Remembering That We Are Not Separate
We live in a culture that treats the mind and body as separate—sometimes even as adversaries. We try to outthink our emotions, push through pain, and use willpower to override fatigue. Success is often measured by how much we can ignore our bodies in service of our ambitions. But this fragmentation comes at a cost.
Chronic stress. Burnout. Disordered eating. Anxiety. Difficulty sleeping. Aches and ailments that defy diagnosis. These are not just isolated issues—they are signs of disconnection. They are symptoms of forgetting that the body is not a machine to be managed, but an intelligent, expressive part of who we are.
The mind-body connection is not a metaphor—it is a biological reality. Every thought we have sends signals through our nervous system. Every emotion has a physical correlate. The vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the body, is a key player in our emotional regulation. Research shows that when we practice mindfulness, breathing techniques, or even compassionate touch, we influence our heart rate, digestion, immune system, and mood. These practices don’t just help us feel better mentally—they restore coherence across our whole system.
Yet we are conditioned to override the body’s messages. To ignore hunger. To dismiss pain. To silence intuition. In doing so, we lose access to a powerful source of wisdom. Inner work invites us to repair this rupture. It teaches us that listening to the body is not indulgent—it is essential for healing, growth, and wholeness.
The body speaks in sensations: tightness, ease, nausea, tingling, tension, warmth. These signals are clues, not inconveniences. They help us understand what’s happening below the surface—where old stories live, where unprocessed grief lingers, where joy waits to be felt. When we ignore the body, we miss the deeper truth. When we learn to listen, we become more aligned with our needs, our limits, and our aliveness.
May is a month of blooming—a season when nature reminds us that growth is embodied. The trees are not just thinkingabout blossoming—they are doing it. They are fully in their process. What if we gave ourselves the same permission?
To reconnect mind and body is to come home. It is to remember that we are not simply thinking beings—we are feelingones. We are breath and heartbeat and presence. And when we practice from this place, whether through movement, stillness, or awareness, we tap into an intelligence that is both ancient and immediate.
Inner work that centers the body—like somatic practices, yoga, breathwork, or body-based inquiry—doesn’t just soothe symptoms. It helps us integrate. It reminds us that healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken, but about reclaiming what has always been whole.
Reflective Questions
How often do you pause to notice what your body is telling you?
What patterns do you override in service of productivity or perfection?
What would it mean to treat your body as an ally, not an obstacle?
Where does ease live in your body—and how can you invite more of it?
Practice for May
A Simple Body Awareness Meditation
Set aside 10 minutes in a quiet space. Sit or lie down comfortably. Gently close your eyes and bring attention to your breath. No need to change it—just observe.
Slowly scan through your body, starting at the crown of your head and moving down to your toes. As you bring awareness to each area, notice sensations without judgment. Is there tension, heat, coolness, tingling, numbness, or ease?
If you find a place of discomfort, simply breathe into it. Imagine softening around it. If you find a place of peace or openness, linger there.
When you're finished, take a few deep breaths and open your eyes slowly. Ask yourself: What did my body tell me today?