Source 11  You Looking Inward and The Body

•  Inhabit Your Body

.».  Opening
     You notice it in some, the way they are in their bodies.  We view it at times as confidence yet some are in their bodies in a unique way.  Yes the way they carry themselves plus posture, their clothes too can be a reflection of how they are in their bodies.  Yet look a little closer, they interact with their bodies in a unique way.  Maybe you don’t notice it in others or yourself but from this text do you see how it could be possible to have a different, deeper, conscious relationship (to inhabit) with your body?  Live into your body… 

.».  To Practice
» While stretching I thought about the Expression Inhabit your body and realized they were only words to me, I was not embodying the idea.  At some point you are to feel the idea of Inhabit your body, to move from understanding it (as a concept) to knowing (S4. To Know) which is to be present with it (S9. Presence).  Will you contemplate what these words (feel, know, be and present) mean to you in relation to your body?  
       Note:  You may want to read all of the Topic and then come back to this exercise.

» Sit (stand) with your arms out, open, palms up with elbows bent around waist height.  Semi reaching out yet not fully extended.  This will strengthen your core and lower back.  The intention is about bringing you into your body rather than a workout.  You may notice the same posture from the receiving movement of E2. Prayer Flow. 
       As soon as you extend your arms you will feel something.  A slight bit of effort, an exhale.  Possibly your head dips and you wonder where your life went.  Even if for 15 seconds will you do this exercise, one of the other exercises in the Practice too (possibly).  
       If it’s all working and your life is perfect then stay the course.  If you’d like to change your life and it’s not working then do something, then do something else (more), keep going, doing, being, living… all you get from this exercise is; who you are and how you would like to be.  Who you are in this moment may be pain, there is another way and you are to take action (S5. Action).  
       Note:  I noticed my breath was being held tight when I first tried the exercise.  I noticed the desire to move on to the next part.  Always looking for what’s next or being in the moment is (a) choice.
       That moment of head down, self reflection is fine yet the exercise suggests you go out and live too.  Notice the thoughts (S11. Thoughts) too.  Can you spend even just 15 seconds focused only on you (in your head essentially)?

» I am ok to receive, I am ok to relax my body.
       For one moment simply view the below Expression.  Look at the words, not reading them, not processing them.  Just look at the first block of text like an image, same for the second phrase.  No words in your head, just look, two ideas rather than a sentence.

       + I am ok to receive, I am ok to relax my body.
        
Do you feel pain, frustration, tightness?  Is there a rushing, trying to get it done?  Do you feel the need to fidget, drink (or eat) something, distract yourself?  Is your jaw tight, are to you holding your breath tight while looking?  Anger?  Maybe you want to go do something, go outside (and live) but can’t, aren’t allowing yourself (to).
       Now view the Expression with breath, a few deep inhales and exhales.  It’s not necessary to make it perfect the first time, come back to this one periodically.  It is ok for me to receive, it is ok for me to relax my body.  Maybe now it’s easier to go out and live (with breath).
       Note:  Was your response something like “this is dumb”, that could be ego.  Was it “oh yeah I’ve done stuff like this before”, could be thought.  
       Just try for one moment here to feel rather than describe (S9. Noticing).  For one moment will you believe this could actually work, rather than fighting it or thinking it.  Possibly close your eyes, maybe I don’t need that pain anymore…

» Just for a moment, wherever you are will you briefly pause and inhabit your body?
       Maybe you don’t know “how”, simply pause and see.  What do you feel (to do)?  Start with a breath then posture, maybe smile but focus (inward).
       Note:  I found I crossed my arms to start, this didn’t seem very relaxed to me.  Lots of thoughts came up, none initially about the body (my body).  The thing I noticed most was my propensity to try and distract from the present moment.  My body was more like a “thing” supporting my projects.  The external was the focus…

To Say:
» + be at peace. 
       Repeat this throughout the day, notice when you are not.  Will you hear it coming to you, that calming voice in the back of your mind that comes from another place reminding you of your connection.  Possibly with eyes closed say it to yourself while also imaging it being said to you (S7. Essence) like someone behind you whispering into you.  As much a declaration as a receiving.
       Note:  Periodically pause through the day and notice your body: rushing, clenching, tightness, calm, loose, free…

