Many of us come from an ancestry of hard-workers. People who would wake up at the crack of dawn to prepare meals for their family, tend to the land, or head off to work, only to return when the sun sets. Then they would go to bed and do the same thing all over again the next day. For many, this routine wasn’t founded out of enjoyment for their tasks, but out of necessity. Our ancestors lived their lives working to provide. That was the only way they knew.
This is not to say that many of us now cannot be hard-working or experience moments where we, too, are working to provide. However, there is an energetic shift that has been simmering over the years and now I see it emerging more and more. Many of us now don’t want to have to do the hard work. Traditionalists would say this mindset is a bad one and ask, “What will happen to society?” but I think this speaks to the deeper calling within us that has longed to be heard.
Humans want to do something meaningful. For our ancestors, that involved contributing to their lineage. Working not for themselves but for the grandchildren yet to come. Building wealth and doing what needed to be done to secure the family’s legacy.
Now, we crave doing work that is meaningful and, given the foundation our ancestors built—within our family structures but also within society as a whole—we feel more adept to pursue our passions. Again, traditionalists may call these new-age-thinkers selfish, but this generation emerging is the tail end of those willing to live an unimpassioned life.
We seek joy.
Before, there was so much in society’s infrastructure building upon our needs for survival. Even into the 19th and 20th century, much of what was built came from necessity, not necessarily joy.
What the traditionalists do not see, and what society has yet to experience, is that when people are able to pursue livelihoods chosen out of what brings them joy, that benefits everyone.
Happier people create a happier society. Happier people have much to give because they have filled their cup first. Happier people are secure in their own joy and, so, they can help others advance.
Everything builds upon each other. It might seem radical and it might seem disastrous to let the “individualists” run the show, but they have not ever been chasing a life of self-absorption, they have been chasing a life of fulfillment. The plague of insults the Millennials, and some of the Gen X group, have received paint them as shallow and superficial in their desires—claiming that they do not want to work.
Quite the contrary: no one before them has shown what it is like to work in something they love. What they aspire for has not been done before.
Their parents and their grandparents hated their jobs or broke their backs doing arduous labor. They witnessed this of their ancestors and found no joy in such a life of depletion. This is the generation that sees work as something that should add to their lives. So they had to learn how they can work AND do something that they are passionate about. Joy is non-negotiable.
I’d even go so far as to say it would be a dishonor to the ancestors who came before us to not pursue joy. They paved the way so we wouldn’t have to break our backs, like they did. They carved out a society that supports free enterprise. They helped create opportunities for those that came after them.
Societally, this is where things are going. More and more people are waking up to the reality that they can work WHILE experiencing joy, it doesn’t need to be one or the other.
This paradigm shift towards living for joy impacts everyone, including you. Thus, I’d invite you to notice what brings you joy. How can you allow that joy to take up a greater part of your life and lead you forward?
I have all the reasons to sit around indoors and not move so it takes effort to kick myself out of the excessive comfort and monotony of being primarily inside my house for the past year. Having also been weighed down with thoughts and insecurities related to my body, what I was eating, and lots of disordered eating behaviors for a while, being at home has really helped me face these head on. It has encouraged me to incorporate movement that I want, step away from the self-hate and give myself grace, and that trickled over to other areas of my life. Instead of doing things just to do them, I’ve been able to be more intentional with finding physical activity or hobbies that feel good to me. So here I am in this happy place with movement and worrying so much less about what I eat, and then I saw the number.
The other day, I had a doctor’s appointment, and I was asked to step on the scale. Usually I divert my eyes. I’m not sure why I looked this time but the number shocked me. It was higher than I’ve ever weighed in my life.
I’ll spare you all the mental chatter that occurred, but to put it simply: I panicked. Where did all of the body positivity, intuitive eating, self-loving and self-respecting beliefs of mine go? I then asked myself if this could be any other way.
Is there an area of my life that I have been neglecting?
Could I incorporate more healthful habits for myself?
Do I feel satisfied with the way I have been treating myself?
I know I can tell myself I’ve been doing the best I can given the circumstances and there is no need to be so hard on myself.
The marker of what’s “good and right” should not be numbers on a scale but how well you treat yourself.
I mean, my goodness, if fluctuations in weight come from happily, comfortably, and peacefully living life, then there is no reason to worry.
On the other hand, it can be a signal that you haven’t been taking the best care of yourself. I say this not to perpetuate fat-phobia but, just from my own experience. I tend to hold onto emotions and stressors and that takes a toll. Even that phrase about “carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders” is indicative of how stress can weigh you down.
