What Is Your Irritable Bowel Syndrome Protecting You From?

Today I’m going to tell you some truths that it took me a long time to fully understand and own up to about my Irritable Bowel Syndrome (in many ways I’m still working on this).  I’ll begin by saying that IBS isn’t just about your reaction to food.  It is so much more than that.  That’s because your digestion, belly, gut, however you refer to it, is the seat of your personal power. And when your digestive system is not working properly, there are implications far beyond gas and bloating.  Now, when I started suffering from IBS I just did not think about this.  I was simply trying desperately to figure out why it was that whenever I ate something I either felt horrible or had to run to the bathroom.

On the physical level, your entire body cannot function without proper digestion.  Think about it: in order to sustain you as a human being, give you the energy to get through your day, and keep your body strong and nourished, your digestive system MUST be breaking down the food so that it can be assimilated into your body.  If you are not absorbing the nutrients from food, how can you be healthy?  It really is the key to life.

Now, in addition to the physical, there is a whole other level to your digestion. And this is where your personal power comes in, and where I’ll get really honest with you.  My IBS conveniently kept me from stepping into myself as a competent, powerful, effective person for a long time. Now, it may not have looked that way on the outside—I went to a great college, worked hard, and even got a masters degree, however, throughout that whole time, in addition to feeling ill, I felt kinda stuck.  In a way, I felt like I was hiding out from stepping up and going after the kind of life I REALLY wanted. I was hiding from recognizing my true desires and what I was really hoping to accomplish and contribute to the world.  And you know what was holding me back?  FEAR! I was fearful of being myself and offering out to the world my unique voice.  And I would say “gee, I really wish I could do this or that, but I know my belly will act up.”  In my health coaching business, I am so blessed to finally be in a place where I am using my voice, and have stepped up and out my chronic pain (well, actually, I still work on that part daily, and my belly is a great reminder system when my self-care is lacking).

If you are not nourishing your belly, or you have chronic digestive issues, the seat of your unique power, chances are it has something to do with fear.

To be clear however, I am NOT suggesting that having IBS is something that is your fault, or that you should blame yourself for having such a difficult condition.  I am encouraging you to look at where in your life you are not stepping up into your personal power and talents and where in your life you are stifling your true desires, and unique gifts.  Perhaps you are stuck in a life or job situation you just don’t want to be in.  Perhaps you aren’t having the fulfilling relationships you secretly want.  What do you think you might be doing if you felt energized and fabulous?  Where would you really shine  What would you go after?

Healing from IBS and stepping out of your chronic pain requires an approach where you are addressing the physical AND the emotional.  It takes envisioning yourself as a healthy, powerful individual.

Start to re-gain your personal power in my one-on-one coaching program Heal Your Belly Now.  Visit my website to schedule your FREE Digestive Wellness Strategy Session—for a limited time.

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