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Nutrition is a touchy subject. So many diets, too many restrictions, and too many opinions trying to shape you into clones of mass marketing and propaganda prisons. We are all individuals with different needs physically, as well as socially, and our lifestyle may not accommodate the latest fad. What is most important is that you are not at odds with what you eat. When this happens and you are watching every calorie that enters the body or fretting over some silly little ingredient, in my opinion, it has gone too far. Sure, you should eat healthy, as much whole foods, organic, and non-engineered foods as possible. But if you waste all your time and energy in avoidance of everything else, then you are taking valuable energy away from eating, digesting and transforming whatever you do eat, organic or not.
How dramatic, right? However, the point is simple - eat what makes you feel good, with people that love and care for you, or care for yourself and make dinner for one. This act alone will change what you're eating and how you eat, which is of extreme importance. Pay attention to your body as well - you know what it likes, and what you like. Try to compromise to avoid a compromising situation. Yet try to be happy, and health will be right there with you. With that said, here's the truth: I've been through the diets, and I've read the labels, and I can tell you that these obsessions worked to create negative associations with all kinds of foods. Next thing I knew, I was sensitive to everything I ate and I would have an allergic reaction to almost anything. I realized that my conscious mind had created a negative relationship with almost all foods. Energetically speaking, I lost my power to something outside of me and I was under the control of an external dogma that dictated to me what I can and can not eat. I was living in ignorance of my body's needs and my spirit's needs, in order to please what my mind thought we all needed. The strictness of the diet lead me to different social groups, then to relatively few social relations and gatherings. I became alienated from my family and this was a huge mistake. I was denying the love and care of the woman that gave birth and fed me my entire life, because we had differing views on what health was. These were during times that I was focused on the physical and I lacked true understanding of how I was being affected on a deeper energetic level. Needless to say, I came to my senses, the sensitivities disappeared, and the meals I share with family and friends are of greatest importance to me, regardless of what we eat. So where was I, don't eat Twinkies…but if your mom bakes a cake for you, it's all yours, but don't eat the whole thing. I think common sense is your best ally when it comes to nutrition. Listen to your body and the rest will be taken care of. If you know your motivations and can see patterns that may be destructive or damaging behaviors, then you've made the first step.
Most people do quite the opposite; we set goals, don't achieve them, and beat ourselves up inside as a result. I'm not saying I ignore when I fall short of a goal, however I try to remain positive with myself, ask for greater strength in myself to meet this goal in the future, forgive myself and move on knowing that we are not perfect. However, each second that we live our lives with self respect and self love is one that is of greatest importance. But I repeat, I try not to beat myself up, for this only fuels the fire, increasing and enforcing the behaviors that I'm trying to modify. Path
of the Spirit |
Food
is fun, enjoyable, and most importantly a fuel for the mind, body, and
spirit. So much more goes into a meal when it is made with love for you
or by you. In the days of abundance and fast food drive-thrus, most if
not all the spirit of the meal is lost, especially if you are eating it
in your car on the way to work. Okay, practically speaking, you are overworked,
over-stressed, and pressed for time. If this is true and you can't take
30 minutes out of your day to either make or eat a good home cooked meal,
then your lifestyle will burn you up regardless of what you're eating.
We are all pushed to be the overachiever, the obsessive compulsive type-A,
do-it-right, and do-it-now person. Where's the balance, where's the common
sense, and where is your life going? These are questions that will be
answered as your ulcer kicks in, and your indigestion gets you cramping
up as you ride the elevator to your prison in the sky.
The
second is to not consistently fall prey to these behaviors and to ultimately
change them from within you - not without you. What this means is that
you can beat yourself up all day long and try to avoid breaking down and
eating that Twinkie, but in reality you are not in control, the Twinkie
is. It's telling you how to live your life. Sounds ridiculous, right?
Well, it is. But what needs to occur is a shift in your willpower that
no longer craves the Twinkie, or at least find a healthier alternative
to meet the desire. We all know that moderation is key to balance, yet
many of us struggle with swings of extremes. So here's what I do - I form
an alliance with myself to recognize my weaknesses, try to avoid these
weaknesses, and honor myself when I have done something I consider of
valor. This is key as well - focusing on the positive, setting goals and
recognizing when I've achieved them.