Reset + Restore
Listening Before the Body Has to Shout
One of the things I talk about often with patients — especially this time of year — is the idea that our bodies are meant to move through seasons.
Winter isn’t a failure of motivation or discipline. It’s a season that naturally asks for slowing down. Just like in nature, our bodies are designed to conserve energy, rest a little more, and move at a different pace when the days are shorter and the environment is colder.
But most of us live in a world that doesn’t slow down with the seasons. We’re often expected to function at “summer speed” year-round. And when our bodies don’t cooperate with that expectation, it’s easy to start blaming ourselves.
I want to gently reframe that.
Your body slowing down is not a flaw.
It’s communication.
Your body is always giving you information
One of the most helpful concepts I share with patients is interoception — your ability to notice internal sensations in your body.
This might show up as:
tension or heaviness
fatigue or low energy
soreness or stiffness
a sense of ease or lightness
emotional shifts
changes in focus or motivation
These aren’t “good” or “bad.” They’re data. Signals. Information your nervous system is offering so you can adapt.
Listening doesn’t mean diagnosing yourself or fixing anything right away. It often starts much more simply: slowing down enough to notice.
Sometimes that means being quiet for a moment.
Turning off the podcast.
Pausing the scroll.
Letting yourself check in and ask, “What do I notice right now?”
Not to judge it — just to notice.
A real-life example: when the body whispers before it shouts
I often use a simple example from everyday life: something like putting together furniture.
Being on the floor, leaning forward, squatting, or holding awkward positions isn’t “bad.” Those movements are normal. But when we stay there for a long time without changing position, the body starts to give feedback.
Maybe your hips feel tired.
Your low back starts to ache.
Your shoulders get tense.
At first, those signals are quiet. They’re whispers.
At that point, responding can be very simple:
changing position
standing up for a few minutes
moving your spine differently
taking a short break
When we listen early, the body adapts beautifully.
But when we push through — often in the name of productivity, efficiency, or “just getting it done” — those whispers tend to get louder. What started as mild tension can turn into real pain. What was once a gentle signal becomes a much stronger message.
That’s often when people end up in my office — not because they did something “wrong,” but because their body had to escalate to be heard.
Listening isn’t weakness — it’s skill
One thing I really want people to hear clearly:
Slowing down is not laziness.
Needing rest is not failure.
Noticing your limits is not deterioration.
Intentional slowing down is actually a skill — and a powerful one.
When we pause, adjust, or change course in response to our body’s signals, we support the nervous system’s ability to regulate. That creates better adaptation, better recovery, and often less pain over time.
This doesn’t mean life suddenly becomes slow or easy. It means we work with our physiology instead of constantly pushing against it.
You’re not broken — you’re learning to listen
If you’re realizing, “Oh… I’ve been ignoring my body for a while,” I want you to pause and notice something important:
That awareness itself is a win.
Noticing is the first step.
Listening comes next.
Change can come gently, over time.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You don’t need to overhaul your life.
You don’t need to know exactly what every sensation means.
Your body isn’t trying to trick you or fail you — it’s communicating. And you can learn its language.
That’s part of what I mean by reset and restore: giving yourself permission to slow down, to pay attention, and to respond with care rather than criticism.
Even small moments of listening can support healing more than we realize.
