We are what we eat.
This is not news! Hippocrates said this circa 400 BC. The bright and glimmering shine of modernization has made us forgetful. It is refreshing to see though that we are turning back to ancient wisdom to heal ourselves, unlearning the detrimental aspects of modern learning, and starting to listen to our bodies. As much as some scientists, doctors, and "experts" might not want to admit the deep interconnection of the physical body, mental body, and emotional body - not only are the physical, mental, and emotional bodies are connected to, depend on, and impact each other, also different parts of the body are deeply dependent on and impact each other.
The other thing that disturbs me is that modern medicine practitioners, while not all of them, many of them are quick to prescribe pills simply based on symptoms and move on to the next patient. They do not want to dig deeper or even examine the root cause of the symptoms to then address that condition instead of the symptoms.
Take as an example, if one is experiencing premature hair thinning/loss/greying. Other than trying to relate it to a hereditary hair loss pattern, not many practitioners are interested in diving deeper and ask probing questions. Now comes the other part of this equation, the "patient", aka you aka me. Most patients are either too afraid, desperate, or naive to respectfully ask questions or challenge the expert. I know because I used to be one. The good news is that, that is the part we can control because we are the other part of that equation.
The "x" we are really trying to solve for is not the symptom, but our wellbeing and health.
I am not condoning going to "Dr. Google" instead or blindly listening to some social media self proclaimed expert. That is most likely worse than going to a certified medical or health practitioner. On the contrary, I am suggesting that we go inward, reflect, examine our life in its entirety instead of taking the parts in isolation.
Prevention is better than cure
Obviously!!! We all desire to be in great physical and mental health and be the poster child for this phrase. Well, that doesn't mean that we can only be examples in an all or nothing state. The fact is that the world has changed way too rapidly for our bodies to catch up to.
Coming to the crux of this post, regardless of what your past was, it is exactly that, your past, it has passed, try your best to let it go.
Let's bring ourselves to the present moment -
Important: Please do not do the following while driving, walking, or operating any machinery. Only do this if you're able to sit down and not being doing anything else at all.
Sit down or lie down
Inhale for a count of four - 1, 2, 3, 4
Exhale for a count of four - 4, 3, 2, 1
Repeat 2-4 times
Make contact with different parts of your body such as your arms, shoulders, neck face, etc..
Once again, take a deep inhale and sigh it out
Now either in your head or loudly, affirm - "I release any judgment and shame against any part or the entirety of myself"
Take another deep breath and with intention sigh it out
Arrive to the present moment, fully connected to your body and breath
If you feel inclined, get a journal and pen down any thoughts that might surface. Take a moment to reflect honestly and without judgment on your dietary lifestyle. Maybe even track your eating habits. Without judgment or shame, reflect on - Do you reach for the box of cookies or bag of chips when you might feel overcome with a low vibration emotion? Do you watch TV or scroll through your digital device while eating? i.e. eating mindlessly? These are just some of the reasons why your brain might take your actions as signals on how to not only process that food, but also how to treat the body.
So it's not as simple as what you eat, it's also when you eat, your triggers, and how you eat.
Ultimately, it's your relationship with food, which really is a metaphor for the relationship you have with yourself.
Even if you may have some ailments or health conditions, you can still be a poster child for "Prevention is better than cure" for other areas of your health. In fact it's a win-win situation because not only are you taking better care of the healthy aspects of your body, you're also taking intentional actions towards healing the parts of your body that you may have neglected.
TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE - Remember this fact and let it inspire you to make healthy and positive changes.
I'd love to hear from you, your stories, what may have come up for you when you read this post.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice and is not meant to replace your medications or your health practitioner. Please do not stop your therapy/medications without consulting your doctor/health services provider.