"TRACK YOUR TRUTH" SNEAK PREVIEW OF STEP TWO: FOCUS ON YOUR "HEAD, HEART, HAND, & HUNCH"

Step Two of Puja’s upcoming book, Track Your Truth, discusses the inter-relationship of mind (head), body (hand), emotions (heart), and spirit (spirit). I really love this powerful quote: “When the physical body provides clues about emotions through heart-felt feelings and gut reactions, pay attention because these clues are part of the miraculous way you are guided to truth, happiness, and well-being.”

The body is incredible and what we often overlook is how each memory it stores has a feeling, both emotional and physical, to accompany it. With this in mind, it is important to remember that your emotions can influence your physical state of being. The way you feel emotionally can cause your body to react in a physical way. For example, sometimes my stomach feels queasy but this does not always mean I’ve eaten something bad or have a cold. Instead, this physical sensation can be connected with an emotion like anxiety or nervousness.

I also think it is important to acknowledge what Puja writes: “Since everything that has happened to you is stored in your body, memories of all the events in your life including your feelings may be hidden from your consciousness, but they are not lost. They may resurface later.” Every feeling, intuition, or hunch you experience is important, no matter how small you think it is. If you ignore or repress these clues, both physical and intangible, this could have negative effects. All aspects of yourself are valid, and the sooner you acknowledge and listen to them, the easier it will be to live your truth.

Written by Allyson Macci, SUNY New Paltz Roots & Wings Intern

"TRACK YOUR TRUTH" SNEAK PREVIEW OF STEP ONE: START WITH YOUR MIRACULOUS BODY

Paying attention to what is happening in your body will help you track and live your truth. When you focus on what your body is telling you, you will pick up on its signals sooner. By quickly responding to a pain or an off-feeling, you not only take care of your physical being, but your mental and emotional self as well. Connecting to your body and acknowledging the signs it presents to you can also help you when you interact with others. For example, your gut feelings will tell you who to trust and who to be wary of. Instead of relying heavily on others to tell you how you are feeling or how to feel, knowledge of your body will lead you to make your own authentic decisions.

I find it is easy to become preoccupied with what I am involved in that I forget to take care of not only my mind, but my body. As a busy, and often overwhelmed student, all too often do I ignore the signs my body makes when it needs some tender love and care. It can be difficult to drag myself away from an assignment, and sometimes it gets to the point where I can feel my eyes drooping while reading or hear my stomach growling. When these things happen, I know it is time for a break so I will go for a walk or have a snack like an apple. My body is my home, a vessel that will be with me for a very long time and needs the attention it deserves in order to flourish.

One aspect in Puja’s new book, Track Your Truth, that stands out to me is when she writes: “If you’re not connected to yourself, someone with a strong negative influence is more likely to take advantage of you. In an unbalanced state, you may be influenced by the persuasive demands, needs, or wishes of others who do not have your best interests at heart, and thus lead you to make decisions you may regret later. It is not safe to pay more attention to others than to yourself.” I think this last sentence is very significant; it really resonated with me and is something that readers, and I myself, must remember.

Written by Allyson Macci, Roots & Wings SUNY New Paltz Intern