My Amla Awareness: My Journey to Mind-Body Wisdom

Today I want to share a curious tale, one that started with an itch and led me down a path of unexpected insights. It's a story about how a simple allergic reaction opened my eyes to the wisdom of our bodies and offered valuable lessons in understanding ourselves and leading others.

Imagine this: Out of the blue, I find myself dealing with an annoying rash. Initially, I brushed it off as a seasonal reaction. But as it spread head to toe, affected my breathing and I ended up itchy as h**l, my family began brainstorming potential causes after the initial first-aid. My daughter pointed to dietary changes, which I initially dismissed – after all, I'd been allergy-free for 43 years. However, the revelation came when my husband pointed to the newest addition to my diet: amla (the Indian Gooseberry). Despite my skepticism, it turned out to be the unlikely culprit. This was not just any rash; it was an experience that challenged me to look deeper into my body’s signals.

I've always steered clear of sour foods. Pickles, raw mangoes, lemons – none of them appealed to me. I am a scandal in the family circles for avoiding all forms of pickles. A kilo of tamarind lasts an entire year in my kitchen. So, it was not a surprise to me that I never discovered my allergy to amla. And amla? The fact that it is from the sour category never tempted me to taste it despite all the health benefits until a friend suggested its benefits with a problem both of us have been facing. Once the itching and the soreness reduced and my brain started working again, I realized that my dislike was a defense mechanism within itself. I recalled something I had read sometime back. Reflecting on Sri Aurobindo's thoughts, I realized there might be a deeper connection. He wrote,

“Each plane of our being - mental, vital, physical - has its own consciousness, separate though interconnected and interacting; but to our outer mind and sense, in our waking experience, they are all fused together.”

This insight struck a chord with me. Could my natural aversion have been my body's intuitive way of saying, "Not for you"? It made me wonder about other subtle messages from my body that I might have overlooked, not just in my health but in my professional journey as well.

These last few days, though torturous, have proved this to me. My body would have been conscious of what it could and could not tolerate and in turn, this consciousness dictated my likes and dislikes, preventing me from discovering my allergy or, to put it in a better way, safeguarding me from what could have been harmful to me. How many such signals and red flags have I missed or ignored in my lifetime? If only we are taught to be aware and conscious of our body and our Self every minute and learn to flex our consciousness just as we learn to flex our muscles, how much more in control of our destiny and our path would we be? What if we can do what Sri Aurobindo puts across so simply -

“...has to be awakened, trained, made a good and conscious instrument”.

In my years of working in leadership development, I've come to appreciate the art of listening – not just to others, but also to oneself. This entire episode with the allergy was a reminder that our bodies often communicate in subtle yet significant ways. In leadership, as in life, tuning into these signals can guide us toward healthier and more mindful choices. It's about integrating these lessons into how we lead and connect with others.

This personal experience got me thinking about how we could foster this level of body awareness in the workplace. Imagine teams that are not only goal-oriented but also attuned to their collective well-being. Creating a space where listening to our bodies is valued just as much as rational thought could transform the way we work and lead.

From an itchy emergency to a moment of revelation, this journey has been an eye-opener. It’s taught me that our bodies often know what’s best for us, even when we’re oblivious to it. This newfound awareness is something I’m keen to integrate more deeply into both my personal life and professional practice, reminding me and hopefully others, that the journey to understanding our bodies is an integral part of our growth as leaders and individuals.