Self-Recognition

On the path to change, there are many different roads to take, and many different people offering you advice. How do you know what to do? Who to listen to when you need advice? It's hard to know where to go when the path that you've always been on hasn't been working for you. It's nearly impossible to re-frame a seemingly bad situation into a story that motivates you to strive for change.

The first step to change is developing self-awareness. You need to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. You need to be aware of your habits. What you have been doing well, and what you haven't been able to do yet. It's harder than it sounds. Sometimes you have a different picture of yourself that might be the truthful. You may think that your unhealthy habits aren't a big deal. But deep down, you know that they conflict with your long-term health. Right now, it might seem overwhelming to try and change the habits that have gotten you to where you are today. Plus, its hard to know how to change, even when you know that you need to. And that's ok.

One easy way to identify some things that might help you is to examine people around you, or even people you don't know. When you see a person that you envy, or a person that you would like to emulate...take a mental note of why you see that person in a positive light. Then try to brainstorm how they achieve that quality.

Molecules of Emotion

I've been reading Molecules of Emotion by Candace Pert. Molecules of Emotion is Candace's autobiography that details the life of a prominent scientist at the National Institute of Health. Her research career involves the biochemical interactions between the body and the mind--effectively proving not only do your thoughts impact your physical health, but that your physical health can impact your mental health as well. In her book she tells us about her big a-ha moment concerning the age-old question of how emotions transform the body, either creating disease or healing it, maintaining health or undermining it. "Why, it's both! It's not either/or; in fact, it's both and neither! Its simultaneous--a two-way street."

This revelation so powerful, because it shows the link between our external environment and our internal environment. They are one and the same. It also links the importance of what we put in our bodies, i.e. food and drink. There is no way to nourish yourself in only one area of your life. Even the best doctors cannot cure lung cancer patients who still smoke, nor can a pill reverse 50 years of poor dietary habits that have led to heart disease. Modern medicine can buy you more time, but it cannot promote good health.

Motivation?

Sometimes it gets difficult for me to muster the energy to do the right thing, especially when in comes to nourishing myself. There are always days when I don't have the energy to prepare a full meal, or even to go food shopping. So how do I find the motivation to get myself nourished, even when I'm not feeling up to the challenge?
Usually it takes me a while. I'm not the best at motivating myself. In fact, I'm much better at motivating other people. Sometimes when I get home I'm tired and can't find the strength to eat. I usually lay down and take a nap. But it is self defeating because I just wake up later, even hungrier than before. So what is it that I can do to change my mind and get myself where I need to be?
Sometimes just plugging in the stereo and getting some good songs on the radio is the only way for me to drag myself into the kitchen. The other thing that motivates me is the knowledge of what didn't work before. It helps to think back about every other time that I've talked myself out of nourishing myself...only to have to step up later and do even more work to repair myself.