It’s a fine line and I’m not a doctor. I’m just someone who has been victim to diet culture before and now advocates for self-work and the 360° picture of well-being. It’s not about only tending to the physical side but paying attention what’s going on mentally/emotionally can significantly change the way you see and feel in your body!
Around this time last year my disordered eating came to a head in a way that really forced me to deal with it.
There’s nothing like being alone with yourself and you’re gnarly habits right? The strictness and rules I had around food began to soften and that made me realize how deprived I was.
Deprived of joy
Deprived of peace
Deprived of rest
Deprived of satisfaction
Deprived of experiences
Deprived of self-love
I felt unaccomplished and unfulfilled in LIFE and that manifested on my plate.
Maybe I didn’t have my life together but I could kind of feel like I did by meeting the expectations around being “a healthy person”. And that made me feel accomplished.
Until it didn’t.
Food, health, nutrition, and my obsessions with anything related to my diet and fitness were things to keep my mind occupied. I thought: it is better to be a success in this area then be a failure–or worse, a *beginner* at other things. Not that being a beginner is bad but I just wanted to feel good at something and stick with something! Like I had my life together.
I’ve redefined what healthy means to me. And hot damn, it goes far beyond food. Plus, it’s not that big of a deal if anyone else thinks I have my life together. To those who try extra hard to paint that facade on social media (as I did), I encourage you to look within and notice where you can give yourself more.
Fulfillment doesn’t come from excessively doing or excessively holding on, it comes from sampling little joys in a variety of places because no ONE THING exists to fulfill us.
So, I choose to not spend my time dwelling on a number on the scale and instead think about the number on my self-love and happiness level which, if I’m being real, is better than it’s ever been.
I share this not because being vulnerable is fun but because I know I’m not the only one who feels that their body has changed along with them during this past year and sometimes that’s uncomfortable to think about.
Last year I kept repeating to myself: life opens up when you do. So, a year later, I just feel really glad that I’ve done that. That I continue to find ways to do that. If you can relate at all, I wish you the openness that you seek.
Do you believe that some problems have no solution? That situations, once they occur, are practically set in stone? Or that you can change the unchangeable in even the most unlikely situations?
I’ve shared before about various physical pain and discomfort that I’ve been dealing with (for a couple of years now). As a quick recap, it started out as TMJ-related jaw and neck pain but the pain has taken on so many varying forms. At the moment I deal with a feeling of tightness throughout my whole body and sharp pains down my back, arms, and hands. It’s a complex situation (and even harder for someone not experiencing the discomfort to wrap their heads around) but you can go read my posts on chiropractic care, and acupuncture treatmentfor some more details about what’s gone on with me physically.
I’m extremely versed in natural remedies, nutrition, holistic methods and the like–yet, these things haven’t quite helped take away my symptoms. At this point my pain isn’t something that I wonder: will it pop up today? It’s something I’ve already created adjustments for to help me manage this chronic issue. I’m not really looking for suggestions but what I do want to say is that all of us likely have areas where we feel like we’re getting by or maintaining something and it doesn’t feel great.
Do you have an area in your life that seems too big or too complex to change?
The optimist in me wants to tout that everything can be improved, however, the way things can improve is going to look different for everyone.
Sometimes change can look exactly like what we have in mind but, other times, we make things better by making other areas of our life better.
For example, I don’t think I’d be in the place I’m in right now, physically, if I decided my pain was too much and didn’t stretch or keep up with exercise. I think those things have helped me feel better! Neither one solved the problem of my physical pain but they sure do make it feel like less of a problem.
So how do we change the unchangeable?
The short answer is: we can’t always.
The long answer is: there are times when we can and times when we can’t.
I’m a big proponent of going after what you want! I lay out how to make the choice to change in this post here, but various factors play into simply having the ability to change. Maybe the thing we want to change is reliant on some other experiences we need to have first so that we can acquire information or gain skills to shift toward the new situation we want efficiently. The downside here is that time is unknown. You can’t put time demands on when you want to “be ready” or have something come to you.
Think of when you last had a heartbreak or split up from a partner. Everyone says, “time heals all wounds” but for a long time you’re probably just sad. That’s because you can’t decide you’ll feel better in 5 days, 5 weeks, or 5 months because the number isn’t what’s important. What’s important is the experiences you’re having while healing from the heartbreak. How are you taking care of yourself? Are you nourishing other parts of your life? Do you invest in relationships with those around you? Are you building upon your interests and skills? There’s no telling what can happen during the “time” post-fact but eventually it will lead you to a place where things hurt less and then not at all.
