Your Body Knows What’s Best For You And Your Business – But Are You Listening?

Your body’s a wonderful feedback mechanism for letting you know what’s in your best interest or not – in terms of what you’re doing in the moment, eating or drinking, the people you’re exposing yourself to, the habits you embrace and even what you’re doing in your business.

But do you pay attention to the nudges your body gives you? Or ignore them because you think you know best?

The messages I’ve been getting loud and clear over the last few months are to STOP, FOCUS and have more FUN – both in my personal and business life.

The first nudge I got was twelve months ago after I’d chosen to take time out of my business to project manage rebuilding a house we’d bought and stripped back to a shell, having discovered it was riddled with asbestos. Taking this on left little time for business other than servicing existing clients. Initially I was frustrated about not being able to continue to grow my business. I tried to keep doing as much as I could until I slipped a disc in my back five days before we were due to move into the building site (about half way through the project).

This prompted me to consider ‘if there was just one thing I’d love to achieve that year, what would it to be?‘ The message that came through was to write and publish my first book. So thanks asbestos, I let go of everything else, got writing was delighted to publish Heartatude, The 9 Principles Of Heart-Centered Success six months later. With the added bonus of reaching #02 on Amazon within three days of my launch – thanks to very little effort on my part.

What did I learn from this?

That when I take on too much I get ill. Yet when I give myself permission let go of the need to to do everything I am less stressed and find it easier to focus. That this approach often yields unexpected positive outcomes, especially when you surrender and trust the flow of life.

Did I change my habits?

Yes a few. But driven by the desire to build up my business up again, I let the habit of working long hours creep in again.

Until the second nudge a few months later (just after we’d finished the house) when my body decided it had had enough and presented me with adrenal fatigue. I’ve never felt so exhausted or helpless as my body took over and decided I was to play the part of sleeping beauty. For a couple of months I spent most days in bed as I didn’t have the capacity to do anything other than give in to the physical demands of my body and allow my mind to be empty.

What I learnt: the importance of looking after my health – again! It was a scary time until I knew what was wrong, but this time I found it so much easier to stop, rest and let my body heal. It was a huge wake up call that while business success is important, my health and personal life are more so. I realised that in my bid to continue to ‘be successful’ in business I’d reverted back to old habits in my approach to work.

So did I make any changes?

I’m certainly much better at saying ‘no’ and pushing business goals back, and feeling good about these decisions. I still have personal and business goals but it’s great to no longer have the same sense of urgency in what I’m doing (especially in my business). To feel less attached to outcomes and goals is liberating. They are still there but more as intentions with me taking action aligned to them and trusting that what’s right for me will unfold, at the right time. I don’t feel the need to chase my business goals as much, and I’m more comfortable about manifesting them, with less effort.

But the universe clearly didn’t believe this!

Within a couple of weeks of getting back on my feet, just as I was getting into the swing of life again and looking forward to taking time out over the summer to enjoy life on the beach, I was hit by a car and cracked my ribs!

So back to bed it was again.

I hear you universe – I promise to STOP, STOP, STOP!

What did I learn this time round?

While I am much better at managing my life balance now than a year ago, I accept I’ve a natural tendency to take on too much and need to keep this in check.

In my heightened conscious state (and desire to remain healthy) I know ‘doing less’ is a better way for me to go. I’m excited to realise that I don’t need to work so hard to get my message out to more people. That the easiest and healthiest way to fulfil our purpose is simply to connect our heart, embrace being human and break free of the addiction of ‘doing’.

It may not have been the year I’d planned, but I’m grateful to have been compelled to develop healthier habits to have made a full recovery and be having more fun in life again – to be enjoying wonderful walks on the beach, more time with friends and family and to be working with great clients.

But I also realise that to maintain this balance, I need to continue to FOCUS and SIMPLIFY my business and to give my body a greater role in the decisions I make. It’s an ongoing journey.

Have you ever had nudges to stop or change what you’re doing?
How could you give your body more of what it needs?
What would it take for you to break free from the addiction of ‘doing’?

I’d love to hear your thoughts – please do share your comments below!

P.S. I share lots more tips and ideas on this topic in my book Heartatude, The 9 Principles of Heart-Centered Success. You can check it out HERE.

Alisoun Mackenzie is The Compassionate Business Mentor, Author, and Speaker who inspires business owners and social entrepreneurs to turn their passions into profits and make a difference in the world.

She is also the author of two Amazon Best Selling books Heartatude, The 9 Principles of Heart-Centered Success and

Alisoun is also the founder of The Heartabiz Hub a business network and training academy and has written the following free ebooks:

The 9 Secrets to Signing Up Clients Without Selling (click here)
101 Ways To Attract Great Clients, With Heart, Integrity & Social Impact (click here)
52 Ways to Raise Funds for Charities and Social Causes Through Your Business (click here)