“Your body is not trying to betray you. It’s trying to bring you back to yourself.”

Some days, you don’t need another green smoothie, another to-do list, or another piece of advice. You need someone to say: “Hey, maybe your body isn’t being difficult — maybe it’s just asking for a little more care.”  That’s what this post is. A soft nudge. A reminder. A love letter to your body — and all the quiet ways it tries to speak to you when the world gets too loud.

Here are some of the signs I’ve noticed — in myself, in the people I work with, in the quiet stories women carry silently every day — that tell us it’s time to slow down. To soften. To stop running on fumes and come home to our breath. These signs aren’t wrong or dramatic. They’re your body whispering: “I miss you.“

1. Your shoulders feel like they’re carrying bricks

Even when you’re just sitting, not doing much, your shoulders feel tense — tight like you’re bracing for something, but you’re not sure what. You stretch. You roll them back. You do the yoga class. And still… that heaviness lingers. Maybe it’s not physical. Maybe your shoulders are holding the weight of expectations, responsibility, and the quiet fear that if you rest, things will fall apart.

Gentle thought: What if you don’t need to hold it all today?

Try this: Place your hand over one shoulder. Exhale slowly and whisper, “I don’t have to carry everything alone.”

2. You wake up with a tight jaw or sore teeth

Clenching. Grinding. A heaviness you don’t notice until it starts to ache. You might not even know you’re doing it — your body just holds on for you. Sometimes the things we don’t say — the truths we swallow, the boundaries we skip, the anger we silence — get stored right here. The body is wise like that.

Gentle thought: You don’t have to be okay all the time. It’s okay if something is sitting heavy on your chest. You don’t have to pretend it’s not there.

Try this: Gently massage your jaw in tiny circles. Then say something out loud — even if it’s just, “I’m tired.” Especially if it’s, “I’m tired.”

3. You cry out of nowhere — or you want to, but can’t

You’re scrolling, or cooking, or walking down the street… and suddenly, there’s a lump in your throat. Or a wave of sadness. Or tears that surprise you. That’s not a weakness. That’s wisdom. Your nervous system has been holding so much for so long. Sometimes when you pause, even for a moment, it finally feels safe enough to let go.

Gentle thought: You don’t need a reason to feel what you feel. You don’t need to explain your emotions to anyone — not even yourself.

Try this: Let the tears come. No fixing, no overthinking. Just your hand on your heart. Just your breath. Just you, being human.

4. Your gut feels “off,” even if you’ve been eating well

You’re doing everything “right” — drinking water, eating clean, taking your supplements — and still, something’s off. Bloating, tightness, weird cravings. Our gut processes more than food. It processes stress. Grief. Uncertainty. Energetic noise.

Gentle thought: Maybe your digestion isn’t broken. Maybe your body is just overwhelmed and trying its best.

Try this: Eat one quiet meal today — phone off, no multitasking, just you and your plate. Chew slowly. Let it be enough.

5. You can’t sleep — or you wake up wired at 3 AM

Your body is exhausted, but your mind is buzzing. Or you fall asleep only to wake in the middle of the night, heart racing, thoughts spinning. That time of night — especially between 2:30–4 AM — is sacred. Your body may be trying to process things you didn’t have space to feel during the day.

Gentle thought: Maybe you’re not broken. Maybe you’re just holding more than you realise.

Try this: Sit up slowly. Light a candle if you can. Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly. Breathe. Tell yourself: “It’s safe to take rest now.”

6. The world feels too loud, and you feel like pulling away

Suddenly, small talk exhausts you. Instagram feels heavy. Even kindness feels overstimulating. Your skin feels thin. Your eyes feel tired. And the noise of life is just… too much. That’s not you being antisocial or moody. That’s your nervous system saying: “Please give me a break.”

Gentle thought: You’re not “too sensitive.” You’re just deeply tuned in. That’s not something to fix — it’s something to protect.

Try this: Step away. No apology needed. Wrap yourself in a soft shawl or blanket. Lie in the dark. Let your energy come back to you.

What Stillness Looks Like

It’s not always a meditation practice or a silent retreat. Sometimes, stillness is:

• Cancelling plans.
• Taking a nap in the middle of the day.
• Eating rice and dal on the floor while your phone is off.
• Staring at the ceiling and letting your thoughts breathe.
• Crying in the shower without needing to understand why.

Stillness is not laziness. It’s not a waste. It’s a sacred pause. A nervous system repair. A way home. Your body doesn’t need perfection. It needs permission — to rest, to soften, to feel.

If You Need a Place to Start…

Take a deep breath. Put one hand on your body — wherever it lands. And whisper: “I’m here. I hear you. I’m not going to rush you anymore.”