The headline may seem obvious, but it is a powerful concept that many surprisingly overlook. For how can we experience anything, let alone life itself, without our bodies?
Looks take a deeper look. The fact is that we are biological organisms. For the fortunate amongst us, our existence follows a process of birth, growth and development, reaching our physical prime, maturity, aging and degeneration, then ultimately the expiring or death of our physical selves.
If you were to pick up an outdoor survival manual, among the top three items necessary for survival if you get lost or stranded in the wild, are fresh water, food and shelter. Our ability to sustain ourselves physically is a simple (yet sometimes not easy) and straight forward process.
Our mental survival is quite a bit more complex. There have been volumes throughout the ions of human existence that could fill the Earth itself on how we are to approach any number of aspects of our mental health. Recently with the ushering in of New Age thinkers much is made of our ability to use our mental capacity to affect our outer or material circumstances. We have been encouraged to use or minds to manifest wealth, move us into a more satisfying career, draw us closer to the ideal home, attract the perfect mate and even to heal our bodies.
Not as often are we encouraged to turn that concept around and use or bodies to heal our minds. So here it is! It can be no other way.
As a statement of fact, you have been assigned the physical body you now have at birth. Furthermore, it’s the only one you will receive for the duration of this current lifetime–At least with our current technology today. The great news I’m here to share is, the body you have, is the perfect vehicle to carry you to a blissful state–right now.
There are several exercises (literally) for you to use for this process. First, before I go into the benefits of actual physical exercise for your inner peace. I want you to understand that by simply bringing your awareness into your body you can begin this uplifting process.
Start by relaxing and slowly recognizing your physical being from the top of your head all the way down to the tips of your toes. If you need help with this process, there is a FREE GUIDED MEDITATION on my website that will guide you step-by-step-through this process.
Actively using your mind to bring awareness to your body is a great way to recognize and acknowledge your body itself as your gateway to a peaceful state of mind. Calmly guiding yourself through the process of practicing presence and systematically putting focus on each area of your body will instantly offer you an experience of mindfulness and the inner calm it inspires.
NOW…GET UP and GET MOVING!
It’s time to let your body lead the charge into a natural state of peace. Take a walk. Go for a bike ride. Go hiking or swimming. Get to the gym and lift some weights. Participate in a yoga class. Jog a few miles or sprint the hills. Play your favorite sport, shot some hoops, play soccer, pickleball or tennis. Take a Zumba class or better yet just crank up your favorite playlist and dance to your heart’s content. All of these activities are powerfully effective natural stress relievers. These (some vigorous) activities, along with physically relieving stress, also release endorphins and cortisol, our bodies naturally produced pain relievers and mood elevators.
Along with the automatic inner peace inducing benefits all of these activities produce, they all promote the development of a major feel-good catalyst, higher self-esteem. Especially when practiced on a regular basis they form a strong foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity also helps nudge us deeper into inner peace by creating greater levels of physical performance in all the afore mentioned workout activities along with building greater stamina in pursuing professional endeavors and deeper enjoyment of sex. This all naturally put you in a positive frame of mind and makes for a compelling argument to get your body in gear and get active as often as possible.
Don’t forget to acknowledge your efforts and congratulate yourself often!
As always practice your chosen activities with a sense of mindfulness and presence. Focus on the activity itself and how it is impacting your body in the moment and being intensely aware of the joy these movements are inducing. As much as possible, be acutely aware. Resist the temptation to let thoughts of work or whatever your stress points are enter your mind. If they do simply say to them—not now and re-immerse yourself in your activity. Then continue to enjoy the simple gloriousness of truly experiencing being in your body.
In this way you’ll find yet another, if not the most direct path to peace —Through Your Body!
Are you still here?
GET UP and GET MOVING!
