The Body/Mind Connection (Part 1)
Trying to make a decision? Look inside - your body has the answer…
After months of dealing with my pandemic hair, now that they’re finally allowed to open, I had my long-awaited appointment at the hairdressers. It was a relief, but also presented me with a problem - what did I want to do with my hair? Should I keep it longer and let it continue to grow, or ask for it to be cut shorter? It wasn’t as big a problem as, for example, global warming, but It was quite a dilemma in my little world.
Then I remembered that I could get out of my mind and into my body to help me with the decision.
One of the first tools we use in coaching was shared by Martha Beck in her book, Finding your own North Star, and it’s called The Body Compass. It’s an amazing tool that will help set you on the path towards reaching your goals and living your dreams.
As a brief introduction, during this meditative process, you think about situations that are both unpleasant and pleasant and rate your body sensations (i.e., clenched jaw or tight shoulders versus a feeling of warmth or lightness) by assigning a number from -10 to +10. It’s a very useful tool and works best when a coach leads you through the process, but you can also achieve good results by doing it yourself. Thanks to having my own body compass calibrated, I know when something doesn’t feel right as well as when it does.
Even if you haven’t gone through the Body Compass process, you can tap into the wisdom of your body whenever you have a decision to make. A great place to start is with your “to-do” list, or even when you’re trying to make a very simple decision, such as while shopping.
Here’s a simple exercise you can try next time you’re at the grocery store. As you are trying to decide between two items (i.e., two different vegetables, fruits, cookies, etc.), try consulting your body:
Become still and begin to notice your breath.
Do a brief body scan. How does your body feel? Notice the sensations.
Visualize one of the items you are considering purchasing. Do you notice any changes in how your body feels?
Let go of that image and take a couple of breaths as you return to a neutral state.
Now contemplate purchasing the second item and notice how your body feels as you contemplate purchasing that item.
What do you notice? Is there any difference in how you feel? This may take some practice as we usually spend much more time consulting our minds than we do checking in with our bodies.
As you practice this skill, you can use it on more difficult questions and problems in your life. For example, learn to notice that tightness in your chest or stomach when someone asks you to do something you really don’t want to do and also notice that feeling of expansion and lightness when you contemplate doing something that will lead you toward your North Star.
P.S. Getting back to my dilemma about my hair at the start, I used the body compass and the answer was clear. I left a lot of hair on the salon floor and I left feeling much lighter!
Reference: Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck
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Are you interested in life change & mindset coaching? If you are interested in exploring new ways to bring joy into your world and live your best life, please email me to set up a complimentary 30 minute coaching session/discovery call at sharon@sharonashtonmindulyoga.com or visit my website coaching page.
You can download your free Find Your Inner Coach Guide including a guided visualization and journal prompts here:
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“Sharon has the intuitive ability to listen to what I'm saying as I discuss my business and hone in on a specific limiting belief that is slowing me down or holding me back. She has multiple tools and strategies she teaches to help you clarify your issues. Her coaching has been incredibly helpful and valuable as I start my new business!” — Becky Shapiro, Texas, USA
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