Are you surviving or thriving?
A growing number of people are living in a state of prolonged survival mode. For many of us, our bodies have adapted to a high-stress lifestyle and we have learned to tune-out important signals from our bodies. It can be effective, but at what cost?
What is stressing everyone out? Demanding work environments, constant connection to technology, pressure to be productive, the Covid-19 pandemic, horrific events occurring on almost a daily basis.
Our bodies’ job is to keep us alive. And our job is to make sure our body is a safe place to live and that it is equipped to handle stressors. But we should not be in constant survival mode. Living in this physiological state can lead to a decreased immune system, cardiovascular issues, digestive issues, poor focus, poor sleep, not to mention depression and anxiety.
How we treat ourselves is also how we show others how to treat us. When we treat ourselves positively, we show others that we love and take care of ourselves, and that becomes the expectation for how others treat us. For example, if we don’t show ourselves compassion, it is often difficult to receive compassion from others. I think oftentimes we think that self-compassion means we don’t hold ourselves accountable, however, we can accept that we are trying our best and let our experiences help influence our future choices.
From my own experience, the better I meet my own needs, the higher my standards are for how others treat me. I am less likely to find myself in relationships that are not serving me because it is easier to see that perhaps the other person isn’t capable of meeting my needs. Engaging in healthy relationships helps heal old patterns that are no longer beneficial.
I encourage you to offer yourself more compassion and spend time connecting with yourself, noticing how your body responds to situations and other people, spend time in nature, make time for fun, and move your body. Show your body that it is safe. Simple things can help, too. Eat your meals slowly and intentionally, stretch your body throughout the day, work to meet your basic needs (hunger, rest, connection with others), sit with open posture, take intentional time away from your phone.
I believe our bodies are wise and if we really listen to ourselves, we can put ourselves on a good path.