WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK: LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES
About 14 years ago I thought I had nutrition and 'eating right' all figured out. I had my Bachelors of Science degree in kinesiology. I was a successful and gifted fitness trainer. I was diligent with my meals, eating every two hours and only consuming organic produce, meat, and eggs. I was muscular and lean. I threw an amazing uppercut and right cross-punch. I could stand on a fitness ball while catching and throwing 12-lb medicine balls. My Vinyasa flow yoga was spot-on, and I could physically do just about anything. I had great flexibility, strength, and stamina.
Even though I was doing everything 'right', I experienced a healing crisis in October 2004 . I broke out in recurring hives from my neck to my thighs. I had dark circles under my eyes, developed irritable bowel syndrome and felt tired much of the day.
I saw doctors, nutritionists, and health specialists who all seemed baffled. They all said exactly the same thing, "You are eating what you should, you are exercising, and you are one of the most dedicated and focused people I have seen. I don't know why you are having health challenges. It must be stress."
I felt anger and fear; none of this made sense. I was not satisfied with the answers I received from other people. I knew there was more to life than doing the right things and still feeling horrible. I remember sitting at my desk one day, thinking and saying, "There is more to life than this! There is more available to me. I don't know what it is, but I am going to find out!"
Then I 'gave up'. I let go of all I knew about nutrition and fitness. Little of what I 'knew' seemed to be working. I decided to experiment. I started checking in with my own body, my own intuition, and my energy levels. If I felt tired or sluggish after eating a certain food, I stopped eating it and replaced it with other foods.
I ate less meat and more veggies - not because it was 'right', but because I felt better when I did. Then I heard about raw foods. I discovered fresh, raw, organic veggies, fruit, seeds, and nuts are brimming with minerals, enzymes, and life force. Just as I suspected, I had more energy when I ate more fresh, live foods.
I started to understand my body better. I had newfound motivation and direction to cleanse and heal my digestive system, liver, and kidneys. I used my new enthusiasm to restore my health, and it worked. My hives went away and my skin cleared. The circles under my eyes lightened and lifted. Over time I had more energy and felt great.
The main portion of my healing journey took two years. Looking back and knowing what I know now, I could have done it in about six to eight months. My body was giving me clear signs, I just did not know how to read them at the time.
Hives represent anger or irritation about hidden fears. They were on my torso, which represents how I felt about what I was doing at the time. They often spread in such a way where they began over my liver and spread to my kidneys. The majority of the redness was concentrated around my colon, liver, gallbladder and kidneys.
Looking back, my body was clearly telling me to cleanse my digestive system and be real about what I was feeling. I needed to admit my fears, forgive my anger and treat myself with nurturing kindness. That is what I eventually did, over a period of years. Had I known how to understand my body's signs and translate them as I do now, my healing would have been much faster.
Even if symptoms seem purely physical, there are always energetic components involved. All healing begins in consciousness. I was willing to let go of what I was doing that was not working, and that opened the doors to my true health.
Conscious Nutrition is being conscious of my choices and choosing what gives most light and life. Instead of choosing my food based on 'right or wrong' and 'good or bad', I eat according to what deeply nourishes me today. I eat what gives me the most pure, pristine, energy and life.
Now my primary focus is deeply nourishing my body and supporting my Being with what I require to thrive. I discovered there is way more to health than eating right and exercising. As a result of my discovery, I feel better now than I have before in my life. I feel more beautiful, have more energy, my skin is radiant, I have a brighter outlook on life and am all-around happier.
If any of this resonates with you; if you know there is more to life than what you are currently living, if you know it is time to do something different in your life to get yourself healthier, happier, and having more fun, and you don't want to waste time with what doesn't work; if you want to experience a sampling of some of the most forward-thinking, cutting-edge, and effective modalities our times have to offer, register now for the PURE Transformation Retreat. Enjoy Yoga, Raw Food, and Personal Transformation as a Conscious and Creative Force to give you a transformative weekend like no other!
