It’s a reactionary world that we live in. We talk about taking better care of ourselves, and then rarely follow through on it. We know we should eat better and exercise more, but the start date always seems to linger in the future.
Very rarely do we look around and decide that enough is enough, today is the day to do what needs to be done. But this can all change in a moment. Putting off until tomorrow what you can begin today is a bad habit and a waste of precious energy. Take control of where you are, what your life situation looks like right now, and decide what changes need to be made.
Action – When you are feeling overworked and a little rundown, do you recognize it and take steps to alleviate some of the stress or do you just plough forward, expecting that everything will be fine? Our bodies are constantly communicating with us, telling us long before we notice that something isn’t quite right.
Start to tune in. A few nights of tossing and turning instead of deep, restful sleep could be a sign that there is unease in one of your systems. Sometimes it is an overworked mind, and sometimes it is a physical issue that is beginning to manifest. Pay attention to the little things that are different from your normal routine.
When you can identify something early enough, you can make small changes to get back to a state of balance. It is these imbalances that turn into diseases and afflictions. Very rarely do they manifest without some signs, subtle as they may be, that something isn’t right.
Steps – Turn off the stimulus from without and take a few moments every day to go within. This will only take a couple of minutes, either in the morning when you first wake up or right before you go to sleep. If you like to drink alcohol in the evenings, then do this in the morning.
Starting with your attention in your feet, just notice what you are feeling. Scan up the legs, torso, arms and finally the head. Try to let go of any narrative in your mind and just feel the different sensations that are present. Notice any little aches and pains, any tightness or feelings of discomfort. All of these could be subtle ways that your body is trying to get your attention, so be aware.
Try to figure out if there is a connection between how you have been living in the past few weeks or months and what you feel. Identify any behaviour that you instinctively know isn’t supporting your physical health, and make a decision to change it.
Why It Makes You Feel Better – Small problems take small solutions. Big problems take more effort to overcome. Huge issues might not have any possible path of resolution. Noticing things that aren’t going well early on gives you the opportunity to willfully choose a different path and get back on track. Ignoring the small problems can lead to an outcome that is no longer under your control.
Recognizing that your physical and mental health are far and away the most important things you have is the first step. No amount of money or fame will matter if you are too unwell to enjoy it.
Example – What is the quality of your breath? The one thing we must do in every moment of life, the thing we take the most for granted until it is compromised, is the one clue that will warn you long before any other sign that something isn’t right. When your breath is shallow, hurried or strained, there is unease in your system. This can lead to dis-ease and an inability to function as you normally do.
Tune into your body and find out what is going on. Catch problems when they are small and then do something about it today. Don’t put off your health and well-being for a future day when things could look much worse.