By Justin and Clara Hamel
Last week, we briefly touched on the abundant rewards of listening to our body when it comes to health. This seems like a simple concept: rest when your body tells you it is tired or eat when you are hungry. However, the idea of listening to our bodies and respecting its needs has somehow become elusive in many people’s lives. We have disconnected from these internal cues, often overriding them in the name of productivity, convenience or habit.
Modern life often reinforces the idea that one must push through fatigue, ignore discomfort and silence the signals that something deeper may be affecting our well-being. We trade sleep for caffeine, movement for screens and nourishment for ease. Over time, this builds and creates a disconnection in which one no longer registers the gentle push of the body to restore wellness. We see the effects of this boldly displayed in healthcare statistics, as 80% of chronic illness and premature death could be prevented with adjustments to lifestyle. Yes, you read that correctly — 80% of the pain, suffering and costs we associate with chronic disease could be avoided by simply beginning to listen to what our bodies need.
So, how can society begin to reverse this staggering statistic? We can emphasize the importance of mindful eating by encouraging people to notice how different foods make them feel. When you eat certain foods, does your body respond with discomfort, fatigue or sluggishness, while other foods make you feel energized and focused? It may help to keep a food and mood journal to record and recognize patterns associated with what you eat and how you feel emotionally and physically.
Equally important is listening to and honoring the body’s need for rest and recovery. Instead of wearing our exhaustion as a badge of productivity, we can begin to view rest as an essential part of success and healing. Restorative practices like gentle stretches, deep breathing and intentional pauses throughout the day can help restore balance to the nervous system and strengthen resilience.
Connection with our body goes beyond rest and food. It is about becoming more interoceptive by bringing your awareness to changes in your body, such as tension, pain, a rapid heart beat or “knots” in your stomach. You can cultivate this awareness by occasionally doing a body scan. This is a simple mindfulness technique that takes less than a minute and consists of thoughtfully moving your attention over your body and noticing what physical sensations your body is experiencing. Once you are aware of these cues, you can begin responding to them intentionally rather than reactively.
Paying attention to the subtle signals of our body helps us make choices that support rather than suppress our well-being. Remember, our bodies are not an enemy to be managed or controlled. They are innately wise, and through this wisdom they constantly communicate what they need to thrive. When we pause to listen, the rewards can be profound.
Dr. Justin Hamel and Clara Hamel have a combined over 30 years of experience in health fields. Reach them at 1° Performance & Longevity, located at 46 N. Central Park Plz., Suite 101, in Jacksonville, on Facebook or by phone at 217-243-6358.
