We are living in a time where modern technology has allowed us to have what we want at the click of a button. Whereas before we'd have to take time out of our day to visit the library or walk around the shops, now everything is instant.
In theory we should have more spare time on our hands and yet we find ourselves busier and more stressed then ever before.
Most of us are slaves to our smart phones/computers, we're constantly checking emails, texts and social media; and through the Internet we have access to so much information and news coverage that it's as if the world is pulling us all the time 'look at this', 'be this', 'be scared of this', 'buy this', 'this will make you look better/ feel better', 'this will make you happy' etc. with so much out there vying for our attention everything has to be quick quick quick and if it doesn't grab us within a few seconds then we've moved on.
This translates into our everyday lives and we see people becoming more impatient and intolerant with each other and themselves. The constant 'noise' of the world creating an underlying level of anxiety and stress in most of us as we rush about chasing or reacting too the world; rarely living or being content with the present moment. Mental health problems and stress related illnesses are generally accepted as normal and yet we haven't got time to be ill, it's an inconvenience, we just want some pill to make us better quick so we can carry on again. There's an app for that or rather there's a prescription for that.
We've lost touch with ourselves and our own power when it comes to taking charge of our own lives, health and well being. We hand over responsibility of our health to the doctor like taking our car to the garage; we just want the doctor to fix us. We know that by taking better self care we could in most cases prevent ourselves from becoming unwell in the first place but we carry on as we do; not eating properly, not resting enough, not sitting/moving properly, not thinking properly, not breathing properly and then when we do become unwell we seek that magic bullet that quick fix.
Certainly as a massage therapist I've met with clients who just want to lie on the table for an hour or for a few sessions and for all their chronic tension, aches, pains and muscle imbalances to just disappear. Unfortunately though, as much as i would love to have these super massage powers; the body puts up with a lot before it starts complaining and the problem we're presenting with has often been building for some time and won't be helped quickly. There is no magic bullet to treatment, for good health or indeed a happy easy life instead there has to be an awareness towards self care that is present in everyday life.
Even for the most health conscious among us, this is no easy fete, for the lure of checking emails and social media sites seems to be so much more important then just sitting silently with our breath for 10minutes or doing some stretches. The constant chatter of the world and a mind forever occupied with some worry or other, flushes our body with stress and tenses our muscles even when we're not aware of it. In the short term this may lead to feelings of stress, general aches, pains, headaches, insomnia, skin complaints or digestive problems; in the long term more chronic stress, depression, injury, pain and ill health.
In a world that's always trying to sell us something and take us away from our centre of balance it takes effort to stand guardian over our own health and well being and to be selective with what we choose to let in. To be mindful of how our thoughts create energy which is either nourishing or toxic to our health in the same way as the food we choose to eat. To be aware of how stress affects our body and to take action on counteracting that stress before our symptoms become more chronic.
Self awareness isn't something we do once and that's it, we have to be conscious all the time, not just with our thoughts but also with how we're sitting, standing and moving in our bodies. Correct alignment/good posture is so important for good health; it allows our muscles to be used correctly and more efficiently thus preventing fatigue, muscle strain, overuse injuries and pain. There is less wear and tear on joints and ligaments, our breathing becomes easier and deeper and circulation and digestion is greatly improved; it even makes us feel better mentally and emotionally.
We need to constantly keep bringing ourselves back into balance. If we have a job where we're using the same muscles repetitively or our posture is that, that we're hunched over a desktop for hours then we need to counteract this by taking regular breaks and incorporating simple stretches into our day. If we spend too much time sitting then we need to move more. If the nature of our work is that we're stuck inside all day then we need to make time to sit in nature, enjoy the sun and get fresh air. If we have a tendency to work to hard then we need to learn how to slow down and rest sufficiently.
We give so much of ourselves outwardly and yet we feel like we're wasting our time and energy or perhaps missing out on something important if we unplug ourselves from the world for even a short time to check in and look after ourselves. We intuitively know what we need to do to restore/ maintain balance and good health; if only we were too quieten the 'noise' of the world and listen to ourselves. There is no magic bullet or quick fix and in a world that is increasingly becoming more busy and stressful it has never been so important that we take back our power and take charge of our own lives, health and well being.
