Although they are two different entities, the mind and body are part of the same system and mutually influence each other. Anything that occurs in one part of the system will affect the other. Put simply, our minds can affect how healthy our bodies are.
Ya wanna test that theory? I knew you would! Ok, so you have the easy part. All you have to do is read these words and let your mind do the rest!
Think of that one person who ALWAYS puts a smile on your face! Remember the last time you spent with them when they had you laughing so hard your cheeks hurt! Just being next to them makes the world seem better. Remember what it feels like to give them the biggest hug in the world! See their face in your mind. See them doing what they do best and notice how it makes you smile and feel all warm inside! Life just makes sense when they are around, right!?
Let’s pretend they are with you right now. Right next to you. How do you feel? Pretty good huh? Now, as they leave your side and go into a room off to your right, see the door closing behind them. Even though they left, the smile stayed didn’t it!? Feels good, doesn’t it?! A few seconds go by, and you hear a startling and loud BOOM come from that room. You hear them begin to scream for help. You can hear the panic in their voice and their frantic footsteps on the floor as they run to the door, but it won’t open. They begin to bang on the door and scream for you. SCREAM for you over and over. You run to open the door, but it’s locked, and you can’t get in, and they can’t get out. It’s then that you notice the smoke rising up from the crack under the door. Their voice even more fearful and frantic, their fists hitting the door harder and harder, your heart racing as you try to figure out how to get them out of there. The doors getting hotter, and the smoke keeps coming. What do you do???
Popcorn and biscuits that was intense right!? Ok, this wonderful person you were just thinking of is no longer in that room but on a beach somewhere warm enjoying their favorite beverage and soaking up the sun! They are absolutely healthy, happy and safe!
Now, the point of all this. In both the first and second part above, nothing physically changed for you in the here and now, right? You were standing or sitting in the same spot, reading the same email, breathing the same air and hearing the same sounds. But in the first part you were happy, relaxed and smiling! And in the second part you may have noticed your breathing slowed way down, your body tense up, anxiety crept in and the smile left your face. That’s because the mind and body are connected, and they affect each other.
So, when we are constantly worried about something or consistently living in panic mode, can you see how it affects your physical body? How, even though nothing physical is being done to your body, the mind is creating a physical manifestation of its mental state? Mind blowing right!? This is why it’s equally important to take care of both the body and mind!
Let’s try another one, a little less vivid this time! Think about how you stand when you feel sad or depressed? Are your shoulders low? Your head hanging down? How are you breathing? Shallow breaths or deep breaths? Are you frowning or smiling? If you had to describe what a sad or depressed person looks like to someone who can’t see, how would you describe them?
Now, how do you stand when you are feeling confident, victorious or excited? How does your body change? Do you stand tall? Shoulders back, maybe your hands are on your hips? Head up? Smiling? Kinda standing like Super Man?! YES!
Once again, the mind and body are connected! They directly affect each other! And, because you are now aware of this connection, you will be intentional about what you feed your body and your mind. When a particular thought doesn’t serve you, you will notice it, dismiss it and find a better one. When you notice yourself doing something that doesn’t serve your body, you will stop and make changes. You will seek out a physical posture that supports the positive mental state that you desire to be in.
That's all for now! Remember to check out a couple of my favorite things below!
Essential Oils and Emotions: Exfoliating Body Scrub
Where better to become aligned with mind and body than in the shower!? I love this body scrub as it smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. But, it also gives me the opportunity to think about what needs to be scrubbed away? What emotions or thoughts no longer serve me? What can I remove from my life, layer by layer, that will allow for a clean start?
This scrub contains Wild Orange (the Oil of Abundance), Grapefruit (the Oil of Honoring the Body), and Ginger (the Oil of Empowerment). What a powerful combination!
Stress Essentials Balance
Chronic stress can be harmful to the body and may lead to feelings of fatigue and general weakness.
Stress Essentials Balance helps promote healthy adrenal gland function and mood by supporting healthy stress response.
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