Are You Manipulative? Let's Ask The Body

Part of what I am here for is calling out the bullsh*t I am seeing in the wellness and healing industry.

And the truth is, there is a lot of disempowerment being fed to the world.

My focus in this article is body manipulation. And showing just how deep and nuanced it can show itself.

My family is my happy place, and I feel so grateful for their love and support while I navigated my health challenges. Anne is my rock and Ferne is my ball of endless entertainment.

My name is Stephen, and I facilitate somatic therapy and mind-body healing. I’ve been lucky enough to support clients around the world on their journeys of healing, growth, and creating lives that truly light them up.

I take a mind-body approach, which means I help people utilize the wisdom and connection between their body, mind, emotions, and spirit. When we learn to understand and embrace these connections it guides us toward lasting healing, expansion, and creating a life that we love.

I’m so glad you found your way here.

Healing my own chronic challenges brought me to a place of awe and deep appreciation of my body’s innate power. And ultimately, it was the gift to awaken me to my purpose as a healing guide, the impetus for deep appreciation of my authentic spirit, and the reason I now hold a potent space of transformation for others.

Let’s dive in.

Body Manipulation

Manipulating the body seems to be gaining momentum. And I have a problem with it.

To be clear, I’m not just talking about modifying our features and fat distribution.

I’m talking about being in a manipulative relationship…with your body.

There are gurus out there touting that we can “outthink” the body. There are treatments all over the place trying to suppress our body’s communications (symptoms) and emotions. And there are “quick fixes” and “transformational substances” that are trying to short-cut or skirt around the lessons, intentions, and purposeful programs of the body, nervous system…and spirit!

The body is not here to make your life a living hell, although, it can certainly feel that way when experiencing chronic challenges.

When we feel out of control in our body, we tend to react by trying and control it. I’ve seen many clients who view their body as an opponent, enemy, or vessel of punishment.

However, that’s not the truth.

If you want to truly heal at the root, you cannot manipulate your body into doing your will out of control and fear.

When deferring to diets, protocols, pills, products, gadgets…the body is most-times, not included in the decision.

We are meant to be in partnership with your body. It’s on your side!

And the thing is, your body doesn't lie to you because that is not in your best interest. And no matter how hard you try, you cannot manipulate the body to force it believe to what you are in denial of.

It simply doesn’t work. And it’s exhausting.

Instead, your body wants to help you move into loving connection with yourself and your divine nature.

Where Most Healing Falls Short

The desire to manipulate or fix your body continues to feed a manipulative relationship dynamic. Period.

This is where most "healing" falls short. The messaging out there is that you will feel better once you "fix" and manipulate the body to reflect how you desire to feel. 

Are you sensing how backwards this is? It’s a one-way street to never feeling “fixed” or whole, within.

It’s a tale as old as time.

Imagine how would you feel in a manipulative relationship. Is your body letting you know there is one at play within yourself?

In truth, the body is inviting you into TRUTH. If you do not feel free inside yourself, the body will alert you of it. 

• If you do not feel free to express your voice, the body will show it through issues of the throat and mouth.

• If you do not feel at peace in your skin, the body will show it through acne, psoriasis, rashes, etc.

• If you do not feel secure in yourself, the body will show it through bladder challenges, lymph issues, etc.

The body brings attention to the issues in which your spirit, your authentic self, is not feeling free.

The Body As A Self-Relationship Mirror

Energy doesn't lie. If you are trying to solve, fix, manipulate, get rid of....the body knows you are doing so, and it will respond accordingly because it's receiving a directive of WRONGNESS and REJECTION.

Our underlying motives are crucial to shifting our health desires and self-relationships.

It's backwards if you are trying to manipulate your body to feel how you want to feel versus working on FEELING how you want to feel on the inside FIRST.

And I’m sure you sense that or have experienced it already on some level.

If we do not truly value and feel good in ourselves, there is no amount of bodily manipulation that will address this.

The truth is, you are whole. You have nothing to prove. And you have inherent value just for being you.

The body will always expose and mirror the dynamics of your self-relationship. If it’s speaking, I encourage you to listen.

It is always validating your experiences, if you listen and understand.

This is why Anne and I say that the body is our most POTENT self-development and spiritual tool! It is consistently available and always inviting us to expand into greater freedom. What a gift. You’re body’s got your back.

Is your body speaking to you? It’s asking you to listen.

Optimistically rooting for you,

~Steve