This is something that puzzles me, and no therapist who's ever said it to me has been able to explain. They just end up repeating themselves, or switch to "take care of yourself first," which they also can't explain.

Do I listen to the part of my body that wants a bag of candy, or the part that knows a beef stew chock full of vegetables for dinner will be best for it?

Do I listen to the part of my body that after an hour of advanced yoga this morning emphatically did not want to go swimming and complained through the first 1000m or the part that at the end was happy and satisfied and felt good?

Do I listen to the part of my body that wants me to go back to sleep in the mornings, or the part that knows I should get up so I can maintain a regular sleep schedule?

Do I listen to the part of my body that gets anxious and panicky before therapy appointments or social events and doesn't want to go in or do I listen to the part that wants me to go in just in case some benefit, however minor, results?

My general rule (which I don't always follow) is if I don't want to do something either physically or psychologically, I should do it, bar illness, injury, or the presence of danger, because it will likely be good for me. Otherwise, whether I'm listening to my body or taking care of myself, that seems like short-term gratification instead of long-term gain.

See the problem? Anyone have a therapist who has ever been able to explain how you know when to listen to your body and when to override your body?