How often do you feel your body craving something—whether it’s a sugary snack, a drink, or a moment of rest—and wonder whether it’s your body truly speaking to you, or just an impulse?
In 3 minutes you'll read about:
How to discern between impulsiveness and honoring your body's needs
The importance of feeling your emotions
Reflection questions that can help you know your body's needs better
The phrase ‘Listen to your body’ has recently faced backlash because it means something different to everyone, depending on how it’s perceived. You might not trust your body because past choices have led to unfavorable moments or habits. But with patience and compassion, you can rebuild that trust and learn to better understand what your body is communicating.
How do you react when your body is telling you to eat a sweet treat? To drink alcohol? To avoid movement? To spend hours on social media? The answer is often more complex than it seems and ultimately you have to figure out a system that works for you to really know what your body is trying to say. However, there are some questions you can ask yourself that may help provide clarity for what your body is communicating.
Diving Deeper into Listening to Your Body
Ask yourself:
Do I really want the sweet treat, or is this just a habit?
Is it the drink I crave, or am I seeking connection with others?
Am I avoiding movement because my body feels off or am I anxious about it?
Do I truly want to be on social media, or am I escaping/avoiding something?
The point here is this: we must work to know ourselves more deeply than our initial reactions, which are often surface level and can lead us to live a life where we’re only partially in control.
I want to be clear, there is nothing wrong with having a sweet treat, drinking, taking time to rest, or being on social media. My point is that 90% of the time you are making those choices due to something below the surface (usually an emotion). It’s important to know if you are making a decision out of anxiety, out of fear, out of boredom, out of escapism, out of habit, out of anger, out of disappointment, or out of loneliness. When you have a better understanding of why you make the choices you make, you will feel more empowered to make decisions that allow you to truly feel your best.
How to Understand Your Body’s Communication
Now, this does not mean you should spend time being stuck in the “why” (Why do I want something sweet? Why did that situation make me so upset that now I want to drink?), but rather identify the emotion that is leading you to make a decision and just. sit. with. it. Emotions can be tricky, and it might feel uncomfortable to pause and really tune in. That’s completely normal. Start with small moments where you can simply notice the emotion - don’t feel pressure to fix it right away.
If sitting with your emotions is not something you feel you can face yet without trying to solve your emotions, try this:
Imagine yourself choosing the sweet treat (or the specific habit you're facing). Picture the moment in detail—how does your body feel? Are there any sensations that arise? Now, visualize yourself choosing not to have the treat. How does your body feel in this scenario? What thoughts come up? Notice the difference in both choices. One path may feel lighter, calmer, or more empowered than the other. Let that guide your decision.
We deserve to live in a state of lightness, calm, empowerment, and self-love - and I truly believe this is possible for you. It’ll be slow moving, not so glamorous and boring at times, but the transformation you’ll see within yourself will be so so worth it. This process is ongoing, and it’s okay if it doesn’t all click immediately. Each moment you take to listen more closely to your body is a step toward a life where you feel more in control, more aligned with your true needs, and more connected to yourself. So take it slow, and be kind to yourself along the way.
Reflect:
What is one way your body is communicating with you right now?
How can you honor what it’s saying to you?
-Danielle
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