The Art of Digesting Stories
Rest as Creative Practice
We Are Built to Digest—Not Just Food but Experience
Our bodies process nourishment, our minds process information, and our hearts process emotion. But in a world of constant input—scrolling, listening, absorbing, reacting—we often forget that digestion is not just about intake. It is about processing, integrating, and, perhaps most importantly, releasing.
"Once you have processed information properly, you’ll have space to take in new stories and be present with your own." — from my book Narrative Healing
We tend to think of digestion as purely physical, but we are constantly consuming more than food—we take in nearly 13 hours of digital information daily, much of it from a stationary position. And yet, we expect ourselves to absorb, digest, and process all of it without pause, movement, or release.
We scroll endlessly but rarely integrate. We consume constantly but rarely reflect. Our minds are flooded with news, emails, notifications, conversations, and images, yet we give ourselves little time to metabolize what we’ve taken in. And we suffer and drown out our authentic voice as a consequence.
When we don’t digest what we consume, we get blocked. Physically, this shows up as sluggishness and discomfort. Mentally, it manifests as overwhelm, decision fatigue, and exhaustion. Creatively, it results in stagnation or writer’s block—a feeling of being full but not nourished, stuck in a cycle of taking in but unable to express.
Just as our bodies struggle when we overeat without movement, our minds suffer when we absorb too much without time to process. This is why, for writers, rest is not a luxury—it is essential. Without it, we cannot make sense of our experiences, nor can we create or access our authentic voice.
Brain studies confirm this: moments of insight and creativity often emerge when the mind is at rest rather than actively engaged in problem-solving. True clarity comes when we allow space for digestion—not just of food, but of thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
The Biology of Digestion: A System Designed for Release
At the most basic level, digestion is an extraordinary system of breakdown and assimilation. The moment something enters our mouth, our bodies begin the work of identifying its purpose: Do I keep this? Do I use it? Do I let it go?
Our digestive system is an intricate web spanning from our mouths to our intestines, governed by a remarkable system of enzymes, nerves, and gut bacteria. The enteric nervous system—sometimes called the “second brain”—regulates digestion through a complex network of neurons. These neurons communicate directly with the brain, explaining why we “feel” stress in our stomachs and why an unresolved emotional experience can create actual digestive distress.
When we are calm, digestion flows smoothly. When we are in a state of stress—when our bodies perceive danger, even if it’s just the ping of another notification—our digestion slows or even halts. The body prioritizes survival, not integration.
Now consider this in the context of stories, memories, and emotional experiences. If we are constantly taking in new information without allowing time to process it, we remain in a state of cognitive and emotional indigestion. We may be full, but not truly nourished.
The Physiology of Integration: Why We Need to Move and Rest
Digestion is not just an internal process. It is movement. The muscles of the digestive tract contract and relax in a wave-like rhythm called peristalsis, which propels food forward. But movement outside the body—walking, stretching, twisting—supports this process by keeping everything flowing.
This is why simply being still—like sitting at our desks—isn’t enough for true integration. Real rest is an active process, a rhythm of movement and pause. It’s the body’s natural wisdom at work: Move, digest, release. Move, digest, release, etc….
Similarly, we must allow our stories and experiences to travel through us. They need breath, movement, and space. Without this, they can become stuck—lodged in the body as tension, discomfort, or even pain.
One way to support this process is through intentional movement and restorative practice. Below, I offer a simple practice for both physical and emotional digestion—one that supports the release of what no longer serves us, so we can make space for what’s next.
A Practice for Digesting Stories
Try this before bed or first thing in the morning, when the body is most receptive to restoration.
Lying Down Twist: Releasing and Resetting
Lie on a soft surface, like a mat or bed.
Roll onto your side, bending your knees in toward your chest.
Bend your elbow and rest your head on your hand in what I call the “lying on the beach” pose.
Drape your top leg over a pillow or blanket, extending the bottom leg long.
Close your eyes and breathe deeply, feeling your belly rise and fall.
With each inhale, allow any unresolved thoughts, feelings, or information to surface. With each exhale, let them go.
Stay for at least 10 minutes, allowing the body and mind to settle into the process of release.
Seated Twist: Integrating What Remains
Sit at the edge of a chair, feet planted wider than hip-distance apart.
Inhale, reaching your arms wide and up.
Exhale, twisting to the right, placing one hand on the chair’s back and the other on your thigh.
Take three deep breaths, feeling the twist gently wring out tension.
Inhale back to center and repeat on the other side.
This practice is not just physical. It is an act of deep listening. It helps us discern: What is nourishing? What is no longer needed? What can be composted into something new?
The Spiritual Nature of Digestion: Making Space for New Stories
When we speak about digestion in a spiritual sense, we are talking about alchemy. The transformation of raw experience into wisdom. The ability to take in the world, process its meaning, and emerge renewed.
Consider this: Once you have fully processed an experience, a conversation, or a piece of news, you no longer carry it in the same way. You have made space. And in that space, creativity flourishes.
This is why rest is a radical act of creativity. It is the essential pause between intake and expression. It is where clarity is born.
So I leave you with this reflection:
What do you need to digest?
Is it a piece of information? A memory? A conversation that lingers?
Is there something you are holding that is no longer serving you?
Take time. Give yourself space. Let rest do its quiet, miraculous work.
I’d love to hear from you—what’s been stirring in you this month?
With care,
Lisa
PS There are still a few spots left for my 6-week online course starting this Thursday! If this post resonates with you, I invite you to join me and explore how to digest your experiences, emotions, and stories in a way that fosters clarity, ease, and creative expression. Sign up here: https://www.eomega.org/online-workshops/narrative-healing