The Body’s Intelligence Part 5
August 7, 2025
The Body’s Intelligence Part 5
The body’s T cells and B cells know exactly how to fight off harmful diseases. The body also wisely fights infection by requiring enough sleep, essential nutrients, and limited stress. But we do not always listen to our bodies. We go for stretches without sleep, we eat non-nutritious food, and we enter stressful situations. But the body lets us know the truth and signals its wisdom through such symptoms as pain, insomnia, digestive maladies, and anxiety attacks.
We listen to our body by spending time with it. We mentally scan our bodies to notice any discomforts, soreness, aches and pains before they become serious. As we scan, we take stock in our stamina, limitations, heart rate and our other vital signs.
A middle-aged man, Howard, mentally scanned his body for the first time and said of the experience, “I have lived in my head for so long I forgot to notice, much less, embody my physical being. I stretched my toes and arms, I yawned and flexed my muscles. I inspected my skin for unwanted spots, and I listened to each part of my body. Breathing deeply, I thanked my body for holding my soul for years. Now I am going to live in my body and befriend it.”
Spiritual practice: Spend some time with your body. Look at it and caress it. Accepting your body is to accept part of ourselves we cannot live without. Bless your body.
Self-inquiry: How could gratefulness for your body help its immune system?
Dear God,
Bless my body, forgive my neglect of it and renew it please, as you renew the face of the earth. Amen.
