Slim down thyself - your body, your ally, show it some gratitude!

In my life experience, I’ve found that cultivating gratitude towards our body for fulfilling its functions is an open door to start a new convenant between physical body and soul.  Each time our memory reminds us that which needs to be done, why not thank it? This attitude of gratitude and focus of attention on the received blessings cooperate towards our well-being, differently from the times we curse or reprehend ourselves harshly when we forget something important, thus complaining about the memory flaw…

“So the best we can do is pretend there’s nothing wrong and become some sort of Pollyanna? Well, that won’t make problems go away!”, would be someone’s reasonable comment.

Denying the unpleasant situations or frustrations – that many call “problems” –really doesn’t tend to solve anything. There is a difference between focusing on what we label as “bad” – creating drama – and recognizing reality, even if it’s not pleasurable/pleasant, then assuming a more neutral attitude that is based on a knowing of the fact that “good” and “bad” can both be a part of life, each at its own moment, without intending to holding on to pleasure and avoiding to hurt. Such neutral attitude can be a synonym of the equanimity that tends to arise inside us when we start seeing those so-called “problems” as challenging opportunities for learning and growing.

“Then is it all just a matter of perspective? How can a flu no longer be a problem and become an ‘opportunity’? Getting sick gets in the way of anyone’s good mood!”, you could say.

A sneeze or a cough can be perceived as blessings, because they are efficient mechanisms of purification in action, it’s our body working to defend itself from threats to our health. Most cough syrups work facilitating the cough mechanism, helping and enhancing the human body’s natural defense mechanisms. It surely isn’t a pleasant situation when getting sick interrupts our routine, but the defensive self-preserving processes of the human body can be seen from a perspective that inspires gratitude… Since we were unable to prevent the flu and we got sick, which attitude shall we choose to assist our body in healing quickly: hooting for it and showing gratitude for its effective self-defense workings or complain about how long it takes and criticize its self-preservation methods?

The human body is intelligent in its processes of self-preservation and search of/maintenance of balance – we breath, eat, drink, eliminate what isn’t useful, rest, register memories, among other sacred functions.

“So even going to the toilet is a so-called ‘sacred function’?”, someone might mock.

Can Life be perceived as something sacred? If yes, then those functions that preserve life serve that which is sacred and can be understood as sacred functions. After all, you is able to survive if nobody takes out the “garbage” after we’ve fed? Or do you suppose that the brain is the only organ where intelligence manifests? Did you know that the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), a network of neurons that are part of our digestive system, is called “second brain” by scientists?

The Enteric Nervous System (ENS) is made up of neurons and nerve cells that line the gut; it contains the same amount of nerve cells as the spinal cord, 90% of the serotonin and 50% of the dopamine in the body. (source: http://www.sanescohealth.com/trust-your-gut-the-bodys-second-brain/). You might notice that if it weren’t for your digestive system and the ENS, you would not be able to transform the elements of your environment into usable energy, the energy capable a maintaining Life at the cellular level.

So I have suggested cultivating gratitude – tell your body in a low voice or in your thoughts how much you appreciate and are grateful for it fulfilling its function, throughout the day. This can assist you in turning your physical body into an ally, a faithful friend, and you can start asking your body “what do you need now?” or “how can make your work any easier?” and perhaps you might begin to ‘listen’ to the answers in the signs your body sends out. Listening to your body and being ready to answer its calls for help can prevent the body from having to resort to more ‘radical’ signs screaming S.O.S, signs such as an illness or a crisis (in the case of the chronic diseases already manifested).

 Remember why it's important to be friends with your body, developing a good relationship, based on love, forgiveness, respect, gratitude, cooperation and heartfelt communication:

learn how to listen to your body, learn its true and exact needs for its best performance, learn how to be healthier and, just as a bonus, learn how to slim down without any diet or strict exercising program.