How do you feel in your body today? Close your eyes and ask yourself this question. Perhaps you feel strong. Or tired. Maybe even determined. How much of what we have going on in our lives affects how we feel in our bodies?
Let’s say for example, we’ve had a rough month. A project went sideways taking more time than we expected, we had a bit of an emotional moment, we had to sit through and process to feel better, and our best friend was visiting family and wasn’t around to turn to for support. Given these circumstances, we may not be arriving in our lives and our bodies as the strongest most capable version of ourselves.
Here’s the real kicker though – that’s okay. We’re not meant to be the same exact version of ourselves every day, every month, every year. We’re meant to go through peaks and valleys, the inevitable highs and lows of life. That is the contrast of having a life and a body and we work our way through the lessons before us.
Now let’s say for example, our soccer team won the championship, our crush asked us to a school dance and we just had our birthday. Now that is an “up” month. In this space, we may feel – strong, hopeful, and happy in our bodies.
If you’re feeling like things are all up in the air and uncertain and you’re looking for solid ground, try this exercise. Stop, stand or sit still and think over what the last few weeks or months have been for you. Often, we’re our harshest critics. Thinking or saying things to ourselves that we wouldn’t say to our closest friends. Notice what you’ve been through recently and give yourself a moment (or hour or day or however long you truly need) to process and notice what’s coming up for you. How can you sit with this and then move through to the next moment in your life? This moment won’t last forever. Do what you need in this moment and trust that there is more goodness out there for you. Grace, love, acceptance. They all can be yours in the blink of an eye.
Let things be. Don’t force it. Allow space for your emotions to go where they need to. And in doing so, you may find that you arrive at more “positive” spaces in your body, mind, and heart as you allow yourself to feel whatever it is you need to feel. Happy feeling friends.
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Kristen Donia is a freelance writer living in a tiny house she built in sunny Southern Oregon. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and has dedicated her life to studying and writing about empathy, vulnerability and enriching the human experience.