The Signs Are Always There—But Are We Paying Attention?

Your body doesn’t lie. Whether it’s anxiety creeping in before a conversation, tightness in your chest during stress, or fatigue that no amount of coffee can fix—these are signs. Alarms. Messages. Yet too often, we numb them with distractions, grind through them, or silence them with short-term solutions.

Here are some common signals our minds and bodies use to get our attention:

Mental Signs:

• Constant forgetfulness or brain fog
  
• Struggling to focus or stay motivated
  
• Increased irritability or mood swings
  
• Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
  
• Overthinking or obsessive thoughts
  
• Lack of joy in things that once brought happiness
  

Physical Signs:

• Fatigue that lingers even after rest
  
• Digestive issues, headaches, or muscle tension
  
• Changes in appetite or sudden cravings
  
• Chest tightness, rapid heartbeat, or shallow breathing
  
• A weakened immune system (getting sick often)
  
• Sudden weight gain or loss without major change
  

None of these signs appear by accident. They’re your body waving a flag, asking you to slow down, reevaluate, and realign.

Why We Often Ignore the Signs

There are a few reasons we miss or dismiss what our bodies are telling us:

• We’ve normalized the pain. If you’ve been exhausted for months, it starts to feel “normal.” But just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s okay.
  
• We’re afraid of what slowing down might reveal. Many keep pushing because pausing would mean facing what they’ve buried.
  
• We associate rest with weakness. Especially in business, some believe taking a break means losing momentum. But burnout steals far more than rest ever could.
  
• We don’t know how to listen. Some of us were never taught to check in with ourselves emotionally. We’ve lived outside of our bodies for so long, we don’t recognize the language of our own symptoms.
  

But now is the time to change that narrative.

Tuning In: What Listening Looks Like

To live with purpose, you have to lead yourself with intention. That includes body awareness. Here’s how you can begin listening again:

1. Schedule Quiet Moments

Turn off the noise. No phone, no news, no distraction. Just sit and ask yourself, “How do I feel—mentally, physically, emotionally?” Sit with the answer.

2. Journal the Patterns

Track what’s happening in your body. When do you feel the tightness? What triggers the fog? What improves it? What worsens it? Patterns lead to insight.

3. Fuel What Heals You

Your body is your engine—what you feed it matters. Hydrate. Eat real food. Move daily. Breathe deep. Go outside. Sleep deeply. Don’t ignore the basics—master them.

4. Set Boundaries Around Stress

Learn to say no. Take breaks. Protect your energy. Rest isn’t a reward for hard work—it’s part of it.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Get Help

Coaches, counselors, therapists, doctors—asking for help doesn’t make you broken. It makes you wise. Healing is not a solo journey.

Conclusion

Your body is a messenger.
Your mind is a compass.
Together, they are trying to protect the very purpose you’re chasing.

But if we keep ignoring their signals… the cost isn’t just discomfort. It’s disconnection—from peace, from clarity, from purpose.

In Choices, I wrote about the importance of aligning every part of who you are with where you're headed. That includes honoring your health—not just your hustle.

So today, I encourage you to listen deeper. Don’t wait for a breakdown to bring the breakthrough. Your future deserves a version of you that’s whole, strong, and self-aware.

Because your purpose isn’t just about what you do—
It’s about who you become along the way.

Start by listening.
Start by choosing you.