Reconnecting to my body's wisdom
When I was nine years old, I would hold my urine to the point of having “accidents.” Clearly, I wasn’t listening to my body’s needs, ignoring the signals that I needed relief.
Today, I participated in a virtual body scan meditation. As our guide led us to systematically scan our bodies, I noticed a dull ache in my right ankle likely from recent inflammation. A discomfort in my lower back also made itself known on the hard bench I was sitting on. I thought of a friend living with chronic back pain and wondered if I was hurting myself sitting on such a surface.
That uncomfortable thought prompted me to break meditation and retroactively update my calendar with recent healthy activities like my morning walk and breakfast with friends.
Why is my technology overuse an issue? This over-reliance disconnects me from my body's wisdom. It prioritizes external validation over inner listening.
Later during our debrief, the guide asked, “What do you get out of checking your calendar? “Control and self-esteem from seeing my activities,” I replied. “It keeps the focus on me.”
As the guide insightfully responded, this awareness helps us determine how to healthily integrate technology, not be used by it. When a behavior no longer serves us is when we become disenchanted and can change.
It’s remarkable how tuning into the body can surface us from autopilot mode.
