You are a system that consists of mind, body and soul.
You are a system that consists of mind, body and spirit.
In this trinity, you probably have a preference, an area that comes effortlessly and alongside that, an area of challenge.
For me, the focus on the mind is taken care of with almost no thought as I read constantly, love learning and sharing what I’ve learned with others.
My spirit is cared for, although a bit less reliably, but I do make time to meditate, unplug and attend silent retreats as often as I can.
The system is challenged most in the physical, my body, and over time, this has taken a toll.
As I shared in the introduction to this month-long Homage, what works for me is to take things on in community with an aspect of accountability.
Well then, what better place to be held accountable than right here on my blog?!
Because here’s the thing…
Your body doesn’t lie.
This comes up a lot in my coaching work with clients.
Mostly because we don’t generally pay enough attention to what’s going on in our bodies and there’s a cost to that. A cost to our well-being and energy, but also to our emotional resourcefulness.
But instead of listening to our bodies, we ignore, rationalize and suppress most of the messages our bodies are giving us every day.
What do you think might show up if you really started paying attention, listening to those messages?
What positive impact would it have to check in with yourself throughout the day asking,
“What message is my body giving me right now?”
For example:
- Your back twinges.
- Do you move away from your desk, stretch and/or make yourself a cup of tea?
- Or do you push through the twinge and keep working for another hour?
- Your neck feels tense.
- Do you drop your chin, close your eyes and roll your neck from left to right feeling the tension release?
- Or do you give your shoulders a quick shrug and quickly get back to work?
- Your belly growls.
- Do you jump up to grab a snack?
- Or do you check in, listening for what it needs. Food? Water? Distraction?
“No more words. Hear only the voice within.” – Rumi
Your body is constantly talking to you; are you listening?
Unless you’re like my friend Farnoosh Brock of Prolific Living (one of the most inspiring people I know when it comes to self-care), chances are you’re probably not listening that well.
I love the questions she explored as she created her product – The 10 Minute Daily Invigorator – a video series designed to energize and invigorate your life:
How can you stay invigorated and excited all day long?
What might help you deal with fatigue when you have so much to do?
What can you do to keep your energy going strong?
These are the kind of open-ended questions that create space for new ideas to show up.
Since I’m right here with you on the self-care journey, I’m trying things out and testing different resources myself.
Farnoosh’s product was one that I purchased a few weeks ago, but much to my chagrin, after a strong first week I slipped back to my sedentary ways.
How’s that for acknowledging my own weaknesses? Sigh.
In case you’re wondering, this work is never done. So, take a deep breath with me and shift your focus to what you want.
I want my mind-body-spirit – the whole system – to hum like a well oiled machine, so I’m recommitting to the 10 Minute Daily Invigorator. When I did it that first week I felt energized and inspired as I began each day, so I can only imagine the positive impact as it becomes more reliably a part of my daily routine. In two weeks, I’ll provide an update along with more information about the product itself, so stay tuned!
We can’t measure our progress unless we know where we’re starting from.
It’s time to check in:
On a scale of 1 – 10 (with 10 being fully satisfied) rate your self-care in each area (the numbers below are mine):
Mind – 9/10
Body – 3/10
Spirit – 7/10
Make note of your numbers because I’ll check in with you again next week. My clients often become overwhelmed when they focus on the big picture, but this challenge is more about the small changes you can begin to take now, regardless of where you’re starting from. It’s the small actions taken consistently over time that make the long-term difference, and I want you to celebrate the small wins along the way!
Like this one. . .
I recently enjoyed a spontaneous lunch with a friend. We both work from home and live nearby, so we met up for a lunch date. The day was sunny and warm so we sat out on the deck enjoying what might be the last of summer’s warmth.
Good food + fresh air + caring company = soul food for me!
As I walked home I was startled by the realization that I need to do that more often! So much so that I declared it in an update:
Even after years of this training, it still amazes me how easy it is to take things for granted! My body’s been telling me for months to get out more, to move away from my desk and I haven’t listened very well.
You know what feels good and nourishes you, don’t you?
Then what’s in the way of following through?
For me, it was the structure of scheduling the weekly lunch date, and posting that status update got the ball rolling in a new direction. Friends quickly responded, and one called me to schedule a date that same day!
The other insight was this. . .
The fresh air and break from work were nice, but it was the time spent with someone I care about that nourished my soul.
Mind. Body. Spirit.
One system made up of three parts, all needing your love and attention.
Over to you:
- Mind, body and spirit. Notice which area could use your attention today.
- Rate yourself in each area as I did above.
Dear Sandi, no worries on skipping a week or two. Just get back into them … or rather, slip back into them at your own pace … ! I am so so glad you are doing this series. And you know me well. I am mad about self-care. Where would we be without our physical and mental health?
I think one of the things I appreciate about the 10 min Invigorator is that it includes both physical and mental. It’s brilliant really! And now, off to start my day with a little invigoration 🙂
Hey Sandi… I think you already know this (but just in case you don’t).. I really love your honesty. It’s one of the primary things that really attracted me to you (platonically speaking of course ;-)). What I dig most about this is that I’m feeling exactly the same way… My mind is definitely well-fed (and for the same reasons as you), my spirit is pretty well-fed through most weeks…. My body, however, is a whole different story and I’m really feeling it lately. Between what I learned from the fabulous Karen (of Effendiets) and inspiration found here, I’m jumping back on the wagon again. This time, not for someone else. This time it’s for me. I want, and deserve, to feel good. My body deserves that too… Thanks for this <3
Ahh soul sister…time to give our bodies as much love and attention as we give our mind and spirit! Like you, I’ve learned so much from Karen P and it made a huge difference for me. Now, it’s time to kick it up a notch 🙂
Thanks for your kind words, it’s so awesome to see you here!
The only “success” I’ve ever had in my life has come because I’ve not let the gap between inspiration and action grow too large. You know what I mean? Once I start analyzing and looking for reasons and/or understanding for my behavior (or lack of) I know I’m in trouble. When I do what you did, ask the question “You know what feels good and nourishes you, don’t you?” and just DO IT, I’m okay. But I get very lazy responding to that prompting! That’s my goal: keep it simple. Do what I know my gut is telling me to do as soon as I hear it talking!
And that’s the challenge isn’t it, to actually listen to what your body is telling you in the moment!? So often I’ll hear the message and ignore it thinking I’ll get back to it later. But just as there is no someday, there’s also no later. There’s only now. This challenge or homage is really about closing the gap. Well said Betsy!
It is critical for us to take care of ourselves yet many of us do a very poor job of it. I think that you have outlined a good system here.
I think many of us fall prey to thinking we need to take care of others first, especially parents (and coaches!) It’s become so cliche, but I often think of the oxygen mask on airplanes and how they tell us you must put it on yourself first!