Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
August 22, 2022
This Week's Anchor
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit,
who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
How many of you can relate to being a person who is great at taking care of everyone else, but has an incredibly difficult time turning that care inward for yourself? Some of us are deeply in tune with the needs of others to the extent that we can discern distress from a mile away. But ask us what our own needs are or how our body expresses stress, anxiety, trauma, and/or depression, and…crickets. How is it that we are such great listeners and observers of the world, but not of ourselves?
Our anchor scripture this week is another familiar passage. It calls us to acknowledge the sacredness of our bodies—seeing them as temples of the Holy Spirit meant to honor God. This scripture is often associated with our conviction to care for our body in many ways, from what we put in it to what we do with it. As I reconnected with this scripture, I couldn’t help but think about how we often disregard our bodies despite our bodies’ clever ability to tell us exactly what it needs. In fact, the issue is rarely that we don’t know what our body needs, but instead that we are not listening to what it is saying. If the Holy Spirit dwells within us, as our anchor scripture suggests, not being in tune with our bodies could translate to not being in tune with the Holy Spirit. Consider the times in your life when you felt something in your “gut” that later revealed itself. In this way, what we feel and experience in our minds and bodies carries important information not only for what is going on around us but also within us.
One of my favorite poems highlights the relevance of acknowledging and welcoming what we feel:
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.
-Rumi-
From emotions and feelings to physical sensations, our body has many ways of revealing our needs and in the spirit of Rumi, we can invite them in and learn great lessons from them. So, how can we be more in tune with our bodies to better understand what’s happening within us and what we need to support ourselves? Here are a few shifts we can make in our lives to notice and respond to our bodies more intentionally.
Things to Notice
How we express ourselves emotionally—Because we are constantly changing and evolving, it is helpful to become creative and flexible in naming how we feel. At times, it can be normatively difficult to name what is happening in our bodies. Therefore, taking time to engage in self-reflection and introspection can be useful. As we explore our complex minds and bodies, we recognize that multiple emotions can co-exist and that how we feel in this moment can shift in the next. For some journaling how we feel is helpful [Follow this link to purchase a guided journal for women of Color]
What physical sensations in our body might represent—We have a fancy word in the mental health field called “somatization”. Simply put, our physical and physiological symptoms are not always solely linked to a physical and/or physiological issue. Sometimes that headache is our body’s way of saying we’re stressed or tired. Sometimes that chest pain is a way of our body expressing anxiety. And that stomachache can represent us being triggered. One way to better understand these sensations is to log when they occur, making note of patterns (e.g., Does that headache happen after a conversation with a particular person? Or do you find yourself feeling physically drained after a work meeting? Does that chest pain come when you are in intense stress periods? etc.). Common sensations to be aware of include (but are not limited to) headaches, muscle tension, chest pain, digestive issues/pain, and shortness of breath.
Assessing our basic needs—We have another mental health/psychology approach illustrated in the acronym HALT. It involves being in tune with if we are hungry, angry, lonely, and/or tired, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and addressing basic needs that can interfere with our wellbeing. When we neglect one or more of these areas, our health and overall well-being can be jeopardized. When our basic needs fall short, it isn’t unusual to feel off and have decreased ability to be our best selves.
Ways to Respond
Tend to your basic needs—We underestimate the harmful impact of neglecting our basic needs. Therefore, when we become more in tune with what our body needs, we open the door to taking better care of ourselves. When you notice you’re tired, make time for rest. When you don’t feel physically well, prioritize your health (e.g., water intake, eating habits, vitamin intake, etc.). If your routine feels chaotic, restructure and organize your day/week. If you are feeling lethargic, find ways to incorporate exercise into your everyday life.
As you become more aware of your thoughts/feelings/sensations, make note of what occurs around/leads to how you feel. Ask yourself questions such as, what happened before I felt this way? Did anything trigger it? What was I doing when I started feeling this way? How long did it last? Did it change/evolve? Did anything/anyone help it? Have I felt this way before?
Lead with self-compassion—We enhance our lives when we treat ourselves with the compassion that we freely give to others. Approaching ourselves in this way helps to lessen shame and self-criticism and enhance self-empowerment. Make it a priority to be open, gentle, and understanding with yourself as you grow in listening to and responding to your body’s needs.
As we enter this week, let us thoughtfully listen to our resiliently revealing bodies. May our emotions help us understand ourselves. May our thoughts and sensations illuminate our needs. And may our bodies guide and provide us with meaningfully Divine wisdom.
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
How can you be more intentionally in tune with your mind, body, and soul?
What intention(s) do you want to set to connect and/or reconnect with being grounded this week?
Related Scriptures to Ground You Through this Week
Psalm 100
Mark 6:31
Romans 14:7-9
1 Peter 2:4-5
1 Peter 5:6-9
3 John 1:2-4
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
“When you take care of yourself, you’re a better person for others.
When you feel good about yourself, you treat others better.”
Solange Knowles
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