Brilliant
Body
“Thinking
about these well-known facts has led me to three conclusions. First, that
intelligence is present everywhere in our bodies. Second, that our own inner
intelligence is far superior to any we can try to substitute from the outside.
Third, that intelligence is more important than the actual matter of the body,
since without it, that matter would be undirected, formless, and chaotic.
Intelligences makes the difference between a house designed by an architect and
a pile of bricks.”
Deepak
Chopra (Quantum Healing, p.45)
If you
want to learn a lot about how the body functions, Deepak Chopra does a great
job in breaking it down into understandable doses. In writing about the body’s
intelligence, which he defines as “know-how,” he includes such things as how
the body releases adrenalin when we need to boost our capacity to respond to
threats, or to extend our exercise routine. The body also knows when to turn
off the spigot and bring the functions back on-line that shut down in the face
of such pressure—digestion, reproduction, kidney function. The body’s wisdom
can be overridden, but if kept in good condition, it will run itself without a
hitch.
One thing
that has been learned about the body is that intelligence exists everywhere in
it, and not just in the central nervous system. The cells in the body talk to
each other by way of chemical messengers. The pancreas knows to release insulin
when the blood sugar rises higher than healthy without the involvement of the
brain. The heart has its very own nervous system, embedded within the wall between
the atrial chambers—nodes that adjust the rhythm as needed. Faster when we are
active, slower when we rest and sleep. The physical body is, in fact, a massive communication system, more complex than any grid in the world. And it is brilliant.
During
times such as we are living through right now, with a pandemic raging and constant
political and social unrest, we need our brains to listen more closely to our
bodies rather than the other way around. We need to be diligent about rest, and
about balance, and about limiting our exposure to upsetting news and cultural
events that we have no control over. Many people are obsessing over what is going
on politically to the point that their bodies are constantly pumping out
adrenalin and not applying the balancing functions. It’s smart to be mindful of
the things that create worry and stress for you and limit your contact. Exhaustion
is the body’s way of sending that signal.
Pain is another. When we
are tense, stressed, we hold our bodies defensively tight even though we may
not be aware of it. Think of all the times you’ve been driving in heavy traffic
and suddenly realized that you are gripping the steering wheel so hard your
nails are digging into your palms. That’s how we unconsciously tighten our whole
bodies, especially our shoulders and neck when we feel threatened. It makes us
more likely to have accidents, more likely to hurt ourselves and have pain in
those areas.
I’m writing all that to
say this: be aware of your physical body, and nurture it through this difficult
time to the best of your ability. Do whatever works for you to bring calmness
and balance. Remember to stretch and intentionally let go of all the places you
are holding tension. Be kind to yourself. Respect yourself. And give your body
credit for its intelligence by listening to it. We will eventually get through
this and we want to be healthy on the other side.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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