Listening to our bodies, just like listening to our emotions, involves asking good questions. Here are some places to start:
- What or who gives me energy? What or who drains my energy?
- When do I feel most alive? When do I feel most exhausted?
- What makes me feel rested? How much sleep do I need?
- When is my body most alert for prayer? Are there physical actions or postures that help me pray?
- What food makes me feel light and energized? What food makes me feel heavy and lethargic?
- What are my daily bodily rhythms? What time of the day do I have the most energy? The least? How do I tailor the various components of my life to work with those rhythms?
- What or who am I attracted to? What or who do I have a resistance to? Why?
The last questions derive from an emphasis in Ignatian spirituality on "attractions" and "repulsions," which Ignatius held were bodily indications of God's guidance in our lives. Especially in decision making, we ought to listen to what our body says as we entertain different options.
— Adam S. McHugh in The Listening Life