Your body is the home of your Spirit. When you live disconnected from your body, you become spiritually homeless. You ignore your physical surroundings and damage Earth’s body in the process. You value mind over body and lose access to the body’s own intelligence. Just as a plant needs roots to survive, so also you must be grounded in space/time and connected to your body and the environment. When you are grounded, you are present and focused in the here and now. You create a healing relationship with your body and the Earth.
Reconnect with your body through physical activity and awareness of your feelings.
Your body is the solid form of your existence as a spiritual being. Your body has definable boundaries, while your spiritual Self does not. Regular massage benefits your body with a pleasurable experience. Regular exercise energizes your body and promotes a sense of connection. Your body responds to your every feeling. Your emotions and your body are interdependent. A change in your body’s physical activity causes a change in your emotional responses. Likewise a change in your thoughts and feelings affects your body’s well-being. When you acknowledge and support your body, it helps you remain solid, calm and secure in the midst of life’s challenges.
Nurture your body, mind and spirit through time spent in nature.
We live in an action-oriented world. We stay busy from morning to night. But so much over activity takes its toll. We lose our peaceful center. We forget who we really are.
A walk in nature allows you to refresh yourself for a brief period of time. You connect with the rhythms of Earth. Nature’s healing energy has an effect on your state of being. It impacts your mood, your immune system and the Self you are becoming. Science shows that these seemingly magical effects are real.
In nature you feel connected to something larger than yourself. You expand as a human being. You return to the world refreshed and ready to share your gifts.
Develop your body’s ability to relax and be still.
Modern life feels like a vortex of overwhelming change. Our present culture values action. In the midst of this whirl of activity, we search for ways to maintain a balanced center, no matter what swirls around us.
For millennia yogis have used breathing practices to calm the mind and emotions. Modern science now confirms the connection between breathing and emotions. Using breath to enhance well-being can be done at a traffic light or in a quiet room. Simply breathe in a long, slow, and effortless manner. Relax into each exhale.
During a hectic day take one-minute timeouts to breathe, relax and clear your mind. You will be better able to handle life’s stresses. Think of breath practice as a pause button in a busy life. Breath work turns your attention inward. It connects you with the essence of your Being. Learn to use your breath with awareness and benefit your body, mind and spirit. Consistent breath work increases vitality, clarity and well-being.
When you see your body as the home of your Spirit, you treat your body well. You trust its wisdom. But in an ever-changing world, you may have fears for your well-being. Concern for self-preservation is fundamental to human existence. The demon of fear may hold you back. Fear also exists as an ally for self-preservation. It reminds you that you are important and need to take care of yourself.
Meditation creates a quiet space in which to renew your body, mind and spirit. It is a gentle, ancient practice. The best meditation is the one you will do consistently. Meditate for as long as you like. The heart of meditation is contentment in the now. Meditation may be the best life practice.
Dr. Mary Beth Ford is the author of Wisdom from the Gardens—Life Lessons and creator of the CD Garden Wisdom—5 Ways to Grow in Life Balance and Joy. She specializes in the area of life balance, which she describes as balance between outer world and inner Self. In her work Mary Beth shares five powerful garden lessons for living with balance and joy. She helps busy people live with Spirit in the world. Using nature images she offers us a new way of seeing ourselves and our world.
To live with more balance and joy, explore Mary Beth’s website at http://www.wisdomfromthegardens.com. Sign up for her bi-monthly Reflections and weekly One Minute Reflection. Receive a free audio gift of Garden Wisdom Secrets. Follow Mary Beth on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/WisdomtoEmpowerYourLife.