#Live Whole Health #181: Your body, just as it is

Have you ever caught yourself saying mean words about your body? “My knees are knobby.” “My hearing is bad.” “My fingers look like sausages.” Listen to yourself today. How many times do you catch yourself criticizing your body?

What if you turned that around and started complimenting it? “My knees help me walk to the mailbox.” “My ears can still hear my grandchildren playing.” “My fingers strum the guitar.”

Think about each part of your body and how truly amazing it is. Without any effort on our part, our hearts beat and pump blood, our lungs expand and contract, our eyes blink and our stomachs process our meals.

We can show compassion and even awe for this body, just as it is, that allows us to move about throughout our lives. It is especially important to be kind when our bodies are dealing with health issues, illness or pain. Can we be patient and loving to our aching joints or upset stomach? Can we lovingly support our joints, muscles, organs and bones?

Take a moment. Take a deep breath. Imagine the breath is infused with kind thoughts. Imagine that breath entering the bloodstream and traveling to every cell of your body. As you exhale, imagine releasing any pain or illness in your cells. Do this for four or five cycles of breath.

If you want to give your body some attention, take 40 minutes before you fall asleep tonight and listen to this Guided Awareness Meditation led by Louise Mahoney. She will take you through your whole body and help you to see its wonder. You may wake up tomorrow with gratitude for your body and all it does for you every day!