On the other side of the coin, and I really hate to say this but, there is the possibility that things won’t change. As in: the specific thing you want won’t change. For example, I know some people have a chronic illness that cannot be reversed. There are treatments, therapies, and lifestyle changes they can make that may help them but nothing will take away this chronic illness once they have it. I never want to tell someone to give up. I don’t believe in that. Yet, it can become dangerously addictive to keep seeking alternatives where there are none. So, at this point you can keep fighting the reality or look to other parts of your life where you can make a change.
Sometimes we can’t change what has happened to us but we always change the situations we expose ourselves to and the way we treat ourselves.
Again, this can look different for everyone. For some people, popping on a movie in the evening helps them forget the stressors of the day at a job they don’t feel they can leave. A friend of mine was working from home and suffering to maintain a schedule, so he requested to work directly at his office and that made a big difference!
Why do we have vacations? Those are also opportunities to take a break from what we’ve been doing and allow rest and rejuvenation. We can essentially seek to incorporate mini vacations, or pockets of pleasure as I like to call them, throughout our day and week.
It isn’t always about changing the thing directly. We can’t always quit the job, move to the place, get rid of x, y, z situation. Whether it be because we aren’t emotionally/mentally/physically/financially ready or because we are still on the journey and haven’t yet discovered the solution(s) yet, these are all valid spaces to be in.
Navigating when you can’t change that specific thing you want
I’ve learned to offer myself compassion more often now than ever before. Limitations, I used to think, were only self-imposed. I didn’t like hearing people blame this or that for their unhappy lives. While I still think you should do what you can to improve your situation, I have more understanding that it isn’t always so quick and easy, or even an option.
That’s okay, too.
We can assess what’s possible, what’s within our means right now, and if the options don’t feel right, then perhaps we set aside plans and concentrate on other areas of our lives for the time being. It’s up to us to choose wisely, while considering where we are, but there is certainly room for both.
Just take care of yourself as best you can, with the tools and knowledge you have now.
How and why do you do the things that you do? Kind of a big question, I know.
We’re all full of habits and learned responses for the way we behave and think. Most of these aren’t harmful but there are some thought patterns that we create are what I call mental traps. This is when we feel obligated to follow convention or scripts we’ve been given even though our soul is craving something else.
When you create rules for yourself about how you’re doing a task or how you feel, that starts to sink in on a deeper level. In a society with professions and guide books on how to do everything, it can make you feel as though there is only one way for how things should be done.
Yet, some of the best outcomes come from ditching the status quo, mixing colors that don’t normally go together, or venturing from the steps listed in a recipe.
When you remove the pressure for how you think things need to be, there’s a lot more room to just be.
Sometimes there are things that do require certain steps or qualities that may be difficult for us to follow.
Historically, I can say that when I put a lot of pressure on the thing I’m doing (and myself, by consequence) I grow to detest the activity, task, or whatever it is. For example, we all used to have to write essays in school and it probably caused some stress and lack of sleep. I definitely associated writing with essays and, years after getting out of school, I re-learned the value of writing.
I thought writing was only used for essays, books, journalists, or other purpose-driven media reasons. I didn’t think writing could just be for FUN. Once I separated from the ideas of what I thought writing involved (based on rules taught in school), like, you have to use fancy syntax, metaphors, create convincing arguments, etc., I was able to use it as a form of expression!
Even if essays were all you knew, too, there’s no point in writing off (pun intended) all other forms of writing because you truly get to set the bar for what works for you.
You still might be thinking: SHOULD I EVEN TRY IF I DON’T HAVE NATURAL TALENT?
There are some areas that we may be less inclined to engage in, or that we are not as talented as some other people. If we have genuine interest in a field of study, project, topic, hobby, or anything then we have go for it! Natural talent might make exploring these easier but that alone does not mean that we cannot do a task just because it’s challenging. I think not having natural talents should be treated like any other obstacle. Obstacles teach us growth and give us a reason to learn to do something in a way that is unique to us.
So, to keep with the writing example from before, instead of creating the self-dialogue about why you have to write in a certain style, you could focus on the intention of why you want to write. What is it you want to say?
Focus on the message and WHAT you want to convey, rather than HOW it’s going to sound or what other people are going to think of it. That gets you out of the mental trap of obsessing about things that are not within your control (how others view your writing) and bring it back to what you are capable of doing.
