Thanks, Body!

December 22, 2021

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking

Special New Years' Edition

The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES. Vol. 2 No. 27 December 31, 2021

As the year winds down to almost nothing, let’s take a pause together to acknowledge the one thing that is truly ours — our bodies. My own body doesn’t look anything like it did 10 or 20 years ago, but each scar and mark is part of my story, for which I am infinitely grateful.

The new year has always felt like a time for reflection on the year past, and also an opportunity to put forth a vision for what I want to manifest in the future. In order to get to that grand vision, however, I have found it helpful to start from where I am in the moment. For me, the most direct way to calm and ground my spinning mind is through the body.

Body Gratitude Visual Exercise

Here is a centering exercise intended to elicit acceptance of whatever is happening in your body at the moment, and gratitude for all it has done for you over the past year and perhaps your lifetime.

Focus attention on each area of the body as you go, and thank each for what they do/have done.

Feet: thank you for all the miles you have traveled over the years.
Ankles: thank you for your flexibility and ability to pivot.
Calves: for supporting me fully.
Knees: for allowing me to choose between standing tall and getting down to ground level.
Thighs: for moving me forward.
Backside: for helping me take my seat at the table.
Belly: for being my processing plant and the origin of my creativity.
Chest: for containing the breath that enlivens me.
Back: for being my freeway of energetic impulses.

Black line drawing of a star person on multicolored background with red hearts all over

Shoulders: the coat hanger that supports two of my limbs.
Arms: for reaching farther than I ever would have anticipated.
Hands: for making and soothing, and doing almost everything.
Neck: for holding my head up high.
Face: expression is everything.
Top of Head: a gateway to my best self.

If acceptance of any of these areas is difficult for you, think of it as a house guest that doesn't have the best manners, and send it as much compassion (or at least patience!) as you can muster.

Now let's map it!

Make your gratitude visible and visual by downloading the attached template. Fill in your thanks in the corresponding areas of the body map. Make it fun, make it colorful, add some pizazz! Hang it up somewhere where you’ll bump into it periodically. When you do, take a moment to appreciate everything your body does for you.

Download Your Free Template HERE!