Have you ever heard the quote, “if you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it when it screams?” How often do you actually listen to your body? What do we mean by this?
Let’s think of our bodies as cars.
When you get into your car, you turn the key, and a red light lights up on your dashboard. Immediately you know something is wrong with the car. Do you ignore it, or do you get it fixed? Ultimately, if you ignore it, it’s going to be more expensive in the long run, so ideally, we make time to get it looked at.
Is your body turning on red lights on your dashboard? Are you listening to them or ignoring them hoping they go away?
For example, do you listen when…
You feel the onset of a headache. Do you drink more water to avoid it turning into a migraine? Or do you pop a pain relief mediation and hope for the best?
Your back hurts from doing repetitive motions all day, such as sitting, shovelling, standing etc. Do you take a break and rest, or do you push through it because your almost done and it doesn’t hurt that bad?
Your tooth starts to ache, but only sometimes. Do you go to the dentist or do you ignore it and take a pill?
You can’t keep your eyes open when driving. Do you pull over to take a quick rest or do you turn up the A/C or open a window and push through and drive the last few kms?
You get anxiety about going to a social gathering because you feel obligated but can’t afford it financially or time-wise. Do you suck it up put on a brave face ore respectfully decline?
It’s time to listen to the whispers, and these whispers aren’t all physical. Take time for you. Make that doctor’s appointment, say no to that social outing to give yourself a mental health a break, it’s time to get those red lights on your dashboard looked at. Or next thing you know, you’ll be broken down on the side of the highway with a flat tire, or smoking radiator, or worse!