There are often times when I am feeling low or anxious. I have no energy, and I want to grab a bag of chips, hide under a blanket and watch Netflix. As I pay closer attention to what improves my mood, and what pulls me further under, I notice that my habitual coping patterns result in making things worse, not better. The comfort of the bag of chips lasts until the last chip is crunched and the stomach ache sets in. A few hours of Netflix binging leaves me feeling foggy, dissatisfied and irritable.

In these moments of difficulty and vulnerability, my mind provides me with bad advice. In urges me to follow the easy, habitual response. It identifies an action that results in a quick release of dopamine and taps into my reward centre; but not the one that will provide lasting relief. As of late, I am working on ignoring my mind, and turning to my body. I am leaning on a suite of embodied activities that I know will shift my mood: walking my dog, practicing yoga, spending time in the garden, or lifting weights. When I am feeling off, these are the last things I want to do, but they always work.

Science shows that your mind and body are intimately connected. And while your brain is the master control system for your body’s movement, the way you move affects the way you think and feel. The mind follows the body. I have been testing this theory out more and more, and finding it to be an extremely powerful and impactful practice.