Nowadays we have many reasons to disconnect from our bodies. Our devices keep our mind busy, society projects body-images that are ridiculous, and often times we are so up in our heads we don't even know how to connect to our bodies.
But is that the whole story? From psychology we know that the mind-body connection is always present. Just thinking about our favorite food makes our mouth water and our stomach sends signals to the brain when hungry. Some of us dread public speaking and merely thinking about it can choke us up. Thinking about an important exam might activate our stomach or intestines and so on. One of the most staggering examples of how closely mind and body are connected is the placebo effect. Often times physical symptoms improve just by expecting or believing that they will heal even when no real or active treatment is involved.
What is lacking is not the connection between mind and body but awareness of that connection. Our mind keeps us busy and therefor we lose track of our body. If we are not conscious of the communication both within our mind and body, and between our mind and body, we won't be able to ground ourselves. Spiritually grounding means connecting yourself to the here and now. The Cambridge dictionary tells us that grounding means "knowledge of the basic facts about a particular subject." So without enough awareness, we miss the necessary knowledge about our whole self. This in turn leaves us feeling unbalanced.
Try a little experiment next time you are engaged in a conversation with someone. Notice that while your mind gets busy with thinking about what to say, you literally lose awareness of your body. Thinking and talking take up most of your focus. When you notice this bring some focus back into your body. Do you notice anything? Maybe the volume or tone of your voice? Your body posture? Maybe you actually see or hear the other person better since you attune to your senses more? In summary, staying in your body while you communicate gives you more information about the conversation and makes you a more empathic listener.
How can you do this?
It's a practice. By doing it you can create the habit of staying with physical sensations. Start by moving and staying present in your body while you move. You can start some kind of exercise like yoga, climbing, swimming, etc. Feel the movements and label how it feels when your attention is turned into your body. Can you feel the muscle contractions? Any sensations when you do more strenuous exercise? Maybe you are holding your breath (keep breathing!)? Maybe you feel your feet touch the ground when you hike or run? You can put your hand on your chest to feel your heart beating. Maybe it helps to put your hand on your belly where you can feel the movement of the breathing, the rising and falling during inhalation and exhalation.
These are all ways of becoming more aware of your body. Your mind will chatter when you turn your attention to your body, just go back in, and keep going back in, during the length of the activity. Practice this over and over. Don't feel like doing sport? Try to stay with your body during daily activities like washing the dishes (feel the water on your skin, register the movements of your arms and hands), or walking to your work (feel your legs and feet with every step). Just keep your awareness close to your body and start to notice if you feel any different.
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