If a little kid came up to you and said “I’m hungry!” would you say “Kid, you’re so chubby and ate way too much last night, so you don’t deserve to eat. If you feel too hungry, drink water first to see if the pangs go away, and if not, then maybe have some celery”? No, you wouldn’t. (Well, at least I hope you wouldn’t!) You’d probably help the kid out as soon as he tells you what he needs.
Kids are pretty transparent — when they are cranky, you can tell they need a nap, and when they fidget, you can tell they need to go to the bathroom. But what about your adult co-worker? If your co-worker is cranky, you probably think he or she is overwhelmed with work — not that he or she needs a nap. If your boss is fidgeting, you probably think he or she has something important on his or her mind — not that he or she needs to go to the bathroom.
Some people think they are constipated because of the food they are eating, but I find that many people are constipated due to personal choices. How many times have you chosen not to go to the bathroom because the “timing was not right”? Maybe you were in the middle of an important meeting, so you chose to hold it until later. Maybe you only had access to a public restroom and were embarrassed that a stranger would realize you’re spending too much time in the stall and discover you’re going the dreaded “number two.”
As we grow up, we learn coping mechanisms that suppress our needs — like eating at a commonly decided time instead of when we’re hungry or sacrificing sleep for higher test scores. We need to realize these basic human needs never go away.
Sometimes the best remedy for feeling tired is to sleep — not coffee. Sometimes breathing is the best remedy for anxiety — not food or pills. You have the ability to choose if you are going to honor them or not — and honoring them will keep you on track to a balanced body.
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