The Safer You Feel, The More You Can Heal

The safer you feel the more you can heal. I have been exploring this a lot lately of what facilitates healing in the body. What I have seen with my clients and in my own experience is that anything that activates our fight or flight response, increases our stress, and makes us feel unsafe can slow down or halt our healing entirely.

No matter our best efforts of ensuring we're consuming whole natural foods, moving our body in nourishing ways, and trying to think positive thoughts if we feel unsafe either with what is happening in the present moment or past trauma the body is holding onto, it can be exponentially harder to heal whatever symptoms are present and discover a weight that feels easy to maintain.

I have heard many of my clients say that the sense they're unsafe can feel like a tape playing in the background at all times. This can make it so much more difficult to hear what our body needs physically and emotionally at any moment. Before you choose any food to eat at any meal, here are some actions you can take first to support your body in feeling safe, cultivating a relaxation response in your system, making it easier to choose foods that support you in feeling how you want to feel in the moment and long term as well.

1. Describe your environment. When we feel unsafe, sometimes we are reflecting on moments from our past or worrying about what could be in the future. Describing your environment objectively can bring you back into your body to experience that right here and right now in this exact moment you are safe.

2. Recall a time when you felt safe and held or even when you just received someone's kindness and compassion. Bringing forth a memory that supports us in feeling heard and met and seen can invoke those same sensations in your body in the present moment.

3. Close your eyes, put your hands on your belly, and on a count of 4 breathe in through your belly and then exhale on a count of 4. The stories in your mind are not real. The past is in the past. We don't know what the future holds. What is real and tangible is you breathing right here and right now.

All of these tools can support with shifting your body into a relaxation response. When we are emotionally satiated and nourished by our own presence, it can make it that much easier to decide what physical nourishment from food is going to support you in cultivating the sensations and emotions you're looking to feel. Your food choices can help continue the feelings of calm and relaxation and safety you just fostered in your body by consuming foods that also support you in feeling safe.

If you're not sure what these foods might be for your unique system I'm here for you on this discovery journey! Reach out at support@stephaniemara.com anytime with any questions.