Beyond that, you can also get to establish the intention for why you’re doing something. In a society like ours that encourages specialization and making money off of everything, it’s also okay to want to do things just because.
The way you do something produces an outcome of the same nature.
I’m going to borrow an example a friend of mine gave me a recently. I was talking about the process for painting, that I have found to be useful for me. I mentioned the step of priming a canvas because that helps the other colors show up better, and is also ideal for texture. My friend said that is quite fine, but if the intention is to just paint for fun, maybe he would forgo that step of priming a canvas. If you want to do something just for fun, you want to do that right now and waiting and extra couple of hours for that primer to dry is taking away time from the fun that could be had from painting right now.
It was really interesting to hear that because there are all sorts of things that we feel require a process or steps to complete but it is truly the intention that we have that defines how we approach them. How can we take away some of the expectations, responsibilities or steps that we think are necessary?
Everyone can say that they have a formula or process that works for them, but you don’t have to follow someone else’s formula or process.
I can attest to not separating my wet and dry ingredients when baking and I think what I bake turns out just fine! That might sound sacrilegious to some bakers but if my intention is to just whip something up that is going to be tasty and not use a whole bunch of dishes, then I think I’m doing a pretty good job for myself.
This of course does not apply to areas of work or tasks of expertise that do require certain steps to be conducted properly. In no way am I trying to take away from the systems, methodologies, and principles well-established in certain fields. You wouldn’t want a surgeon taking shortcuts while you’re under the knife, would you? There’s many reasons why certain steps in certain lines of work are necessary. But what I’m talking about here are the everyday tasks that we think are necessary or struggle with because of the way we view them.
My goal over the past few years has been to find more ease.
That can come from adding in moments of rest and relaxation, but it can also come from the way I engage in moments throughout the day, every day. I’ve frequently said about myself: I have trouble relaxing. A big part of that script comes from my idea of what relaxing involves. If I imagine that I just have to be sitting down and not doing anything, then yeah that sounds like a drag.
If I reframe my idea of relaxing to involve, say, not doing something under a deadline or not doing something too mentally stimulating, then that is more approachable. Where are places that you could lighten the expectations for how you do something? Essentially, where are places that you could reframe how you think you need to do something?
To go back to the earlier example of painting, if you’re trying to just have fun, then forget about all the stuff that you think is required. If the intention is to create a high-quality, museum-worthy painting, then perhaps you’ll want to investigate what steps make for a vibrant and long-lasting painting.
Many times how we think something needs to be is what keeps us from learning more or diving into something that is new to us. If we just take a step back, we can easily reframe our intention and incorporate some ease into our mind and activities. From that place, we can do things because we want to and not because we think we have to.
Do you hold expectations about how you think things should be done? What’s an area you can reframe with a new intention?
xo,
Melanie
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I have numerous posts here on my blog about different treatments I’ve tried and different approaches I have undertaken in an attempt to heal the constant tension and pain I’ve held in my jaw and neck for the past 2+ years. Pain that has transferred and manifested in several other parts of my body, too. At times the pain subsides and, other times, I wonder how I can keep on living in my body. I’m sure if you deal with TMJ Disorder or have any form of chronic pain you can understand how I feel.
It’s taken a lot of exploration, self-care, and resilience to get me here today. I now bear a fraction of the TMJ pain I once had and my symptoms have nearly gone away. I went from not being able to open my mouth larger than the size of a golf ball to, well, having my face feel more like my face again.
There are some key things that have helped me and I want to share them in case they can be of help to you–wherever you are in your journey to heal TMJD or chronic pain!
Quick definition:
TMJ stands for Temporomandibular joint which is the joint that runs along the side of the face. It begins at the temples and runs down in front of the earlobes and into the jaw. TMJ is not an ailment itself but TMJD (or TMJ Disorder) involves a series of symptoms stemming from that area of the body.
There is a lot that I’ve learned (not only about my TMJ symptoms but) about my overall health and the very interconnectedness of all aches, stressors, symptoms, emotions, and more that I feel needs to be talked about.
Before I dive into how I’ve been able to heal, I want to drop some references to other posts you may want to check out. My process for healing my TMJ disorder and related pains involved me looking into how I could better myself on multiple levels.
Because this is the internet, I will also put the disclaimer that anything I share here is just personal experience and meant to be used for educational purposes and not as a replacement for medical care, professional advice, or otherwise.
My only suggestion would be to try out what stands out to you and know that a combination of the below therapies and tools have work best rather than just one thing alone. Also, be open-minded and be willing to commit to yourself! Healing is on the other side of resistance.
