Why Listening to My Body Has Been the Hardest Part of Healing

For a long time, I thought healing meant doing more.

More effort. More discipline. More pushing through.

Listening to my body felt vague, indulgent, or impractical, especially when life still needed me to show up. I didn’t realize how much I had learned to override myself until my body started asking for attention in quieter, more persistent ways.

When You’ve Learned to Push, Not Pause

Many of us grow up learning how to push through discomfort.

We learn to keep going even when we’re tired.

To silence signals that slow us down.

To prioritize responsibility over rest.

So when people say, “Just listen to your body,” it can feel confusing.

What if you don’t trust those signals?

What if listening feels like falling behind?

For me, healing wasn’t about learning how to listen.

It was about learning that I was allowed to.

The Body Doesn’t Always Speak Loudly

Not every signal comes as pain or illness.

Sometimes the body speaks in subtler ways.

Persistent fatigue.

Shallow breathing.

Tight shoulders or a clenched jaw.

Brain fog.

Irritability.

Trouble resting, even when tired.

Because these symptoms don’t always stop daily life, they’re easy to dismiss. I told myself I was fine because I was functioning. But functioning isn’t the same as feeling regulated or supported.

Listening Is a Relationship, Not a Skill

Listening to your body isn’t something you master once and move on from.

It’s a relationship that changes with seasons, stress, hormones, and life circumstances.

Some days the body speaks clearly.

Other days it’s quiet or confusing.

Both are okay.

What matters is staying curious instead of critical.

Responding with compassion instead of judgment. Letting the body lead sometimes, even when the pace feels slower than expected.

If You’re Struggling With This Too

If listening to your body feels hard, frustrating, or unclear, there’s nothing wrong with you.

Many of us were never taught how to listen without shame.

Healing doesn’t start with perfect awareness.

It starts with noticing and allowing yourself to respond differently.

Your body isn’t asking for perfection.

It’s asking for care.

Sincerely,

Roshaydia- Grassroots Health