The mind-body connection recognises that your thoughts and emotions don’t only exist in the mind, they are in your body. They are actual physical feelings.

You might have heard people say “I have butterflies in my stomach” before a first date or job interview. Or during overwhelming stress someone might say “I’m trying to hold myself together.” 

These terms are a useful way of briefly acknowledging emotional and physical discomfort. 

However there are times when this isn’t enough, and they might be glossing over something deeper calling for your attention. 

The problem is when you push down and suppress painful experiences and sensations your unconscious has to find other ways to deal with them. 

These often show up as self-medicating or distracting behaviours. Such as substance abuse (alcohol and other drugs), excessive exercise, overspending, overeating, endless TV viewing, or addiction to gambling, porn, gaming or social media. 

The Mind-body Connection

The truth is emotions and sensations in the body are simply messages asking you to pay attention, to help you live a strong and healthy life. A few examples of sensations you might experience are tightness in the throat or heart space, emptiness or feeling sick in the tummy, tension in the fists or jaw. 

Here are some examples of successful mind-body integration:

♥  Acknowledging feelings of disappointment so you can move through grief and let go of regret.

♥  Experiencing personal growth when you pay attention to feelings attached to self-defeating behaviours or beliefs.

♥  Allowing yourself to feel the joy of accomplishment instead of numbing it with food or drink, or dismissing it as no big deal.

♥  Listening to what your body needs. Knowing when you are hungry, when you are full or eating / drinking something that is doing you harm.

How to Strengthen your Mind-body Connection: 

The first step is to start noticing the internal cues and sensations your body is communicating. 

1/  Begin by taking a couple of slow, deep breaths….

2/  Bring your attention to what is happening in your body. Notice any thoughts, feelings or sensations you are experiencing. Just observe them without judgment.

3/  Notice any emotions that might be coming up. If you identify a specific emotion name it. For example, “I’m noticing sadness or calmness.”

4/  Bring your attention back to your breath. Imagine breathing into and around the feelings.

5/  Make some space for them. Allow them to be there. There is no need to alter them or make them go away. Just simply let them be.

The mind and body are not separate units, but one integrated system. How we act and what we think, eat, and feel are all related to our health. ~ Bernie Siegel

The mind-body connection is about learning how to listen to your body so you can make the best decisions for you and live your best life.