Reconnecting with You

I spoke a few weeks ago about our body's own healing system, the innate intelligence that we are all born with and the role it plays in our lives. Some of you may remember I mentioned that we are all born to be healthy and thrive; to achieve our own optimum. At the moment it can be hard to figure out what that optimum is for us, it’s a challenge to understand and re-connect with ourselves with everything else going on around us. At times the ‘noise’ (see my previous blogs) can be quite overwhelming.

You may be in a place where you know what you need to do but can’t seem to find yourself in the right circumstances to do it. That’s okay, for the moment anyway, but not for long. So, when you are ready to push on, or when you need to simply quieten that noise can what can you do?

One method I have spoken about previously is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) this is great for clearing any negative emotions and I often show people how to use this. It’s so gentle that even children can use it.

Another method for re-connection that I like is this one:

1. 1    Take yourself right away, into a different room from everyone else, or even in the garden if the weather is great and no one else is out there.
2. 2    Find a good space where you can lie down. (The grass is a great option or floor or bed). Lay flat looking up at the sky/ceiling or out of the window if the position allows. Keep your arms at your sides with palms facing upwards.
3. 3.      Now focus on the sky/ceiling for a few moments.
4. 4.     Take a breath in through your nose for a count of 5.
5. 5.     Breathe out through your mouth for a count of 5.
6. 6.     Repeat a few times.
7. 7.   Now close your eyes and repeat the same exercise. This time however ask yourself, your innate intelligence, either out loud or in your head ‘what do I need right now? Or ‘What is the most important thing right now?’ Remember to pause and breathe. This may seem a bit strange the first few times and it does take practice. You may get a clear answer at once or you may be thinking this is a bit weird, but please persevere.
8. 8.     Once you have done this a few times, open your eyes when you are ready to do so. When you are ready slowly stand or sit up.
9. 9.     You may feel you that you need to write something down, or you may not. Or you may want to draw. What ever is the right way for you, that is fine.
10. 10. Finally have a glass of water. Reconnecting is thirsty business and it is important to keep hydrated. Do this as often as you like and remember to listen to what your body is telling you.

The above method is great not only in times of emotional stress, but physical stress too. Again, this can easily be used with children, but please allow them to fidget slightly while they are lying down, they are children and often don’t stay still! From a young age I have used a version of this with our boys to help them work out what they need and to recognise when they are having a health experience (yes I am that odd parent that has specific language I use with our children I'm afraid- sorry I should have warned you - you may call it symptoms or sickness).

I wouldn’t recommend doing this for the first time if your child is in the process of being sick, that is not the best time to start. You can however introduce it to them slowly. Let them know that you are working on connecting them with their body’s healing system (innate intelligence). Show them what you have been doing and talk to them about the 7 Habits of Health (Exercise, Sleep, PMA, Hydration, Nutrition, Vit D/ Sunlight and Mind body connection). Explain the importance of these in our health, if you need any help with this please contact me. You could simply encourage your child by asking ‘what does your body need now?’ at different moments throughout the day to get them used to that way of thinking. Be prepared though for answers such as chocolate ice cream or cake; it’s worth a try right?! When they are used to this you can start using it when they are experiencing any challenge.

As this is something that our boys are familiar with and are used to doing, they can now confidently tell me that they need water as they have a slight headache or that they need to exercise as their muscles feel tight. This is a great skill to have developed and I honestly believe that by encouraging it now, it will make for a much healthier adult population in years to come. I do have to tell you though, I do still occasionally get the ‘chocolate cake’ answer, and that is fine, my children are normal, and obviously not feeling sick at that point in time!

For those adults who are new to this, you are doing great. It’s so hard changing habits and sticking to them especially right now, when it seems that there is so much temptation to stick with our comfort zones, but as I said, you are doing great. Take the time to reconnect with your innate, ask what it needs, listen and make the lifestyle changes you need, don’t wait any longer.