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We are all familiar with the term IQ, which is the acronym for intelligence quotient. However, there is more than one form of intelligence. There is emotional intelligence, which measures how well we can manage our emotions. There is also social intelligence, a measure of how well we do in social interactions. But did you know there is also body intelligence?
Body intelligence is a measure of how aware you are of your body and its needs. In other words, how attuned are you to what your body is telling you? This kind of awareness is central to practicing self-care.
Many of us are not in touch with what our bodies tell us. We often experience physical sensations that are ignored. However, everything we experience in the body is a message our bodies have sent us. This is why we should pay attention to messages we are getting when we make certain decisions, eat certain foods, engage in certain physical activities, or feel stressed.
When we learn to listen to our body’s messages, we receive information on becoming healthier and more vital. A great way to improve your body’s IQ is to practice mindfulness. By practicing mindfulness, you will become more aware of your body. Engaging in self-reflection is also helpful as it will cause you to look inward instead of focusing on external events.
The following are helpful questions that you can ask yourself to bring about greater body awareness:
- Under which situations does your body feel its best? Under which situations does your body feel like it’s underperforming? What do you believe leads your body to feel that way?
- What signs does your body give you when something is wrong with it? What do you think your body is trying to tell you?
Next time your body sends you a message, be it good or bad, take a moment to reflect on what might be causing your body to feel that way.
Other ways to improve your body IQ are learning new skills and experimenting with different ways of doing your everyday tasks. These methods improve body IQ because it causes you to try new things, which takes you out of your “auto-pilot” mode.
While body awareness is important, so is body knowledge. Body knowledge is knowing how to take care of your body to keep it healthy and vital. It means knowing relevant health indicators like:
- What foods to eat and what foods not to eat.
- Knowing where your blood pressure should be.
- Knowing what your ideal weight is.
- Knowing how much sleep you need.
- Practicing stress management or relaxation techniques.
When you learn body awareness and gain body knowledge, you will become an intentional steward of the temple of your soul.
