13/10/2026
How I finally learned to listen to my body, after 30+ years of ignoring it 👇
1️⃣ Talk to your body like it’s someone you have a relationship with. I actually talk to mine. It makes it a two-way conversation instead of me just giving orders.
2️⃣ Notice your yeses and nos. When someone asks me to do something, I can feel it in my body: a sense of expansion means yes, contraction means no.
3️⃣ Stop saying yes on autopilot. If someone offers me another drink, my body goes, “No, Michael. You don’t, honey.” I listen to that instead of saying yes because everyone else is.
4️⃣ Rest when it asks. Some nights my body says bed at 9pm. We don’t argue. We go.
5️⃣ Make self-care part of how you live. I walk or bike everyday, and my water bottle is always full. These aren't things I have to think about doing anymore. They're just part of how I live now.
“Listen to your body” used to be just a saying to me. Now I get what it means. I don’t always get it right, but I do a much better job than I used to.
Do you listen to yours, or do you ignore it?
🎧 From Ep. 180 of Gay Men Going Deeper, “Caring For Your Body.” Comment EPISODE for access to the full podcast archive.
