Most of us yearn for joy in our lives and end up disappointed at the end of the day because we haven’t had fun. Instead of satisfied, joyful and balanced, we may feel tired and disappointed. When we are having such hard times and feeling “low” we are likely to forage the kitchen or food aisle at the store in search of sugars and fats that will medicate us temporarily. These unhealthy foods keep our energy low and our mood dark but they do provide momentary relief. It never lasts long, however, and the next day we are more likely to repeat the cycle of feeling bad…eating sugars and fats to ease our feelings…feeling even worse…seeking more food to medicate ourselves. So, food doesn’t work in the long run. We all know this, but the question is: What does? To have days that you love you first need to think about what exactly you do love to do. Ask yourself these questions: What do I really love to do? What am I passionate about?
When was the last time you became totally immersed in an activity? Many of us spend our days simply, mindlessly making it through to the next day and then to the day after that. Then we ask ourselves if this is what life is supposed to be like. Is this really all there is to it? Is the hokey pokey really what it’s all about? If that is so then anesthetizing ourselves with sugars and carbohydrates certainly makes sense.
We create our lives. You have most likely heard this many times in the past but perhaps you lost that thought amid the bombardment of every day concerns. What would it mean to you to create your life? When would you begin and how would you proceed? When was the last time you sat in stillness to think about this? Have you ever taken the quiet, reflective time necessary to come to truly know yourself?
If we don’t spend the time and effort to go within, we end up living as robots performing the tasks that we imagine we are supposed to perform. Life can feel empty and meaningless and we soothe our discontented, unfulfilled feelings with substances – food, drugs, alcohol, etc. Perhaps there are more efficient and meaningful ways to conduct our lives.
We have a blueprint of ways to begin. Eat well. Choose live foods that fill our bodies with nourishment. Give our bodies the tender loving care they deserve. Give them lots of pure water, a moderate amount of sunshine, ample rest, exercise and lots of things to smile about. Give your body attention. Get a massage, stretch, breathe, and giggle. Begin to relax and stop taking everything so personally and so seriously.
Make a list of fun things that you would like to do. Perhaps you want to take a dance class or begin bike riding or go to the movies more often. Enroll in a photography class or start a reading group. Explore the world of Bach Flower Remedies as they are extremely useful for balancing your emotions. Take piano or guitar lessons or schedule in some long walks at the beach.
There are no guidelines and there are no limits. Your life and your time are yours to spend as you wish. Please make yourself number one and allot time to nurture yourself in as many ways as you can think of. When you do this, your mood will brighten, your smile will broaden and you won’t be quite so interested in eating to stuff away your emotions.
-Dr. Denise