.».  Expressions
Awareness:
» + Inhabit your body.
       The way we live (in general) is very disconnected from our bodies.  Inhabit your body (is to) be aware of your body.
       Note:  I recall as a runner, mid season when in really good shape I would almost float across the trails, sort of flying step to step.  Beyond fitness inhabiting your body is the internal feeling of being one with your body.
» Just watch people, watch the way they are in their bodies.  
       There is an almost heaviness (at times nervousness) about them the way they walk, move through time.  Some are so disconnected you wonder how they can move (through) the world at all.  Others though are just this 5% off from the next way to be in life.  This awareness is independent of physical appearance yet the physical can be a reflection of our relationship with our bodies and effected when disconnected.
       Note:  It would be easy to read this text and judge (S2. Judgement) someone for not meeting a perception of the body.  Maybe they have some physical things they are working on, genetic, possibly a karma predisposition yet they may still be inhabiting their body.
» Whatever we do we do in our body.
       So are you rushing then you are rushing (in) your body.
       Are you stressed then you are stressing (in) your body.
       Frustrated, annoyed, then pain (in) your body.
       Angry, anger (in) your body.
              In S1. Foundational Principle we explore the idea recognize the anger is inside you.
       I often think of this idea of a hypothetical meter attached to the body, monitoring our health.  Of course we don’t have this but imagine if you were to get angry and the meter shows “you just lost 1.5 days from the end of your life” and happy “you just added 3 days to your life”.  How might you change your behavior if this were the case?
       Some are very outgoing, possibly that is how they embrace life.  We are not meant to become docile complacent human beings.  There is a flamboyance to us even more so in some cultures.  The converse of the meter idea is would you rather live fully knowing you shortened your life by some amount or live always taking care, doing the right thing living longer but living less… There are no words I can type here telling you ‘do it this way’.  This is the journey we each are on, a journey of discovery.
       Note:  Would you tell someone who skydives “it’s not worth the risk”.  For one it may not be for another it may.  There is no right or wrong to these choices only consequences.  Happy can be seen as a consequence of an action (skydiving in this case).  The real question is are you doing that activity free of ego, free of fear…
» There is slouching relaxed and there is contraction holding your body tight.
       The more you recognize the difference and when you do each the more you inhabit your body.
» Be conscious of your body.
       Maybe you don’t need to be so destructive to your body.  Some of the destruction is emotional (mental) causing the physical ailments.  Inhabiting your body can start through awareness of the (unwanted) thoughts and releasing the victim mentality (S2. Victim).
       + Know your mind, know your body.
       Like meditating to know or find your essence (S7. Find Your Essence), know your body…
» Inhabiting your body is to stop taking it (life) out on your body.
       To be responsible for your body.  Life can be (is) challenging don’t make your body a casualty of your choices.  Addiction, look at how that effects the body.  Why there is addiction someone else can answer, here we only point out how all of what we do effects the body (positively, negatively).
» There is not enough time to take care of me, my body.
       The fallacy of living we at times embrace.  When this feels like the situation look at guilt, ego, worthy (feeling unworthy) and onto choice (all are Topics from the Practice).  You may be really busy and don’t “have time”.  Has it ever broken down at a very inconvenient moment for you, which direction are you trending towards (health or hurt)?  Did you blame someone, some situation, essentially did you not take responsibility for your body (S5. Responsibility) embracing victim.
» One benefit of inhabiting your body is you know (more quickly) when it’s not working.
       + Get to know your body at a deep(er) level…

You:
» We make the choice each day, each moment to be or not be in our bodies.
       We express this negatively by rushing and possibly injuring ourselves, or eating too fast and then not feeling good.  We express this positively when we stop for a moment and feel the warm breeze on our face or the gentle touch by another while talking.  
       The line between heal and hurt is nonexistent.  In other words there is no reason beyond perception to hurt.  There could be a cost (S5. Cost) you are unwinding, even then don’t accept that it’s hopeless, that you have to hurt.  To not accept hopelessness is to embrace the reality (S1. Reality) of miracles.
» Cultivate the body.
       “My body, oh I try to do a good job taking care of it”.  Recognize there is no “it” when it comes to your body.  There is only “You” which includes the body.
» Notice your body.  
       How are you interacting with your body?  Recognize the fallacy in this question.  You don’t interact with it.  Your body is you, realize this and nurture you (you, body) from here forward.  You (including your body) are interacting with time (S5. Time).
» + When you take care of yourself you meet others who are taking care of themselves.
       Take care of your body (which is to take care of yourself) and move your life forward.  This is the first step to worthy (S4. Worthy).
» + How to cultivate the body through the entire life?
       + I am the answer to this question for you.
       Connection.  Not only you to your body, nurture your relationships (S6. Relationships).
       Note:  We define the use of the “+” in the Introduction with the idea to contemplate this text coming from a deeper place.
 
