Paying attention to what is happening in your body will help you track and live your truth. When you focus on what your body is telling you, you will pick up on its signals sooner. By quickly responding to a pain or an off-feeling, you not only take care of your physical being, but your mental and emotional self as well. Connecting to your body and acknowledging the signs it presents to you can also help you when you interact with others. For example, your gut feelings will tell you who to trust and who to be wary of. Instead of relying heavily on others to tell you how you are feeling or how to feel, knowledge of your body will lead you to make your own authentic decisions.

I find it is easy to become preoccupied with what I am involved in that I forget to take care of not only my mind, but my body. As a busy, and often overwhelmed student, all too often do I ignore the signs my body makes when it needs some tender love and care. It can be difficult to drag myself away from an assignment, and sometimes it gets to the point where I can feel my eyes drooping while reading or hear my stomach growling. When these things happen, I know it is time for a break, so I will go for a walk or have a snack like an apple. My body is my home, a vessel that will be with me for a very long time and needs the attention it deserves in order to flourish.

One aspect in Puja’s new book, Track Your Truth, that stands out to me is when she writes: “If you’re not connected to yourself, someone with a strong negative influence is more likely to take advantage of you. In an unbalanced state, you may be influenced by the persuasive demands, needs, or wishes of others who do not have your best interests at heart, and thus lead you to make decisions you may regret later. It is not safe to pay more attention to others than to yourself.” I think this last sentence is very significant; it really resonated with me and is something that readers, and I myself, must remember.

Written by Allyson Macci, Roots & Wings SUNY New Paltz Intern