Friday, April 4, 2014

Downward-Facing Dog (#atozchallenge)

Do you listen to your body?

No, don't answer so quickly. When you get a headache, do you pop an aspirin or do you drink four glasses of water? How often do you go to the doctor? How often do you get sick?

How often do you sleep a full eight hours? And talking about sleep, how well do you sleep? Are you a toss-and-turner? Do you wake up tired? Do you wake up stressed? How often do you stretch?

How often do you have a craving for, say, broccoli? Brussel sprouts? Spinach? Do you eat because you're hungry, or because--dang, it's noon, gotta eat? Do you keep on eating because this fried chicken is sooo good, oh yum, finger lick?

I ask again. Do you listen to your body?

Dogs do. In fact, I'm willing to bet humans are the only animals that have so radically lost touch with our physical selves.

It's kind of like the common ground thing from yesterday. Like dogs, our bodies are constantly communicating with us; we've just stopped listening.

So listen. Stretch regularly. Eat when you're hungry. Don't overeat. Go to bed earlier. And don't stress.

Stress is a physiological response to fear, to lack of control--yep, learned that from "dog" training, too--so figure out what's making you fearful. Most things aren't within our sphere of influence, but there's a lot we can do to make situations more manageable.

For me, it has to do with organization. For dogs, it's having a strong pack leader they can trust. We humans have to be our own pack leaders. What do you need to do in order to trust yourself to solve / handle the situation? It's probably something that'll take you out of your comfort zone--these things usually do.

But it's worth it.

Go on. Give it a try. And give yourself a treat when you accomplish it.


11 comments :

  1. So true. We have lost the ability to listen to our instincts. But I do go to bed when I'm tired. My body won't let me do otherwise!

    Rebeccah Writes - A-Z 2014

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  2. Great advice, Guilie, and I wish I could say I follow it, but I'm not that good of a listener, unfortunately. Never slept well in my life and I hate going to bed early. Dogs are obviously smarter than many of us humans. :)
    Debbie @ The Doglady's Den

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  3. I try to listen to my body, and I do a fairly good job. Sometimes my brain gets in the way though.

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  4. Organization is one my 'triggers' as well. :) I wish I was a better listener to myself!

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  5. Great post! I should listen to my body more often!

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  6. So - so true. I'm guilty of not stopping to go to bed at a decent time. I have been trying to do better...

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  7. I was just talking to someone the other day about the fact that I may not eat the best, but I listen to what my body is craving. Sometimes, I will crave salad for a almost a month. Sometimes it is potato chips or something else salty. If I don't eat the thing I am craving (in moderation of course) then I graze and eat a ton of other things until the craving is fulfilled with the thing I was craving at the beginning. I have found that to be even more of the case since being diagnosed with DI. People are shocked at how much salty foods I eat (although I rarely add salt to anything), but if I don't my electrolytes get off and my blood pressure drops to almost nothing. Every body is different, so it is important to listen to the one you have, not what someone else's body is telling them!

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  8. Everybody, including I, will sincerely say, "Excellent message!". We may follow it for a few days, then go back to our bad old ways.

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  9. Fantastic thought provoking advice, Guilie. As PI mentioned above, I am guilty of practicing it on some inspiring days and then drop the healthy habits like a hot potato! :|

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  10. Nothing like a dog splashing in the water! Great photos.

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