Gratitude, Presence:
» + The Physical embodiment of presence.
       Is to be (inhabit) in your body.
» Be in gratitude for the body.
       The body is a miracle.  Without the body the concept of “miracle” would not exist.  I can’t contemplate miracles, philosophy, life without my body.  Yet I can contemplate life beyond the body (S11. Your True Relationships) while in the body.  
       You may make the connection of how miracles are typically associated with here, practical physical changes that occur in unexplained ways.  Miracles commonly occur for the body (like healing).
       As you inhabit your body you also allow the body to act (almost independently of your thoughts) to embrace (construct) miracles.
              You (as thought):  no, I can’t, I’m not worthy, that is too much for me (blah, blah, blah) all negative hesitation.
              You (inhabiting your body): the body just goes, almost seemingly involuntarily towards the miracles (situations, faith). This doesn’t mean everything will heal.  In S10. Faith we look at how faith extends beyond the outcome: » I don’t know what’s going to happen and we have to be ok with that… This is the basis for faith. 
       Note:  Perhaps my Soul is noticing the same conversation looking down on me here?
» Inhabiting your body in a sense is about kicking-them-out.
       Removing their fears from your being through your body.  The body then is like a mechanism for raising consciousness.  Nurture your body yet realize its many applications (including releasing fear experiencing joy).
» I am in gratitude for my body.
       You can be you only have to shift…  When you take the time to notice your body, to inhabit your body you are the gratitude for your body, you embody gratitude (S9. Gratitude).   This is the space from which you create miracles (happen through you for you).
       Note:  am I, are you?
       + I am in gratitude for my body.
» Noticing your body is a way to enhance your presence.
       Noticing is beyond simply looking at your body, the intention here is to feel your body.  Yes the pain but will you notice more and more when you feel good as well?  You could question what is driving that good feeling (and how to attract in more)?
» Being present in your body is a way to feel, a way to eliminate fear when done proactively.
» + Inhabit your body through being.
       You can feel this, when you are being you notice your body.  The separation of you and the body disappears.  The realization that you are your body becomes evident.
       » Stillness (being) is to inhabit your body.
       Where are you in this moment, in each moment.  We can learn to live beyond the body (taking “it” for granted) this is not evolving, this is getting things done, completed.  Soon with this way of existing your life will complete.  
       Being (stillness) is creation, not creating, creation (S1. Evolving).  The idea of perfection in a person (human being) where you feel (S4. To Feel) life.  Beyond the thoughts (collective, mind) there is being, to Feel.
       Note:  The foundation of this Topic is focused on the body yet the perfection here is about You (S11. The You).

Inhabit:
» To inhabit your body is to acknowledge your worth.
       To acknowledge your worth is to feel.
» When overemotional get (be) in your body.
       Dance, shake, fist pump work out, bounce work out.
» You see people walking around disconnected from their body.
       This causes unhappiness, mopping around, crankiness, fear.  Posture is one way forward.
        How about when sad?  I don’t really want to inhabit my body or think about anything (other than the sadness).
              + Just be.  
              This releases the hopelessness.
» When you do this right (inhabit your body) you may find yourself smiling.
       You may smile noticing how good your body is and how well you are connected.  You can also smile when the opposite is the situation knowing you can change it.  It’s amazing what a small change towards inhabiting your body makes in how you feel, how you move through time.  In a sense the body gives you perspective and possibly on to reality (S1. Reality) when you listen…

.».  Examples
    Have you ever been nervous and maybe started sweating, with that prickly feeling on your skin.  “Did it just get hot in here”, throats dry.  The external situation is bringing up an internal physicality to the moment.  There is the opposite effect too, during a really great moment your body may feel amazing, there is a sense of invincibility, “Yes, I’m up for anything”.
       You start to notice how the stress, anger affect the body negatively and how joy heals (the body and mind, see E3. Joy.).  Both are opportunities to notice your body, from there recognize the opportunity to inhabit your body (always).  Just for a moment will you realize the journey you are on including your body (presently).  This is to inhabit your body.
       After a good hard days work you sort of slowly make your way to your car, all the stress gone.  No thought just you slowly making your way through time.  That lack of thought allows you to (momentarily) feel the idea of to inhabit your body.  There can be a similar feeling post sex when you are without a care or thought.
       So you are trying to get me to realize there is something else going on?
       + Indeed, if you will.

    In Sailing there is a saying one hand for the boat one hand for you.  In tending to the sails keep one hand on the lifeline… In a sense this is you staying connected (holding on) to the boat.  Bring your body with you on the adventure the same way, remain connected to your body through the entire life (journey).

    There could be a moment, right before going out for the evening when all is right with you.  You have the clothes you like on, you feel good and everything is clicking.  If you were for a moment to stop and notice your body what might you feel?  When young our health can be that sort of non issue, you don’t even think about it, it’s just there and you live life.  “Do you want to go do…?”. ‘Yes of course’.
       Sometimes as we get older there can be health challenges, you notice it more then.  Regardless of age we can take it (the body) for granted, we can notice the pain and limitations.  Neither of these scenarios is to inhabit your body and there is another way through.

.».  Summary
    If nothing else… one awareness I would hope you come away with from this Topic is simply awareness of your body.  May you occasionally pause and notice your body, notice the impact (good, bad) of the situation on your body and how you control a lot of it…
       The situation is making me uncomfortable (and angry)?
       You are possibly choosing to be uncomfortable through the situation, making it difficult.
       Beyond this you may come to the realization (E3. Realization): there is beauty in this life and to experience that for as long as you can you will inhabit your body… maybe it really does work.

(S11. Inhabit Your Body)  © 2023 Busacca