The small change Physical Circle of Wellness: HONOR YOUR BODY

We spend time learning to love others unconditionally. What if your body deserved that same grace?"

Nearly ten years have passed since that fateful day in January 2017, when a stroke attacked Mia’s brain, causing massive damage to her body. She spent the first few months of rehabilitation relearning how to walk, feed herself, speak, read, and write – childhood milestones most of us take for granted. Determined to regain some level of independence, Mia embraced every physical rehabilitation tool her medical team offered.

But as her wellness coach and healing companion, I knew her rehab journey would be long and hard, and physical tools alone wouldn't be enough. So when she went home in March, I gave her a set of wholistic wellness tools - a journal and pen to capture her thoughts and remind her of what she had left; along with affirmation cards to help build resilience and motivate her to “honor her body.”

In April, using voice activation on her phone, Mia made her first gratitude list — ten things she was thankful for. Three of them pertained to her body: 1) I can walk. 2) I am not peeing on myself. 3) The Lift (her rehab staff).

By summer, she was walking with a cane, reading from first-grade books, and her writing had improved. Her outpatient rehab team - which now included a music therapist -  all raved about Mia’s remarkable progress. What they didn't know was that a journal and a few affirmation cards were doing the heavy lifting - gradually teaching her to “honor her body” despite the wounds it had endured.

Whether it's a mild discomfort or something as shattering as a stroke, sickness has a way of bringing the circles of life back into focus. It should be our urgent reminder to love our bodies unconditionally.

How do you “honor your body?” You start with basic tools that a kindergartener can use – it’s what Mia had to do - and befriending it with GRACE:

Gratitude –appreciate it as the only vessel through which you experience life!

Recognize its worth - No matter its shape, size, or ability, it is priceless!

Acknowledge its warning signals - rest it when it’s tired, stressed, and in pain; respect its limits!

Care for it unconditionally –nourish, hydrate, and move it –simply because it deserves it!

Embrace it with Kindness - especially on the days it falls short, that’s when Grace matters most!

Kudos to you if you know how to love your body unconditionally! I’m still learning.

But if you’re living with a chronic condition or just need a boost, below are three journaling prompts I hope will inspire you. So grab your power tools and ask yourself:

1) “What is one thing my body did today that I can appreciate? How has my body shown strength or resilience since my diagnosis, even in ways I might have overlooked?”

2) “If my body could speak to me right now, what would it say it needs most? What is one way I can respond to that need today?"

3) “What lesson has my diagnosis invited me to discover?”

Honor your body; Be Well!

For additional wellness tips, subscribe to my small change Weekly Wellness Tips at https://www.myrtlerussell.com/contact-us.