What the mind wants and what the body needs

It is incredible how “attached” we are of our bodies when we talk about fashion, beauty, gender…and how disconnected when our own body tries (desperately) to communicate his needs, sometimes the most basic. It is enough to hear a mean remark or to be rejected once to feel ugly, it is enough to have the right glance at the right moment to fall in love with those incredible eyes….but pain (in the back, joints, head or stomach), sleepless nights, nausea, lack of appetite or too much appetite, constant feeling of being tired and lacking energy…do not give us a clue!

In my practice, many clients are coming and willing to work on their self-confidence, on their motivation, on changing their beliefs of “I am not good enough”, being able to build and respect boundaries…or because they are too exhausted to know or feel anything or in extremis feeling too much of fear, anxiety, anger… They want to be respected (at work or by their family), to be better in what they do, to feel better, to help others…or simply to be able to go back to their “normal” levels of performance…to be as “I was “before”. This before is some sort of event or situation but most often is a moment when their body, their own body…the only body with which we are the most intimate every day of our lives…decides to give up. It shuts downs and takes what it needs: TIME. Time to rest, time to think, time to do nothing, time to be. For many of them it is hard to see that many answers are in their bodies already and int he relationship they have with it. This is not a critic it is merely an observation…

We live in an economy of consumption and growth and we are bombarded everyday with messages of wanting more: a better job, a bigger house or car, new clothes, better personal development, more performance, more professional, social or personal activities…we need to be better and promising young persons, perfect partners and/or parents…more and better …everything. So our minds attend to all these external noises and…want more and push our bodies for more…work, activities, sports, arts, events, networking, business, travels, parties, projects, food…

What about more time to simply be, to be with yourself, to stay still and feel your heart? To feel your body and attend to it? To make that subtle connection between your mind and body and harmonize it? To think about what really matters in this (or that) moment? To connect with people that really matter? What about attending those activities that really matter for you, your body, your family or dear ones?

After 3 years of struggle with the offs and ons of covid and after covid “situation”, I had myself a busy year: a challenging course for continuous professional development, a project back in my country, a new contract with a big (the biggest) client…and I pushed my body…but I also had moments where I backed off choosing carefully sleep over TV or going out to meet some one, a forest walk over worrying about some unexpected issues, or simply postponing some emails…and saying NO to some contracts or clients (the most difficult)…Now towards the end of year I managed also to take some time off and just be at home, connect with my body and what is important for me.

So, I wish you all that took the time to read this: a happy new year, a year of connection and selfcare!

P.S. When you connect with self will be easier to connect in authentic manner with others, to make choices that will be win-win…to make the world a better place.

Recommendations for books & links that will help you to attend the needs of your body or to harmonize body & mind.