The Mel Makes It Happen Grand List of Tools for TMJ Disorder:
Oral Night Guard
I got a night guard early on when pain in my jaw first started developing. These are easy to obtain at drugstores but I would recommend getting one specially made for you at your dentist/orthodontist because that one will be much more comfortable!
Essential Oils
I’ve tried a variety of essential oils, including Young Living’s PanAway blend or the Saje Wellness Peppermint Halo roll-on for when my jaw had serious pain. Those are my personal favorites but if you have single oils on hand, you can apply a mix of peppermint, rosemary, clove, wintergreen, and helichrysum can be a good one, too. However, what has been incredibly helpful for me has actually been theH. Gillerman Jaw Clenching Remedy. It works subtly to calm the jaw enough to release the muscles. Once the jaw is less focused on clenching, it is more susceptible to the benefits of physical therapy exercises (see below).
CBD
While CBD doesn’t completely take away pain, it does dull pain enough for you to carry on with your day/night. While essential oils tend to provide an invigorating or calming effect (depending on what oil you use), CBD encourages relaxation which can be especially helpful before bed. Anything you can do to help relax you so you’re not clenching is helpful!
Jade Roller
The facial self-care is definitely up when you have TMJ disorder. Ajade rollercan feel very nice, not only because of its cooling effects (when stored in the fridge) but because it helps rub out the muscles. Jade rolling can be done morning or night as an accompaniment to your skincare routine. I like to use the roller to focus near the sides of my face on the muscles a little harder to dig into with my hands alone.
Yoga
There are some yoga stretches that may be helpful when TMJD symptoms extend past the jaw and into the neck, shoulders, and back. I like this 10 min videoto help squeeze out the knots in the upper body. Definitely explore videos on YouTube because there are lots of yoga and stretching videos for any part of the body that needs some loving. Here’sanother good one just in case you like options!
Therapeutic Face Massage
If you don’t have a jade roller, or if you’re just more of a hands-on person, self massage is perfect! I started researching various massages on YouTube and foundthis one to be really helpful.
Chiropractic Care
I started seeing a chiropractor in January 2020 and you can read all about my experience in my 6 month recap post. It took me trying out three different chiropractors to find one with a structured treatment plan aimed at helping my jaw improve. In a situation like this, I was also given physical therapy exercises I could do at home, which I feel are very necessary if you have TMJ issues. It’s worthwhile to get clear on what the professional can help with and constantly reassess treatment as your symptoms change. You want someone who is willing to work with you and not solely lead you down a path they feel is best.
MY TIP: When first looking for a chiropractor, or any professional healthcare assistance, it’s best to call or visit their website to see if they have a specific treatment plan for how to tend to TMJ disorder.
Acupuncture
I’ve also written about my acupuncture experienceand this was one of my favorite treatments. The same rules from above apply (ask questions!). My acupuncturist is more consultation-based so I was able to ask questions and express concerns at the initial and every subsequent visit. I had cupping done, to help draw out the tension, and needles inserted, to target the root of my pain spots. The perk of acupuncture is how relatively quick results are. So, a couple of weeks of treatment will definitely move the needle in the healing direction (pun intended).
Facial Massage
A friend of mine introduced me to qi gong which is a gentle form of movement that helps to maximize your body’s natural energy. One day I curiously searched for qi gong for the face on YouTube and came across someqi gong facial massages! I’d consider these to be different than physical therapy or other types of facial massage. While they aren’t targeted at TMJ pain, I think they help get the energy flowing when my face feels a little stiff or swollen (especially in the mornings).
Dr. Adam Fields TMJ videos
I recommend these more than anything! The exercises outlined in Dr. Field’s firstand secondvideo really help to stretch the jaw in unique ways I hadn’t seen anywhere else. Obviously I’ve sought out many resources and that’s why I’ve put together this list! If you are like me and deal with neck issues also, his series of videos for neck exercises are also outstanding.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage
I want to do a whole post about lymphatic drainage because this whole system is so fascinating! With all of the muscle tension, swelling, and pain happening in the face, jaw, and neck, lymphatic drainage helps to aid in detoxification. This specific style of massage works with the lymphatic system to decrease inflammation and puffiness, which are (in my opinion) frustrating and uncomfortable side effects to TMJ issues. This video is specifically for the jaw, cheek, and neck.
