Monday (8/13) is the application deadline for The Next Step in Sydney on 8/23.  If you’re an established business owner, author or speaker who wants to rise to a whole new level of success, then consider spending a day with Reid Tracy, president of Hay House and me.  We’ll get in a room with a small group and coach you to radically upgrade the way you do business.  Interested?  You can learn more here.

I’m live on the radio this week (8/13 at 5pm ET/2pm PT) and I’d love to talk to you!  You can join me by visiting HayHouseRadio.com and call for coaching at (866) 254-1579.

Have a terrific week!

Love,

Cheryl

p.s. – Need a little Divine Direction? Use the “Touch of Grace” button on our homepage here.

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Topic of the Week

Body Talk

This week’s newsletter ran in 2009 after I spent a weekend teaching with Dr. Joan Borysenko.  Joan is one of the smartest women I know and a dear, dear friend.  We spent a lot of time talking about the importance of listening to the body.  Here’s what I wrote…

During one discussion, Joan and I talked about what happens to the body when we neglect to get our needs met. As I mentioned the importance of speaking our truth, Joan reminded the audience of the consequences of not doing so: “If we say yes to something while our bones are screaming “NO!” we need to be aware of what that does to the body. The tension this creates immediately releases stress hormones whether we are aware of it or not. These stress hormones engage the body’s fight or flight system.  And if we do this continuously (override our needs), we wear down our adrenals which then compromises the immune system.”

Joan’s comments are an important reminder of why it’s necessary to live according to your truth. In my experience, both personally and with clients, the body is often the last place for emotional distress to reveal itself. When problems are ignored or feelings are buried, they eventually show up as physical issues. The good news is that when we understand this vital communication system, we can use it to heal. We can ask our body for clues.

I remember when I suffered from chronic neck pain and finally figured out what was going on. By getting quiet and asking my neck to tell me what the problem was, my answer came in the form of an image. I saw the computer screen in my office and, as I stayed with that image, I heard an inner voice tell me that I was spending too much time working and I needed to cut back. Within three days of limiting the time I sat at my desk, the pain disappeared.

Your body is a powerful antenna that transmits the truth when you learn to pay attention.  Where do you experience chronic problems? What might your body be trying to tell you? If you suffer from back pain, for instance, you may not feel supported in life. Your body might be asking you to speak up and get help. Or, if you keep getting a cold or feeling run down, your body might be alerting you to the fact that it’s time to resign as General Manager of the Universe.

When you learn to see your body as a messenger, you’ll give yourself access to valuable life changes that may need to be made.

Start using your antenna. Check out our “Take Action Challenge” and learn to let your body speak to you. Then, when it does, be sure to do something about it.

Take Action Challenge

This week, be mindful of how your body feels. Where do you experience consistent tension, pain, pressure, or discomfort? Once you identify a specific physical area, set aside some time to investigate. Get quiet and ask your body:

What are you trying to tell me about myself? My life?

What changes are you challenging me to make?

What image best reflects the problem?

If you don’t get an answer right away, be patient. Pay attention to that part of your body throughout the week and notice what happens.  Be open-minded.  Sometimes the answers come in unusual ways.

I may have shared this video in the past, but when it was sent to me again this week, I had to replay it.  It’s 44 seconds of pure joy, sure to promote the release of feel-good chemicals.  You can watch it here.  Thanks, Charlotte!