What to do When You Feel like Sh*t?
Re-centering, your way.
I recently was voice messaging back and forth with my dear friend, Kellye about feeling good in our bodies. They sent me this article on recent research that demonstrates BMI is not a real indicator of health.
Right now, I feel the “thinnest” I have felt in years (I don’t have a scale nor do I live by numbers on a scale); however, I feel the most “unhealthy.” My body feels inflamed. My skin is breaking out. I can feel my hormones out of whack. Even though I am taking my beloved vitamins and sleeping well, I feel physically “out of balance.”
Two weeks into traveling and about 95% of the time we have been staying in hotels sans our own kitchen. This might sound really glamours and it is in many ways. However, this means I have had to figure out how to nourish my body in more creative ways that are not in a kitchen. And most days, I feel like I am failing her not because the intention isn’t there, but my current circumstances are restricted. I haven’t been able to get a healthy portion of veggies into my body for each meal as I do in my typical day to day life.
Eating out feels taxing on my body. I deeply crave simple veggie-based food, which is hard to find on the go as west-coast living is not accessible every where in the world.
Feeling “out of whack” stirs up anxiety. Little internal alarm bells go off below the surface of my body, telling me to pay attention.
So what do I do?
I pause and meet the discomfort with love. I whisper to the cells of my bod: “I see you and I am listening. You matter to me.”
Instead of getting swept away by the unhelpful thoughts of “something is wrong. Fix it!” Or get overly controlling about the fuel I put into my body, I attune my attention to notice what fuel DOES feel pleasant in my body. Not just my taste buds. But what actually feels like it’s hydrating and nourishing to my cell. Where in my body does it feel pleasant right now.
I notice so much of my energy and attention can get drained on what doesn’t feel good. When I ruminate on thoughts like, “Why did I drink that second cup of coffee?” or “Why did I eat that whole plate of pasta?” etc., I can easily spiral into despair and more internal stress. When I am in that mind-state, I am resisting accepting the present moment conditions just as they are. When I accept what’s here, it frees up my attention to focus on what I can actually control (ie. be in the present moment).
Training my attention to notice what feels kind, even if it is just a few bites helps me create more ease and well-being.
Practicing mindful eating is a powerful practice we can do multiple times a day to come back to the present moment. It is a privilege to be able to choose how, what and when we eat. Slowing down to notice and listen is a beautiful practice that can bring us back to our center. Not fixing. Not restricting. Not shaming or guilt tripping. Instead, listening with curious love.
This Week’s Practice:
Notice what type of fuel and nourishment feels pleasant in YOUR body.
Notice how many bites of that sandwich tastes and feels good in your body before it is gone.
Notice how the smells and colors and contribute to a pleasant experience.
Notice what types of veggies and protein digest well in the body.
Notice what temperature and textures feel pleasant.
Don’t assume you know. Slow down to notice, listen and feel.
Reflection Questions:
Share with me in the comments below.
What does the sensation of “pleasant” feel like in your body?
What is your relationship to receiving pleasant sensations in your body and life?
What is possible when you nourish your body with kind fuel?