Can Your Body Change Your Mind?
YES!
Stop fighting your thoughts
Connect with your body
change your patterns!
I was talking to a client today about changing her thoughts. It's daunting work, right???
How do we do this when the noise is so loud, so annoying, so damn demanding??!!!
We often look at change as "top down". Meaning, we work with our mind to change and then we expect that the rest of us will follow suit.
I've found that a "bottom up" approach can be much more effective. Meaning we create something in our body that informs our mind what to think!!
EXAMPLE: Maybe noise in your head sounds like a lot of pressure to do all the healthy things that weight loss or culture or "wellness" expects of you. And let’s assume you want to quiet that noise - change your thoughts!!
You can start by identifying what that pressure FEELS like.
You already know what it sounds like. But what does it feel like? Name that sensation. Where is it? What does it feel like? (no wrong answers here)
Now, identify what you would like to replace that noisy pressure. Maybe it's "freedom", "peace of mind", "confidence to do what's right for me" . . . In this instance, what do you want to think instead of pressure?
AND, what physical sensations represent those positive thoughts, the ones you DO want?
For instance, if you want to feel and think "freedom" instead of "pressure", maybe freedom for you feels like a relaxed belly, or shoulders that are loose, or a body that is energized. There's no right or wrong here. Just get curious and explore.
Recap - identify the mind and body elements in this equation:
The chatter
The way the chatter feels physically
What thoughts you want to replace the chatter
The way those good thoughts feel physically
It’s time for ACTION.
This is where you go with the "bottom up" strategy. When the noise of Pressure is spouting off in your head (in this example - maybe it's something different for you), it's time to pause, recognized that noise is there, and guide your BODY towards the physical sensation that represents the thoughts you want to have in your head instead.
Let's say that you identify pressure as a clenched jaw. When you hear the pressure in your head, you check in with your jaw. You check in with the rest of your body. Then, you go to work to bring your body into a physical state that feels like “freedom" (if that’s what you want instead of pressure).
Maybe some wriggly jiggly movement that feels fun and silly, or some jaw mobility to loosen things up, or some shoulder shrugs to release the pressure.
You get the idea????
The Body tells the Brain to turn off the chatter.
The Body tells the Brain what to think!!!
It's your turn.
When you have all that noisy chatter, what is the physical representation in your body?
What physical state do you want to take your body TO, in order to change your thoughts?
Go play. Test this out.
Get curious and see what your body has to teach you about changing your mind!
AUTHOR
Kim Parker Scheid
Mind-Body Eating Coach,
CEO Three Point Balance
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