your body. The body is designed to support the mind, and this mutual support creates the state known as happiness. When choosing a certain behavior, ask your body, "How do you feel about this?" If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out. If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed.
Together, mind and body form a whole. It is artificial to separate the two. You cannot have a single thought, sensation or feeling without the body. This includes the most inspired spiritual thoughts, feelings and sensations. All experience has a physical component.
Let's say that your body doesn't feel like your guide and friend. Why not? It's not because you have gained weight, fallen out of shape or grow older every day. It's lack of awareness. Awareness has tremendous power. It tunes into every cell.
Awareness is the invisible, silent agent that lets your body know what your mind is thinking, and at the same time it sends feedback from the body so that the mind feels supported and understood.”
deepak
It is amazing how the body speaks and sometimes it is in total disagreement with the mind.
I think I love sweets, but my body gets a head ache, I feel sleepy and zoned out.
I think there is no time for yoga, and my joints painfully object.
I have used my body as an inner guide when navigating through emotional waters, in and out of relationships, but now I will pay closer attention to what my body is saying about the physical part of what I do or don’t do for It.
In fact what I may do is ‘assist it’ in feeling its best.
Now is that not an odd concept, help this body to be its best instead of seemingly abusing it without awareness.
Awareness is key. Awareness first and you will then be able to experiene the feeling you want.
It is pretty hard to feel good while eating poorly, or feeling strong and fit while sitting and thinking about yoga, but not doing it.
I am going to work on getting ahead of the body, of serving the body what IT needs to feel its best.
When I feel the body I am hearing what it is telling me, but just not listening, turning a deaf ear to its ‘complaints’ as it tells me what my actions are contributing to.
What I do matters, always.
