Sep 29

Sep 29 What Does Your Body Want to Say to You?

Hi, I'm Liz Moser, a Mayo Clinic and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach.

I have a client who lost weight by going whole food plant-based while limiting sugar, flour, and alcohol. Now several years into his health journey, his oomph stalled out a bit, and he wanted some support in rediscovering his why, getting his mojo back, coupled with some accountability to get him over his weight loss finish line. So that’s why he hired me as his coach.

Now that he’s back on track and moving steadily towards his weight loss goals, he wanted to talk a bit about this low rumble in the background of different body parts that are speaking at him. He’s contending with various aches and other bodily discomforts. It’s more nagging and annoying than truly painful, and he asked me to weigh in.

My first question was, what do your health care providers have to say about it? He explained his doctors aren’t particularly concerned, and his physical therapist is working with him to resolve the issues. Great, he’s getting excellent and ongoing medical treatment. I know his diet is spot on, and he's sane-fully increasing his movement. So both medically and wellness wise he’s in pretty good shape.

Then what we’re talking about here are his thoughts and feelings about these assorted aches, pains, and for lack of another term, annoying bodily symptoms.

First, he shared a bit about his frustration and disappointment. He’s lost over a hundred pounds, darn it! He’s so much healthier in every way. So how come he’s dealing with these nagging body sensations? Why? How Come?

It’s normal to have an inflated idea of how you will look and feel after losing weight. Aches and pains weren’t part of his picture, so he's quite justifiably feeling some disappointment and frustration.

After that initial conversation, I suggested to him that next time he felt worried, fearful, or frustrated when a symptom or ache showed up, instead of getting in his head with the story or judgment, try having a conversation with your body or symptom. Maybe even write it out:

Knee says this….

I respond with ….

Knee says this now…

I respond etc.

Oh, and put aside any judgments about how silly it is to talk to your knee. Because something can be both simplistic and worthwhile, ok? 😊

In addition to journaling with your body part or uncomfortable symptom, perhaps pull out your copy of Louise Hay’s book: You Can Heal Your Life. Don't have one? Well, maybe consider borrowing it from the library or purchasing one for yourself.

I mention my admiration for Louise Hay in this blog and the research backing up positive affirmations in this blog. Check those out.

In How To Heal Your Life, Louise has a handy chart listing different body parts and symptoms.

According to Louise, knees represent pride and ego, and her suggested affirmation is I am flexible and flowing. Knees are underlined in my book because I’ve had two surgeries on my right knee and when it flares up, I stick I am flexible and flowing into my morning affirmation practice.

Last week, I came how from stone carving class with an irritated eye, and the following day my eyelid was swollen. Therefore, in addition to following my doctor's stye protocol, I pulled out this book and checked under the eye section. Eyes represent looking at life through angry eyes or anger at someone, and the suggested affirmation is I choose to see everyone and everything with joy and love.

Is this last affirmation/body part conversation too woo-woo for you? Ok, I admit it’s a bit out there. But, hey, how can it hurt to say I am flexible and flowing, or I choose to see everyone with joy and love out loud a few times? It can't hurt, and while you might not buy into the healing properties of affirmations, it may surprise you with how it at least shifts your mindset.

Now, back to my new client. As he and I discussed his assorted aches and discomfort, he decided to work on creating his own mantra. What he came up with is:

I trust that I’m healthy and well. This is just a feeling, and it does not control me.

Beautiful! Yes, this is what healthy looks and feels like at this moment for him, and while it may look different from the picture he had a year or two ago, it takes a moment to catch up and get to acceptance, but it’s worth doing the work to get there.

Beautiful health and wellness seekers, if you have an assortment of aches, pains, or other symptoms and like my client, you're ticking off most of those wellness boxes and you’re working in conjunction with your health care providers. Then I suggest pulling out your journal and have a conversation with your body. See what it has to say. Who knows what you might figure out.

Or maybe invest in the You Can Heal Your Life book and check out Ms. Hay's affirmations. Or, like my client, you might want to create your own mantra to combat your discomfort or disappointment, reminding yourself you are doing all you can for your wellness, and this is what your body’s best effort looks like today so maybe at least come to terms with it or at best celebrate it.

I’m Liz Moser, a Mayo Clinic and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and thank you for reading this blog about having a conversation with your body. If you have any questions about this blog, health, wellness, or wellness coaching with me, please reach out via my website at lizmosercoaching.com.