Susan Biali

How do you feel lately?  Is your body happy with your life, or has it been trying to get your attention? 

In our society, we tend to be disconnected from our innate wisdom and health, and instead look to other sources to guide us.   Some people go to the doctor and ask him or her for a diagnosis, or ask for a prescription that will make their symptoms go away.  Some people search for the perfect supplement, to give them more energy.   Others might ask a “healer” to tell them what this disease or symptom represents.  And frequently, if our body and mind are feeling sluggish, we might decide that we must have some kind of caffeine deficiency, and give our poor tired bodies a hefty kick with some espresso or Red Bull. 

Outside input certainly has its place (especially when it comes to going to a health professional), but the most effective, powerful thing you can do, that applies to virtually all health situations, and costs absolutely nothing, is to learn to listen to and respect what your body is trying to tell you.

Our body first whispers to us when something is out of whack and needs to be adjusted.  The element of your life that might need adjustment may be your lifestyle, your diet, your schedule, your social circle, your job, the way you spend your free time, on and on goes the list. 

After reading that list, you might feel a bit intimidated, but this is really so simple.   Without fail, when I ask patients or clients to take a moment and ask themselves, what this symptom or illness is about, they always know.  And you will, too.

In my keynotes and seminars, I often share the story about how earlier this year I had symptoms of what appeared to be Multiple Sclerosis.  When I finally snapped out of my worry and self-pity, I realized that I’d forgotten to ask my body what this was all about. 

It came to me in one word: balance. 

I’d let things get way too busy (as I have, again, in the last couple of months), and my body wasn’t going to let me get away with it.  When I balanced my life and wellness practices better, the symptoms went away.  I’m so grateful that my body doesn’t let me get away with abusing it, or with abusing my own balance and serenity.

Here are some real-life examples of this phenomenon:

• A woman who developed Fibromyalgia (crippling fatigue and body aches) while working an 80-hour-a-week corporate job which involved lots of travel.  When she left the job, her symptoms gradually disappeared.  When she tried to go back later, doing contract work, her symptoms gradually came back.  Now, she has created a fabulous new career in an entirely new line of work, a job where she actually improves peoples’ lives and health

• For years, another woman suffered from frequent sore throats that no doctor was able to diagnose or treat.  When she finally left a life situation that had been stifling her and stifling her ability to speak up for herself, the sore throats disappeared.   She healed herself by literally “finding” her voice!

• A family friend who, during a very stressful time in her life, was diagnosed with incurable, and supposedly genetic, Celiac Disease (severe illness from eating wheat gluten).  When that stressful time passed, and she began joyfully working in the career of her dreams, her condition completely disappeared.  She eats wheat with absolutely no problems.  As a doctor, this seems medically impossible to me, but she’s a health professional and assures me that the miracle was real.

• My husband, Armando, suddenly developed episodic, worsening gallbladder attacks last year.  When I asked him why he thought this was happening, he remembered that Mexicans say that a person is going to get “bilis” when they are constantly complaining to and about others. He recognized that he had been unusually grumpy and irritable with people in the weeks prior to developing his symptoms, and resolved to change his attitude.  The symptoms went away, and he hasn’t had an “attack” since. 

Now, an important point: these stories were based on the “truth” for each individual, with respect to the unique message from their own body.  If you have gallbladder attacks, it may not be because you’ve been grumpy – the key is to ask yourself what this is really about, and what you need to adjust in your life, health, or attitude.   Also, listening to your "body language" isn't a substitute for good medical advice - paying attention to your body's messages is ideally done in conjunction with consulting a competent health professional. 

If you have any similar stories, I would love to hear them!  Contact me through this website, or send me an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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