I’ve decided it feels most aligned right now to begin each blog by setting the tone of what’s happening around me as I write — so I’d like to invite you into my living room.
I’m sitting on my couch, a pillow tucked behind my back, propping me up in a way that feels both strong and supportive.
Only the lamp on the side table next to me is on, softly illuminating the apartment and leaving everything else feeling gentle and calm.
“Faith’s Hymn” by Beautiful Chorus is playing on my Spotify — and I’ll admittedly probably have it on repeat until I feel done writing for the night.
This song reminds me so much of the early stages of my healing journey… crying in yoga classes surrounded by strangers I didn’t know, but somehow felt safe enough to fully release around.
It’s funny how this song can still bring me back to that space — not crying in a yoga class (although I’m never opposed to that, lol) — but back into my body in a way that helps me listen more deeply to what’s ready to come to the surface.
It’s interesting how music does that, huh?
The way its frequency echoes what’s already moving inside of us… helping bring it to life.
How profoundly beautiful is that.
A few weeks ago I made a post on instagram lightly speaking about the energetics behind food and how the language we choose while eating deeply reflects how our body digests.
To speak on that idea a bit… in the post I touch on the brain + gut connection and how they are in constant communication. If your mind feels stress… you gut will mirror that.
So lets take that idea and bring it to life — when we allow thoughts that bring on stress or negative emotions to be present while we are eating, our digestive system reflects that. It mirrors the stress
And what happens when our digestion is mirroring stress? Slower or sluggish digestion, bloating or heaviness, a decrease in the release of digestive enzymes making food harder to breakdown which then leads to a decrease in nutrient absorption…
That’s just to name a few but this plays into that idea of I eat all the right foods but still don't feel my best or I still can’t lose weight…
We realize here it’s not only about the food it’s about the state your body is in when receiving the food.
The other day I was in my shower (which you will learn quickly that the shower is my thinking and receiving space) and I was really sitting with this mind body gut connection idea and I thought… where else does this show up, how else does this idea influence my life and other peoples lives in a way that doesn’t represent food and I immediately got brought back to social media.
~ I’m taking an intentional pause to say I’m not here to just sh*t on social media, because I also use it, I scroll on it, and I enjoy it…but I think its really important now more than ever to understand the real impact it also has. ~
~ unpaused ~
As a women’s health coach and hairdresser, I have the pleasure of listening to many women during my week. And some rotating language I hear is:
“I saw this on social media.”
“Ugh, I saw a video that said I should be doing this.”
“I watched a reel and I think this is what’s wrong with me.”
“Instagram said I have a hormone imbalance.”
“I bought this because it’s supposed to make me lose weight.”
“Did you see what so-and-so posted? I’m going to start doing that.”
You saw a video where someone starts their morning with bone broth, an hour of meditation, followed by all their supplements and morning sunlight — and now you feel the pressure to pick up that exact routine because that will finally be the thing that makes you feel good, makes you look your best.
And next month, it’s something else.
Because no wait I saw another video and maybe that’s the thing.
Wait, maybe it’s this new tool. Maybe it’s this new supplement I know nothing about, but so and so said it’s good, so I have to do it.
Wait, maybe I should eat this or do that.
Ugh, wait — everyone’s doing this now, let me try that.
WAIT — NOTHING’S WORKING.
Do you feel the chaotic energy of this as you’re reading it?
That’s your mind — never fully safe, never fully relaxed.
Because instead of listening to what our bodies have to say, so many of us are basing our day to day lives and rhythms on what they should look like for somebody else.
This plays into the idea that when your mind feels safe, your body is able to digest properly. When you take a step back and stop worrying about what works for everybody else, you can finally begin to allow your mind to feel safe and hear what your body has to say.
The way she’s asking you to show up.
The way she’s asking you to eat.
The way she’s asking you to start your morning.
The way she’s asking you to move your body.
The way she’s asking you to love.
The way she’s asking you to set boundaries.
The way she’s been waiting for you to realize she has all the answers for you — she just needs you to connect with her.
Every single one of us spends 24 hours a day with our wisest, deepest teacher: our body.
And when we remember that, we give ourselves a true safe space to finally fall back on.
When you get confused and scared and lost, and obsessed with trying to figure out the thing that is finally going to make you feel your best, you get to rest into that space of knowing she’ll tell you exactly what she needs. You just need to be willing to listen.
I also want to hold you for a second and let you know that I know.
I know it can feel scary — this walk back home to yourself.
And I also want to let you know it doesn’t have to start big.
Be soft. Be gentle. Be as slow moving as you need to be.
A simple, gentle practice I give to my coaching clients and feel called to leave with you — is to just start with three minutes.
Three minutes at any point in your day to pause.
Set a three-minute timer on your phone.
Sit down somewhere comfortable.
Close your eyes if that feels safe, or just focus on something in the room.
And ask, “What do I need right now?”
And know that any response you hear is right.
Here is where you start to recreate this relationship with yourself. You start to trust yourself again in a way that doesn’t feel so hard or overwhelming.
I love you.
Know that you are worthy of this relationship with your body.
Know that you are capable of creating it.
Know that the wisdom your body holds can bring you to spaces that feel like they only exist in your wildest dreams.
And know that if you ever forget that — I see you, I hear you, and I’ll always remind you.
Sabrina <3