Building a Healthy Relationship with Your Body

By Kater Leatherman

            “If you want greater prosperity in your life, start forming a vacuum to receive it,” writes inspirational author Catherine Ponder.

The next time you’re in the mood to create some space for self-exploration, ask yourself if you have a healthy relationship with your body. If what comes to mind is eating better and exercising regularly, that’s good, but there is more to consider.

Building a healthy relationship, whether it is with another person or your body, requires some or all of the following:  acceptance, appreciation, awareness, consistency, honoring, patience, sensitivity and trust.

Since you most likely have complaints about your body, why not give it a chance to give you some feedback? The body “speaks” to us all the time, but if you could actually hear it, what might it say to you?

  • You compare me to others (lack of acceptance).
  • You forget to thank me for all that I do for you (lack of appreciation).
  • Your negative attitude weighs me down (lack of awareness).
  • You don’t exercise me regularly (lack of consistency).
  • You don’t give me enough rest (not honoring what the body needs).
  • You eat in a mad rush, making it harder to digest food (being impatient).
  • You watch, read or listen to things that are stressful to my organs and affect me energetically (being insensitive).
  • You avoid listening to the messages that I give you until something goes wrong (lack of trust).           

You probably wouldn’t tolerate a personal relationship with someone who treated you the way you treat your body, so what gives? Maybe it’s because the body is so forgiving and resilient and dependable, until it isn’t anymore.

So, have mercy on it. Begin by quit criticizing and realizing your body is your greatest asset and the source of wisdom. You can’t do what you need to do without it. It is here to serve you every day. Therefore, taking care of it is a daily choice. After all, this body that you live in has been with you since the moment you were born and it will be with you when you leave.

For added support, learn to manage your mind. Even a single, negative thought can create tightness and tension in the body. Use the mind for a higher purpose by creating a daily affirmation statement such as, I am loving and kind toward my body, I accept my body today, I am grateful for my body, I listen to my body. 

Appreciate your unique and miraculous body by moving it so it will move you more efficiently through life. Nourish it with some live, fresh foods every day. Reduce stress by decluttering your life of anything that isn’t necessary or important. Nurture your body with kind words.

Self-care really counts. The better you feel, the more good you will attract into your life. The act of fostering a loving, accepting bond between you and your body is a daily practice that will not only transform the quality of your life but your relationships with others as well. 

Kater is a professional organizer, home stager, yoga teacher and self-published author who inspires others to live better. Visit her website at www.katerleatherman.com or email her at [email protected]

 

 

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