How well do you know your body? I thought I knew mine well until I chanced upon this article and decided to try Mary's steps even though it sounded a little corny to me at first. I was quite taken back when I realized that I have been ignoring a few things my body has been trying to tell me.
I tend to mess up my sleeping habits on a constant basis, which I thought was no big deal until I realized that it has contributed to alot of inconsistencies and malfunctions in my performance throughout my daily life. I lose concentration, I get irritable half way through the day, I lose energy before a task is done.
Now I know the lack of proper vitamins and minerals in my diet helps to contribute to that as well, but a proper regimented sleeping pattern is essential to the brains neurological functions.
It is hard in todays society to keep to a consistent schedule when we have such busy lives, but we owe it to ourselves to try. What good is it if we end up having a breakdown and are out of commission for good?
Here's to learning to truly listen to ourselves and to having a long fulfilling life!

How to Know Your Body
Copyright 2005 Mary Desaulniers

Do you know why King Henry V is seen as one of the most
celebrated and successful kings in English history?

He was a King who knew intimately what his people wanted;
as a young man, he defied his father's wishes by hanging
out at the local tavern( where he hooked up with the
infamous Falstaff ) and seemed to have whiled his youth
away laughing and drinking. But that was only what the
public eye perceived. What really happened was that the
tavern turned out to be the Best Education a Future King
could have. It was at the tavern that he learned the
language of the streets and it was this language that made
him a King in tune with his people because he understood
how the Common Man lived, what the Common Man had to face
and what the Common Man yearned for.

As King, he pursued this knowledge with vigilance. Under
disguise, he wandered through the streets striking up
conversations with everyone he met to learn first hand what
that person needed. What was his grievance? What was his
complaint? And from these, he formed his political policies.

Herny V can be a kind of model for our own body-kingdom.

How well do we know our bodies? Do we listen when our
muscles twitch or when our teeth are clenched? Do we know
why a vague,dark sorrow sits heavily on our chest? Or why
we are tormented by a relentless
sleeplessness that leaves our eyes foggy and our minds numb?

Some Henry V work can help us here.

Make a daily habit ( as Henry did) of listening to your
body.Do you know what your body wants or fears?

There are some steps you can follow here to help you
uncover what the body wants.

First, you need to find a spot where you can be comfortable
and relaxed for 15-20 minutes. Breathe deeply for 2-3
minutes, in and out, imagining as you do so that each
breath clears out any clutter that is inside your head.

Then gently but firmly, ask your body what it needs. And
when I say firmly, I mean firmly. You have to take your
body seriously and show your own seriousness about this
question in your voice.

Firmly, but gently ask "What do you want? What do you need?
Do you need more time? less stress? more loving moments,
fewer arguments? more exercise, less sugary food? more
sleep? less hurriedness?"
"What do you need,My Body?"

Remember: If you don't ask this question, WHO WOULD?

Then keep silent and just listen. Listen with every pore in
your body. Listen!
And the answers will come, a little bit hesitantly at
first, then in a rush, everything coming so fast and so
quickly that unless you have pen and paper in front you,
you will miss the catch. Jot everything down. Scribble them
down. Don't worry about spelling and don't censor anything.
Don't say to yourself,"No, that is nonsense." All nonsense
is sense to the subconscious mind. And you have to be
careful that you do not block out anything your body is
trying to tell you.

She's like a child who will tell all if she trusts that you
will listen and not scold.
Would the Common Man have revealed as much if he knew that
the man drinking with him at the local pub was THE KING?

You will be flushed at the end of the list--some of you
might write down 1 or 2 items; others might have a whole
page. But no matter, you have at least one thing,one
grievance made on your body's behalf.

Then your next step is the step you would take with any
child who has told you the truth. Honour her sharing. Thank
her for telling you the truth, bitter as it might be. And
show her how you will take steps to make amends.

If your list is a whole page long, select ONE
grievance--just ONE and tell your body that you will talk
with her again to find how you both can deal with the
problem and come to a collective solution.

We are not one, but many--- and this diversity makes us
better and more compassionate beings in the long run. So
use it to your advantage. Have a conversation with your
body. This conversation can easily become a life-long
friendship.


----------------------------------------------------
A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer,
Mary is now doing what she has always done--being engaged
in what she loves--running, weight training,writing,helping
people reclaim their bodies by seeing that weight is just
matter that needs to be processed. Nutrition, exercise,
positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools
used to turn this matter into creative selves. You can
subscribe to Mary's monthly newsletter by contacting
news@GreatBodyat50.com
a body well-nourished is a mind well-served~
http://www.Greatbodyat50.com






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