Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
This week, I’ve started work with a new coach around body movement. I’ve been working a lot on myself, but an area I hadn’t really addressed was around my comfort in my own body.
I remember being in India in February and seeing people dancing. I felt absolutely paralysed by the idea of it. More broadly, the moment anyone suggested dancing I felt frozen to the spot.
Somewhere along the way I had created body movement to be such a complicated thing that I felt an anxiety cycle the moment a situation came up.
The option I took without realising was to shut off my relationship with my body. If I stopped going to places where dancing or instinctive movement was required, then it would never be an issue. Or at least that was somewhat the logic.
This option deprived me of the pleasures of movement. Dancing can be very fun, and I had forgotten that after so many years since my more exuberant days in university.
I hadn’t realised how much my lack of connection with my body has been showing up. My mind has been completely dominating my existence – I only listened to my body when it was crying out in pain or tiredness. Likewise, I am limiting my impact in work through my ability to project my voice. In a recent Toastmasters speech, I got feedback about how I was quite static whilst speaking. It made it harder to connect with the audience.
Last night, I went out to dance. I was quite tired and stressed from the week, so I didn’t feel particularly energised. When I’m in this state, going to a party can feel quite overwhelming. It feels like a conflict between my mind analysing all the stimuli around me versus my body wanting to move with the rhythm of the beat.
I know that letting go of the analytical thoughts of the mind is what I need. And the best way to do that is moving the body. Meditation can be great to find stillness, but we were not born to sit at a desk all day (which is what I’ve been doing most of the last 5 years of my life!)
Even if I’m still learning, I am seeing the benefits. I’ve lost around 8 kilograms in the last month, and I’ve also been having a healthier routine with skincare and sleep. I find myself naturally feeling the urge to go for a walk, rather than it being a task I have to accomplish during the day.
These activities are so beneficial for me as it takes me away from the world of thought and analysis. I know this is something that would really help other people too – there are so many people who spend so much time in their minds that they find themselves at an energetic imbalance. The sign of this are lethargy, tiredness and ongoing work stress.
If you want to get better in your job or just simply be happier in life, look at how much a movement plays a part in your life.
Finding an energetic balance will put you in a heightened state of being.