Where do you store your stress?

Today I read this in one of my daily readings from Melody Beattie's Journey to the Heart: Daily Meditations on the Path to Freeing Your Soul: "Our bodies act like sponges—they can soak up healing energy or they can absorb and trap the negative energy of stress and tension."

Beattie says that when we really connect with our bodies, we will notice the tension right away. Each of us has different places of our body where tension tends to gather and get stored. Mine is my neck/shoulder/upper back area. Yours might be your arms. Or your legs. Or perhaps your head, which you'll recognize by frequent headaches.

She also says that once we recognize that tension, we can find ways to relax and let go of the stress—ways that are just right for us. Perhaps you have a yoga practice. Or meditation, therapeutic massage, reflexology, healing touch, visualization or even exercise that removes the tension from your body. Whatever helps you—give yourself that gift. It's a good way to love yourself and exhibit self-care. Your body will soak up that healing energy. That won't only help you—it will make a difference to all those with whom you have contact!