We are a being inside a body: we are way more than just physical. As women, how often do we look after the physical body, but without looking after the being? The term
‘health and well-being’ can be used to refer to a body that is physically well, i.e. no major illness, no cancer, no aches or pains etc, but how well is the being inside the body? Is this what the term ‘well-being’ is actually referring to?
Do we have a natural vitality and an ease in our movements, are we fully engaged with life and everyone around us, are we living free of worries and do we feel like our life is in order? If we are suffering from anxiety, overwhelm, feeling emotional or stressed, unable to stay focused, not sleeping well, or depressed, these would all be signs that our ‘being’ is not truly well.
How much as women do we honour this being inside us? The little voice that lets us know it is time to go to bed, or time to take a break from the computer screen, or time to have a walk or a rest… and do we honour how we feel? Our innate sensitivity and tenderness? We can feel it when someone speaks to us harshly, or when someone judges us, we can feel when someone is angry – we can feel when someone is feeling different to the words they may be expressing – do we honour these feelings?
As women, we are very good at ‘doing’, but not so good at ‘being’ (a reminder that we are human beings not human doings!). We can be very good at overriding the messages we are receiving, pushing through and continuing with something when the being and the body are clearly saying no – or not taking action on something when we are receiving an impulse to move forward.
What does it mean to honour the being? This could mean honouring what we are
feeling in every moment and not dismissing it: do we override what we are feeling, try to pretend we never felt it, ignore it, don’t deal with it, or go and eat something to numb ourselves a little or distract ourselves with Facebook or TV? Do we feel to make that phone call? Do we feel to go to that dinner? Do we trust what that person is saying to us? Are we in reaction to those around us, is there something unresolved that is not being spoken about?
All of these things are important and support us to nurture the being and maintain wellness. Not dealing with things and not honouring what we are feeling takes its toll on the body – in order to be truly well we need to deal with all aspects of our life, each is important and it is crucial to honour the messages we are receiving. Otherwise these unresolved feelings can build up in the body and may eventually manifest as a physical problem.
We can start by honouring what we are feeling, honouring what the body is telling us, speaking up when things don’t feel right, allowing ourselves to trust our inner wisdom, listening when the mind says one thing but the body clearly says another.
We have sensitivity, we feel energy, we have knowing, we can feel everything. How often do we listen to this part of ourselves that has a deep inner knowing, that knows the truth of any situation? Honouring this inner knowing will truly support our ‘well-being’. Supporting ourselves by honouring what we feel and know as women then also becomes a great foundation for us to truly support all others.
By Kathy Byrne
For further inspiration..
Are we willing to look at the quality of our lives?
What does well-being actually mean? Are we merely functioning or living with our natural vitality?