Yesterday, my sister and I decided to go out for lunch and have sizzlers. When the food arrived, it was so unappealing to both the eyes and taste. Despite that, we ate it—partly because we were catching up on things and partly because we had paid for it. It didn’t even occur to us to just leave it. We ate some, but neither of us could finish it, so we left the rest.

Towards the evening, my stomach started to feel queasy, and nausea set in. I could feel my food pipe convulsing, and a wave of anxiety crept up. I drank a lot of water and took a couple of lemon shots (equal parts water and lemon juice, which helps alkalize the body). But inside, my body felt like it was twisting and turning with discomfort. My stomach became distended, and I felt short of breath. Restlessness crept in, making it hard to sit quietly. All I wanted was for the discomfort to go away as quickly as possible.

I even tried purging. But even though I was incredibly nauseous, nothing happened. Finally, I gave up and sat on my bed, trying to figure out what to do. I was home alone, with no one around to help, and I needed to center myself to understand how to calm my body. I started practicing calming breaths, and as I did, a realization struck me: I had been ignoring my body’s needs for a long time.

I’ve been giving it food that doesn’t nourish or align with its requirements. It’s been asking for more life force, more energy, and I’ve been neglecting those requests entirely. For the first time, I truly felt the beingness of my body—how beautifully it has been serving me and how ignorantly I’ve been treating it. What it needs is love and affection, and I’ve been failing to provide that, giving it whatever was convenient without considering its needs.

This incredible machinery—the body—sends us signals all the time and is so forgiving. But yesterday, I could feel its anger for being ignored.

I started practicing *Ho’oponopono (a Hawaiian prayer consisting of four sentences) alongside breathwork. Gradually, I felt the anger in my body subside. The nausea settled, and I felt release through a series of burps.

I don’t remember when I fell asleep. But when I woke up in the morning, while the pain in my stomach lingered, the nausea was gone.

I still don’t know how I’m going to develop a deeper relationship with my body, but I know it has to become my priority. This is the only companion I’ve had since birth and will have until my death.

The realizations I had emphasized the importance of befriending my body—not to look good or feel presentable, but to feel at home in it. I want to come home to ease and comfort in my body so that together, my mind, body, and soul can walk this Earth in love, peace, and joy.

*Ho’oponopono

Ho’oponopono is a traditional Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and healing. At its core, it is a simple yet powerful prayer consisting of four phrases:

1. I’m sorry!
2. Please forgive me!
3. Thank you!
4. I love you!
5. 
   These words are repeated with intention, allowing you to release negative energy, foster forgiveness, and restore inner peace. Ho’oponopono reminds us that healing begins within, and by cleansing our own thoughts and emotions, we can transform our experiences and relationships.