YOUR BODY SPEAKS

THE 15 SENSES

My body has a way of talking to me — usually when I ignore it. Last Thursday, my hip ached so badly I almost canceled everything, but I didn’t listen. I told myself, “Push through. You’ve handled worse.” So I did. I pushed through meetings, calls, and deadlines, pretending the discomfort was temporary. Pretending rest was weakness. By the evening, my body had escalated its conversation: heavy fatigue, tension creeping up my neck, and a throbbing pain that refused to be ignored. Our bodies are always speaking, always guiding, always warning — but how often do we listen before it’s too late? This month, we’re tuning in, because health isn’t optional. It’s the foundation of power, voice, and victory.

Most people think the body speaks in simple ways — hunger, thirst, sleep. But if you pay closer attention, you’ll discover there are far more senses than the five we were taught in school. I call them the 15 Senses — the blend of mind, body, and spirit that keeps everything aligned. And when those senses fall out of sync, everything in your world starts wobbling. I get snappy. Achey. Irritable. Easily agitated. Overstimulated. Distant. Quiet. And needing space I don’t always know how to ask for. My reactions shift before I even realize why. That’s how powerful the body is — it speaks before the mind has caught up.

When the mind, body, and spirit aren’t aligned, you will always feel like something is off. You’ll say, “I don’t feel like myself,” but the truth is… your body has been trying to get your attention long before your mood changed. Maybe your shoulders have been tight for weeks. Maybe your sleep hasn’t been restful. Maybe you’re overstimulated, but you keep functioning like nothing is wrong. The body whispers first. Then it nudges. Then it warns. And when all that fails — it demands.

Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:

Ignoring your body is a form of self-betrayal.

Listening to it is a form of self-respect.

So here’s how you begin honoring your 15 senses — right at home. Create simple self-care rituals that ground you. Take a warm bath soak with Epsom salt and lavender when your muscles feel tight. Drink hot tea slowly instead of gulping it between tasks. Do ten minutes of pilates or light yoga to release the tension your spirit has been holding. Sit in silence for five minutes and practice breathing without rushing to the next thing. Journal. Meditate. Stretch. Move your body with intention. These small routines act like spiritual tune-ups. They help your senses return to balance.

And let’s talk boundaries — because they matter. When you’re emotionally drained, your body will tell you. When someone crosses a line, your spirit will recoil long before your mouth speaks up. When you’re overwhelmed, your nerves will buzz. That’s why setting boundaries isn’t about keeping people out — it’s about keeping yourself intact. Ask yourself one question the next time you feel overwhelmed:

“Is my emotional breakdown going to make this situation better or worse, and what is the alternative?”

That one question has saved me from spiraling more times than I can count.

Let me give you a McQueen moment. There was a day when I felt myself unraveling. I was tired, overstimulated, and mentally stretched thin. But I kept going. I kept saying yes. I kept ignoring the signals. Eventually, my body shut me down. Not gently — forcefully. I sat alone, breathing hard, realizing I had given the world more of me than I had left. That moment taught me something powerful: your body will always tell the truth, even when your mind tries to lie.

This is where journaling comes in. Reflective writing creates a bridge between what you feel and what you understand. When you write about your day, your emotions, or your stress, you give your body a chance to speak clearly. You begin connecting dots you never noticed. You learn your patterns. You honor your signals.

Journaling Prompt:

“What is one way your body has tried to tell you something recently? How did you respond, and what will you do differently next week?”

In the next part of this series,, I’ll share a moment when ignoring my body nearly cost me something precious — and how tuning in at the right time became the turning point in reclaiming my energy, my power, and my voice. Don’t miss it, because what I learned could change how you listen to your body forever.

— McQueen