Lose Weight -Love is a Listening Practice | uxa2.com

One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is to develop a practice of self-love. Love flourishes by building skills to support the nervous system even in the midst of challenges and uncertainty. The practice adds sustainability to short- and long-term goals and connects us to our purpose. Love is the meeting place of peace and action. Love starts with listening.

Love is harmony, the harmony of cells

Think of an event in your life when you felt understood and accepted. Maybe it was a time when you were worried about something in the future. Or maybe you endured the pain of a mistake longer than you wanted to. You decided to speak your truth to this person – to tell them about your feelings and fears. They would sit and listen until you had nothing left to say, instead of trying to tell you to get over it or give advice on how to fix something. “Sounds like things are tough for you right now. Thanks for sharing that with me.”

As you read this and think, imagine how it felt in your body to be heard. Visualize the sensation you felt—perhaps it was a sense of greater flow and ease—like a weight had been lifted off your chest. The recipient of your expression created an environment to honor your feelings. And often listening is enough. Listening is a form of love.

Love is the harmony of cells.

Love is the harmony of cells. We are made up of trillions of cells that communicate with each other. Substances known as hormones and neurotransmitters are transmitted through blood vessels and nerves. Almost every cell in the body has cortisol receptors. Cortisol is a stress hormone that prepares the body to attack, defend, conserve energy, or hide (fight, flinch, freeze, or fawn). The adrenal glands secrete this along with adrenaline and norepinephrine to prepare the body to deal with something currently on the way, stressor. A stressor is something in the moment, real or imagined, that gets our attention. Even a thought can hold us captive.

It’s not hard to imagine the bodily sensation you feel when you perceive damage. It’s a whole-body experience: heightened awareness, faster heart rate, shallow breathing, and forward-facing posture. You may feel pressure in your chest or neck pain.

You may even notice these feelings when you think about the stressor as you read this. Now take a few full breaths. Feel how it feels as the breath lifts your chest and the air expands your lungs. Notice how your thoughts diminish as you focus your attention on the body.

Breathing creates space between the first stress reaction. This is how we start to listen to our body. It’s an act of love. Breathing nourishes the body with oxygen. Breathing slows the heart rate and lowers blood pressure (reference). While stress reactivity and anxiety are associated with a faster heart rate and higher blood pressure, the opposite occurs with slow breathing, creating a state of relaxation. In this environment, there is a greater balance between reactivity and calm – a process that allows for flexibility and creativity. It is a state of cellular harmony.

How to love yourself more?: Start by listening

What if we could turn the signal of potential threat into open curiosity while helping our nervous system return to stability? The signal fades and we feel returning to a stable state. We can do this ourselves, starting with taking a deep breath and allowing time before we act. We can do this by setting boundaries for others about what you can be responsible for and what you don’t need to spend energy on.

Love begins as a listening exercise. Imagine meeting someone you’re interested in and getting to know them more and more by creating an inviting environment for them to tell their truth. The same goes for listening to ourselves and our bodies.

Love’s first duty is to listen. When we listen to ourselves without judgment and with curiosity, we open ourselves to what our body needs at the moment. Although our struggles are not removed, we can face ourselves with compassion and acceptance. Listening reduces suffering in an instant. After that, healing can begin.

Listening practice

Here are a few things you can try when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed:

• Listen – When you feel anxious or stressed, scan your body for possible feelings. Look for areas of increased tension or pressure, such as the chest, neck, or abdomen.
• Breathe – Take several deep and slow breaths. Exercise prioritizes how you feel in the moment and allows the body to integrate and imagine.
• Note – Stay aware of how the body changes with breathing. You may find that the cloud of trapped thoughts disappears. You may notice a softening and easier feeling in your posture.
• Confirm – When we become aware of the state of relaxation, we can decide to strengthen our abilities. Empowerment creates a path to self-confidence, resilience and creativity. You can affirm your feelings with one powerful sentence: “I noticed a moment of suffering. I will take care of myself through this.” or “I eat into this moment to let go of my fear and move forward.”
• Move – Movement transforms stress into a digestible form. It releases stress from our body. There are many forms in circulation. It can be a statement, as in the affirmation above; it can look like a walk; or it can take the form of writing, music, and art. The most beautiful part of loving practice is that there are limitless ways to channel our energy into growth and flourishing.

Summary

The article is a reminder that to love ourselves we must first listen. Listening nurtures non-judgmental acceptance and restores the body to harmony. Listening practice stabilizes stress reactivity and opens channels of creative expression.