As soon as the calendar ticks to October and the crisp chill hits the air and I snap the first crackly leaf under my shoe, my body shutters, and my heart swelters with a familiar wave of grief. October is my mother’s birthday month and soon thereafter is Thanksgiving, the weekend she died 5 years ago.
In one quick minute, the entire last month of her life flashes through my mind’s eye and I am swept away…
Our bodies hold onto memories of grief, past wounds, and trauma.
They get lodged into our tissues. Seasons changing, smells, sounds, familiar places, and situations are noticed by the physical body well before we can wrap our logical minds around what is happening.
This is why we must pay attention to what our bodies are saying to us.
In the professional world, I see people checking out of their bodies the minute they enter the workplace. They aren’t aware of their physical presence and emotional triggers and cues, and thus they have a hard time managing stress, connecting with and collaborating with others. They are like caricature cartoon talking heads. Everyone around them can see and sense there’s a lot going on inside them, but they are totally tuned out.
There is so much intelligence that comes from tuning into our bodies.
From alerts and needs around our wellness, to emotional triggers, social cues around psychological safety and belonging, what and who lights us up and drags us down, and guidance about what to do…all of this our body can tell us, if we just tune in and listen.
In my last blog, I wrote about creating brave spaces for people to show up and be heard so we can have important difficult conversations. To foster that, we have to bring our whole selves to work.
Our nervous systems, which are often on overload and high alert, need calming and attuning so we can think clearly, operate in the zone of our best self and find safety and centeredness in our own bodies.
Take 2 minutes right now to Listen to your Body and read this excerpt from my Daily Nuggets of Truth book.
If you want to learn more about the brain/body connection, how to shift from stories of the past and operate from your best self, come to my free workshop on November 9th.
Click HERE to sign up.
Keep listening to your body and bringing your whole and best self to the world. We need all of you. Grateful to have you as part of my community!
My best always,
Jen