You may be wondering if you read that right or if I made a mistake with the title and the answer is no. I fully meant singing. I started to think about the jaw/neck pain that I had on a multi level way, besides physical. I resonate with the chakra system and in that methodology, dysfunction in the neck and jaw equates with not speaking your truth or underutilizing your communication sector. Singing is a rather fun way of opening up the vocal chords and loosening up the jaw. I began dedicating time to vocal warm ups and singing along to my favorite songs on a regular basis.
Enforcing boundaries
In the same spirit of tapping into the throat chakra, enforcing boundaries is a very important thing to communicate. In the past, I have tended to shy away from saying no and have looked for others to set the pace. This is not only a very passive way to live but it encourages others to walk all over you! I’ve gained more understanding of my values and have thus been practicing laying out my needs with others as clearly as possible. Take what you want from this but exercising this muscle has been so helpful for me.
Speaking my truth, unapologetically
What hurts me the most is not standing up for myself. Not being honest about what matters to me and, instead, morphing to fit what others desire. It is incredibly unsustainable, for one. Secondly, I’ve come into the mindset that each one of us deserves happiness. So dimming our light or belittling ourselves so as not to take up space (literally or figuratively) is only keeping us from blossoming into the most healed and authentic version of ourselves. Do not be afraid to share what is really in your heart!
Stress reduction
Have you heard that stress is the cause of all ails? It is linked to many chronic illnesses and that is largely because it keeps your body in a heightened state of panic, utilizing all of its valuable resources! Think: fight or flight. When your body is stressed out, it isn’t able to spend time allocating resources to engage in bodily processes or heal. Think: rest and digest. Instead of zooming places, rushing through your day, or holding your breath (something I’m guilty of), consider how you can make this very moment a little more peaceful? If you can incorporate relaxation into this moment, and then the next moment, and then the next, you’re better setting your body up to heal itself.
Self-connection
I believe our bodies hold answers to many things about us that we may not even be consciously aware of. A practice I like to do involves sitting in a quiet room alone and taking note of how I feel. Asking myself what the spots I hold pain are saying and what they are asking me to notice. Our bodies really do talk to us but we have to be open to listening. Take what you may from this but connecting to myself in this way has helped me feel more involved in my healing and not just a passenger in the process.
Having a healing mindset
I share this one last because I have struggled to maintain this myself. I feel that my own healing fluctuates a lot and that has made me doubt whether I’m getting better or not. I’ve been working to shift my perspective to not see obstacles as “not healing” but rather a step in the life-long process of healing.
Healing is on the other side of resistance.
There we are! I’ve tried many remedies and techniques to help heal my TMJ disorder symptoms naturally and I’ve covered just about all of them. My jaw has felt better in recent time but I wouldn’t say any one thing alone has taken my jaw pain away. I will say that dedication to healing and being willing to try out a combination of the aforementioned tools has helped me become happier and more able to function in a way that feels “like myself”.
I hope you may give some of these a try and let me know how it goes. Plus, feel free to share any treatments or techniques that have worked for you in the comments. I’d love to make this as large of a resource page as possible!
Lastly, if you know anyone who could use the information on this post, please send it their way!
Are you a fan of affirmations? Saying things like, “I am a money-magnet” or, “I am confident and capable of anything I set my mind on”? I like the intention behind affirmations but they’ve always felt a little surface-level to me.
I started speaking intentions while doing body massages and movements and that completely changed the game!
How to connect the mind and body with an affirmation:
1. Pick a belief or intention you’d like to hone in on.
Ex: for me, I’ve been repeating “I am pain-free and in optimal health”
2. Connect what you’d like to affirm with your body
Ex: massaging my body is my favorite but some other movements that work are: jumping up and down, tapping any part of your body, standing and alternating flexing your feet, or making brushing movements over the body (I love this one if my affirmation involves “letting go” of something). Affirmations can also be said when exercising but I would just recommend keeping the movements gentle and low-impact.
3. Use this practice in the morning to set you up for an amazing day or use anytime you need to remind yourself of what matters most.
Why does this work?
Well, our bodies store and receive information just as our brain does. So the same way you can see something gross and your mind right away says “NO, stay away!”, your body can cringe or tense up in response. So, we can’t simply TELL ourselves to think a certain way, we need to show our body there is trust. This is similar to the principles that EFT therapy is built upon.
Establish trust by saying an affirmation you want to embody and moving in a way that feels good to you. Repetition of this builds trust. Trust builds follow-through on what you’d like to bring to fruition.
Are you a fan of affirmations? If you feel like they’re a little pointless, try adding in some body movements as described above and see if anything changes!
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Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
