Everyone has a Body Compass
We’re all born connected to our bodies. Babies know when they’re tired, hungry, need to be changed or held. They don’t stop to consider if it’s convenient for their caregiver. Small children are very clear in expressing their likes, dislikes, and interests. Expressing them with their developing vocabulary and body. Picture the scrunched face, closed mouth, and shaking head of a toddler who doesn’t want to eat the pureed broccoli. We can learn to experience sensations just like kids do - with absolute acceptance, without question or judgement.
As we grow up, we absorb cultural and familial expectations and begin to override the body sensations with our minds. Learning when it’s “okay” to pass on the broccoli and when we need to eat it regardless of our own desire. Our cultures tell us what to believe, disbelieve, and how to live a good life. As kids, we trust our caregivers, who in turn, have learned to rely on logic, reason, and thinking over the sensations in their body.
So many of us have learned to override our bodily sensations when they don’t align with cultural “shoulds”. Stomach feeling empty and hungry, but you’re in the middle of a meeting? You wait to eat after the meeting and judge the person snacking on almonds. Interested in singing in the choir, but “our family aren’t singers”? You join the computer club and make fun of the kids who sing with gusto.
What is the Body Compass?
Imagine a line with multiple points. At one end is -10, 0 in the middle, and +10 at the other end. Negative numbers represent dissatisfaction, and positive numbers represent satisfaction. Your body sensations will vary along the line, by both type and intensity. Negative sensations may include things like tension, constriction, shallow breathing, or frowning. Positive sensations may include smiling, sighing, release, openness, or tingling. The sensations are stronger as you travel away from 0 (neutral). The sensations, and words used to describe them, are unique to each individual.
For example, in my Body Compass an 8 is fluttery energy in my chest and flushed cheeks, where a -2 is tension and slight curling forward of my shoulders. For one of my clients, an 8 is a straight spine and open, light stomach sensation. And their -2 is a wrinkled feeling on their forehead.
Signs and Impact of Overriding your Body Compass
When we ignore our Body Compass, things typically go wrong in the following order:
We are moody for no known reason
Experience body aches (pain or discomfort)
Experience illness or feeling unwell
Life situations fall apart (work, relationships)
Self medicate through behaviour (ie. Social media scrolling) or consumables (ie. Food, alcohol)
All systems fail or we experience a crash
Benefits of Reconnecting with your Body Compass
Begin to notice when you’re making decisions only from your mind
Reduce cyclical thoughts and begin to trust your Self
Make conscious decisions to follow or not follow cultural expectations
Live a life that feels in integrity with your personal values and beliefs
Life becomes more pleasant and satisfying
Experience less confusion or irritation
Clarity on how you feel in complex situations or when facing a difficult decision
Reconnecting and following your body’s messages is not always easy as we’re confronting cultural beliefs we’ve carried for years. The challenge of change and being in alignment, feels better, more rewarding and energizing than staying stuck and unhappy.
Change is challenging, and having someone to ask questions and act as a guide can feel supportive and nurturing. I’m here to be that guide, book a complementary call to learn more and decide if reconnecting with your body compass is best for you.
