Know Your Body

We make many assumptions on people based on clothes that are worn, cars that are driven, positions that are held, or where someone lives. We make assumptions about food based on how it smells, looks, or is prepared. We make assumptions about a book based on the design of its cover, the number of pages, or its author. We also make assumptions about our body, like how well we think we know it. But just like any assumption, we are taking a great risk in limiting our understanding of something that could have far reaching implications for us. It’s like living with blinders on.

When it comes to our body, we take for granted that if we are pain-free, mobile, and generally feeling good that we are essentially in the clear for any type of problem. And while that may very well be the case, it may just as easily not be. How well do you know your body? When was the last time you quieted your mind and focused on you? Was there ever a time that you really took inventory of all that you really are? If you do invest time in yourself, what do you see when you look in the mirror or step on the scale? Do you see dark under-eye circles? Acne? Bloated stomach? Cellulite? Thinning hair? Dandruff? What do you see that you have the power to change? Think about it carefully before you answer. Why? Because changing some things may require more time than others, but that is okay. Do not let the time element scare you.

The truth is that while we may think we feel good and therefore are okay, the reality is that we may not be. Knowing your body and taking responsibility for it are essential to living a life of wellness. It just doesn’t happen. And while applying a temporary fix to any number of symptoms will work, it simply does not address the underlying problem. Yes, we can add concealer to our dark under-eye circles, but we have not addressed the cause which could be anything from fatigue to a food allergy. Or, yes, we can use anti-dandruff shampoo to rid ourselves of the flakes, but we have not addressed what is really going on which could be a microbial imbalance on the scalp.

The best investment we could ever make for ourselves and those we love is in ourselves, specifically our body and what it is telling us on a daily basis.