Mindfulness Practice for Recognizing the Source of Health Issues

It probably won’t surprise anyone that our bodies, emotions, and minds are interconnected and constantly exchanging information. When we learn to “read” these signals, we can understand—quite precisely—what change we may need to make in our lives in order to support healing in the body.

One way to do this is through the following mindfulness practice:

It’s best to try this exercise at the very beginning, when an illness or physical discomfort first appears, but it can be useful at any point.

1. Pause and notice how you feel about the situation. Maybe there’s fear, resistance, or something else.

2. Notice the sensations in your body.There may be tension—perhaps right in the area affected. Try simply observing these sensations and gently softening the muscles around them.

3. Notice how your mind comments on what’s happening.Maybe it’s spinning scenarios about how things will turn out, or saying something like, “Again? I’m never going to get better.” Smile at your mind and let the thoughts be.

4. Spend a moment sensing your body and your breath, letting thoughts pass.

5. Ask yourself questions like:“My body, what are you trying to tell me? What do I need to understand? What should I do differently?”Don’t force an answer. Just stay with the sensations in your body and wait to see whether and how a response arises. Be patient if nothing comes right away.

   
   

It’s important to stay open to any response. The critical mind can easily block it. The message often isn’t something straightforward like, “You should take more magnesium.” It’s more likely related to how we live—perhaps in our relationships, habits, or attitudes. It may come in a metaphorical form. If it doesn’t make sense immediately, simply keep it in awareness and continue living your life. With mindfulness, understanding will unfold.

An example from my own life:

Some time ago, my toe started hurting. There was no obvious cause, and it hurt so much that even walking was painful. This all happened right before a holiday where I planned to do a lot of walking. My mind instantly began crafting dramatic scenarios about how this pain might ruin the trip, or how it could get infected, and I’d end up spending the vacation in Italian hospitals—or worse, ignore it and eventually face an amputation.

So I returned to myself and asked what I needed to understand. The answer was: “Have compassion.”

It clicked immediately. I realized how harshly I had been judging a friend who keeps circling around the same problems, always needing understanding yet seeming unwilling to change her approach. I also saw how quickly my own mind jumps into survival mode even with a relatively minor issue. And I imagined what it must be like for her when she faces much more difficult challenges—and can’t just “walk on.” A wave of compassion came over me. For her. And for myself. Because in the end, my impatience and judgment came from frustration that things weren’t improving for her.

Within a few hours, the pain disappeared completely. The holiday was wonderful. No amputation needed, and I didn’t even think about it again. :-)

This is just one example of how this practice has helped me. Often, there’s a symbolic connection between what the body is experiencing and what’s happening in my life. (For instance: if my ear hurts—what am I no longer able to hear?)

When you try this, the key is to stay in your body, keep an open mind, and trust. Then make concrete changes in your life. Not everything resolves instantly, but this approach can guide you in the right direction.

So there you go. Wishing you connection and wellbeing. 🙂And if you have any questions about this, feel free to write to me.

P.S.: Shortly after writing this article, a slight pain in my left toe appeared again after several months. I wasn’t surprised. Life loves to test us in the very things we teach others. I realized whom I now needed to show more compassion to. And once I did, the pain faded again.