Healthy Paradoxes. What's a paradox but a statement (in this case a pair of statements) that appears to contradict itself. Check out this pair:
When it comes to creating health, it's all about the food; When it comes to creating health, food is secondary to what goes on in your mind.
The paradox is that both parts have some truth.
I just returned from the Acres USA Eco-Farming conference. It was awesome! So at the moment, I'm way into maximizing the nutritional value of what we eat -- after all, those were the conference sessions I attended.
I think it's fairly safe to say that the average "Joe" really can't create optimal health without doing something proactive to get the best nutrients into his body that he can find. Think about it. One guy lives on cardboard white bread and candy bars and the other guy loves leafy greens, squash, and blueberries. Who's gonna have the better building blocks?
And yet...
... food isn't everything.
Talk to the energy folks and they'll assure you that your body has an energetic template that sets the stage for what happens on the physical level. You can eat all the carrots you want, but if you're constantly fuming about your difficult childhood, your ex-wife's supposed disrespect for you, how dumb your co-workers are, and so on... are you really creating optimal health?
Of course not.
Now when I put it out there like this, it's obvious. But check it out. Monitor yourself for a day -- or an hour -- maybe even ten minutes would be enough. When you eavesdrop on that little voice in the back of your head, what are you actually "feeding" yourself at the energy level?
Here's why I make such a point. I'm pretty well convinced that we all occasionally harbor thoughts that aren't ultimately creating our best life possible. I certainly do. I've come to believe that it's human nature.
What's a person to do?
My suggestion is to cultivate awareness and choose carefully. When you notice a thought that doesn't support your best interests, replace it with a healthier one. Learn a bit about which foods serve you best and pick them when you can.
Feed your physical system with nutritious foods and your energy system with health-promoting thoughts and you'll have the best of the paradox -- both sides!
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Comments (4)
Very nicely put! Very clear and concise! Very, very true!
Posted by judith greenwood | December 13, 2007 7:20 PM
Posted on December 13, 2007 19:20
Thanks!
Posted by Elizabeth | December 13, 2007 10:54 PM
Posted on December 13, 2007 22:54
I find it difficult to stay on track with nutrition when my thoughts about my life are mostly negative. And when my thoughts are negative it doesn't matter what I eat, my energy level will be way down. So when I'm feeling low, I must consider what I've been eating lately, but also what my thought pattern has been like. Another red flag is the scale. I've gained 7 pounds in about 3 months and I know it's from eating comfort foods during a period of depression. Recently, I've figured out what's been bugging me so now I am ready to deal with the problem and return to good eating habits. I'm confident that my normal energy level will return once my thoughts, emotions, and eating habits are healthy again.
Posted by George Lowther | December 18, 2007 12:30 AM
Posted on December 18, 2007 00:30
Thanks for your comments!
George, while I'll readily agree that self-defeating thoughts compromise your energy, I can't agree that what you eat doesn't matter. While eating healthy won't resolve "real life" difficulties, it can support you in gaining the energy you'll need in order to handle them. Plus, knowing your eating habits have hit the bricks just gives you one more thing to feel bad about! Which you don't need!
Making better food choices when you're dealing with "life" can help in at least two ways:
1: better nutrition really does help your energy level;
2: it's something you have some measure of control over that you can feel good about!
Eat balanced meals of healthy, nutritious foods. This is not the time for a deprivation diet (of course in my book, there is no good time for a deprivation diet...)
Posted by Elizabeth | December 18, 2007 8:56 AM
Posted on December 18, 2007 08:56