How to reconnect with your body

I speak for myself when I say this, but I have noticed my body getting very different over the last two years of the pandemic. In some ways it has become more tired, and in other ways much more-wise, and kind. Irrespective of what your relationship with your body is, watching our body change can be a bittersweet experience. Seemingly positive, and socially approved changes (e.g., weight loss) can be associated with emotional difficulties (e.g., trigger for our disordered eating). The vice versa is also true. I know that many of my past clients have discussed how relieved they have felt when a medical issue gave them permission to simply rest.

Watching our most intimate and vulnerable possession- our body, change can be tough. We may react to it in some common ways:

• Denial or minimization of the change
• Punishing or shaming ourselves for the change by depriving ourselves of life’s gifts (e.g., connecting with friends and family)
• Trying to control our body to reach our imagined version (e.g., altering or adjusting what our body can do)
• Making fun of ourselves in ways that are more demeaning and insensitive than truly humorous.

If you find yourself doing any or all of these, please know that first step to accepting our body and winning its’ trust is to be kind. Ask yourself, what is a half-a-step of kindness I can offer to myself? Many a times it is a cool glass of water. Other times, it can be disconnecting from social media that pressurizes you to look and appear a certain way.

To process the changes your body is experiencing, see if talking to your counselor helps. Journaling or meditation can also help. It can also be helpful to have a compassion routine for myself. Self-love acts such as massaging your feet, buying yourself flowers, or taking a longer than usual shower can help us recognize our bodies more mindfully. As June Wood says, don’t let your mind bully your body.