#6 Working with Physical Tension

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For the past three months, I’ve experienced a persistent tightness in my quads and a stuck sensation in my right hip. I’ve seen my chiropractor, acupuncturist, and massage therapist, but nothing has budged. 

This morning, I decided to ask my body: what are you trying to tell me? As I sat with this question, I realized: the quads are our largest and most powerful muscles, designed to propel us forward. Applying this metaphor to my career, I asked myself, “What is stuck in my propeller?”

The answer emerged: any thought that limits my ability to grow my business is a falsehood. It’s as simple as that. I can just drop the limiting beliefs and listen for God’s guidance to grow my business for me. Instead of hiring more coaches, I need employees. Instead of seeking additional certifications, I need hands-on experience.

Our bodies aren’t just vessels. They hold wisdom that often speaks before our minds can catch up. By listening, we invite ease, flow with purpose, and discover the serendipity life offers.

Big Idea: Your Body is a Compass

In a culture that glorifies intellect and willpower, the body is often treated as an obstacle to success. But this mindset makes life unnecessarily hard. Instead, let's embrace it as the way in which we get to experience and engage the world.

Every ache and knot is a signal—a knock at the door. Ignoring the doorbell costs us more than physical well-being. We lose access to the body’s innate wisdom, which can provide a direct channel to God’s guidance.

This understanding isn’t new across various religious beliefs and traditions. Indigenous traditions honor the body as a vessel of insight. Eastern philosophies emphasize the interconnectedness of body and mind. Modern neuroscience confirms that physical sensations are intricately tied to emotions and thoughts. In Christianity, Jesus speaks directly to bodily burden and nervous system overload in Matthew 11:28 which says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” His solution isn’t escapism—it’s connection with Him. So how do we learn to work with our bodies and use it as a compass? 

Like a PEARL formed under pressure, you can use these steps to uncover your body’s valuable messages:

Pause: Stop what you’re doing and acknowledge whatever you are feeling in your body. Treat it not as an interruption, but as a teammate you are grateful for.

Exhale: Take a few deep breaths to ground yourself in the present moment.

Attend: Turn your attention to the area of discomfort. Get curious: What is this tension here to tell me?

Reflect: Listen to what emerges. In the stillness, something will surface—an image, a memory, a word, a new sense of direction. But not every voice that arises in silence is trustworthy.

This is where discernment matters. Ask:

• Is this rooted in fear, or in love?

• Is it pulling me deeper into truth—or just away from discomfort?

• Is this who I am—or who I think I need to be?

Different belief systems offer different ways to test what’s true. In Christianity, we’re invited to bring what we hear before God—to test it through Scripture, prayer, wise counsel, and the fruit it bears. If it’s truth, it will return. God will send you various signs and messages to clarify. It will hold steady over time.

And if it changes? That’s okay too. Let truth be tested with humility and grace. You don’t have to get it right the first time. What matters is your posture: listening openly, responding slowly, and trusting that clarity comes to those who wait.

Launch: Act on what you’ve learned. Whether it’s a small adjustment or a profound shift, Ask your Creator for the courage to take a step.

Through this process, tension transforms from a block to a bridge, leading to a life aligned with your body’s wisdom and rooted in age-old understanding.

Closing Thoughts

Working with your body isn’t just about relieving discomfort. Your body speaks in many ways for many reasons—through tension, butterflies before a big moment, or lightness when something feels right. These signals are not random; they are your body’s way of guiding you toward the life meant for you.

Sitting with my mother’s group after the new year, I reflected on my word for 2025: purpose. I closed my eyes, breathed deeply, and asked my body what it needed to help me live on purpose. 

Its response was clear: Move for me—not just the endless bending, lifting, and chasing for my kids, but movement that strengthens and centers me. Nourish me—learn how to fuel myself with foods that heal and energize. Rest me—create rhythms that honor my needs for recovery, even if sleeping in a house with three little ones feels like a pipe dream.

These insights are the pearls formed under life’s pressures, offering deeper truths from within. The next time you feel tension or unease, pause and listen. Ask your Higher Power: What is my body trying to tell me? What pearl of wisdom lies beneath?

Ralph Waldo Emerson reminds us, 'What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.' May you discover and cherish the treasures your body holds.

Coming next: We’ve explored two clues you’re clouding vibration—reactivity and physical tension. Next, we’ll dive into feeling stuck or trapped and how to learn from it to cultivate your vibration. For more context on the clues, check out this post.

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