This morning when you woke up and your stomach growled, did you think about why you were so angry after that snide comment was made after the meeting yesterday? Of course not. You(probably) thought about how you should get some food in your stomach; maybe some water, coffee…
Today is the day I want you to start to notice when you feel your body tense up in defense mode or when you get into that sluggish afternoon mood. Start to pay attention to your BODY when it changes throughout the day. Get to know HOW you PHYSICALLY react to the people you interact with every day. When you meet with your boss, are you sitting professionally upright with your heart racing? All these physical mannerisms come from a thought originating in your mind. Maybe you\’re nervous about the meeting with your boss after you forgot to fill out the forms he asked you to complete yesterday. Just become more observant of yourself, and try to figure out the \’why\’ behind it. When you feel your body change(it will, trust me) as your day goes forward, begin to take note of what your thinking is about- that is what is making you struggle to get back to \’normal\’. Acknowledge it. Think about it thoroughly, feel the emotions from your head to your feet- even if it\’s uncomfortable; ESPECIALLY if it\’s uncomfortable. Sit in your own thoughts, feelings, pacing body movements. Begin to notice how your thoughts determine your emotion….which then changes your physical body. The more you become AWARE of your body shifting in thoughts and emotions- AND you ALLOW your thoughts to sit in your mind…you will begin to train yourself to control your emotions and your body. What happens in your mind today that causes you aching and crying, might not have that BIG of a change within you next month, six months, even one year. You will begin to get used to the emotional changes your body takes on in such an (unconscious) way/physical strain. You may begin to notice stress more in your shoulders, etc.
Whatever you do, don\’t turn to hiding from your emotions OR begin buffering(excessive eating, drinking, drugs, etc) when you feel uneasy about the things that are negative or positive happening to you(yes, that is a real thing…good feelings can scare people to shut down or put up walls. Notice if that\’s your \’go-to\’ method of coping. Take a deep breath. Process all the thoughts, feelings, and body changes as you move forward, accept it all. You will thank yourself for your progress today(especially) when those same emotions(under different circumstances) come up in six months; they won\’t hurt nearly as much! That\’s growth, mindfulness, and self-awareness. Writing in that journal can help, too…
How did you body change when your thoughts became your emotion today?