55 People
I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT
We consume food not to indulge our taste buds but to nourish our body, mind, and soul. What we eat is deeply connected to our physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Reflect: Help others by sharing this thought with them.
I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF
Would you rather focus on the temporary gratification you get from eating unhealthy (but flavourful) foods or the calm your body and mind feel after having a healthy meal?
Recommended: Journal your eating habits and mental triggers that make you choose an unhealthy meal over a healthy one.
THIS WEEK, I WANT YOU TO TRY
Be mindful of your food choices, listen to your body, and control your monkey mind. Try this and see the difference yourself.
Remember: Society is structured to reward consumption. Wherever you go, whoever you meet, you will find many temptations that will challenge your resolve. Believe in yourself and stay motivated.
SOME WORDS OF WISDOM TO HELP YOU
The path to strengthening your soul passes through your body and mind. So, if you want to taste what 'being spiritual' feels like, start cleansing your body by making better food choices.
Meditate: You are just a body, a vehicle your soul has borrowed for a few years. Try connecting to your soul, and you will discover that your soul carves for knowledge, not food.
WATCH THIS FOR MOTIVATION
Junk Food-More than 1 billion people in the world are obese in 2024, and this number is projected to rise to 1.53 billion by 2035. Obesity among adults has more than doubled since 1990 and has quadrupled among children and adolescents (5 to 19 years of age). This Obesity pandemic is as dangerous to our health as smoking, alcohol or drug addiction. Do you know that smoking was considered cool in the 1950s till we realised how smoking kills? Similarly, we eat junk food almost every day. But we don't have to wait till it kills us or someone close to us; we can start today and make better food choices. Check it out.
YOUR STORIES FROM LAST WEEK
I have never been the one to Audit myself. For me, it's all about the outside world: my friends, family, job and hobbies. But recently, I started feeling dissatisfied with myself; I was moody, unfulfilled, and unhappy.
This week, I took your advice and started focusing inward. I journaled about everything that came into my mind. I put all my thoughts, however insignificant, on the paper. At first, it was tiring, and I was losing motivation. But, as days went on, I started liking it.
Now, I feel calm after writing in my journal, and it is helping me make sense of what is missing in my life. I will keep using journaling to focus on myself and my priorities. It's high time for me to reclaim my life.
I have been smoking since I was 15. I picked this habit like any teenager, and it soon became a part of my lifestyle and routine. a few years back, when I was 36, I was in the park with my five-year-old son, and he asked me to play ball with him. When we started the game, I started panting and was breathless after only a few minutes of running. I was embarrassed, guilty and shocked. I was stunned because I couldn't believe how deeply smoking had affected my health. I was guilty because I couldn't play with my son. I want to be there for him, play with him and be a role model. This feeling of inadequacy was making me depressed.
After that, I started focusing inward. I completely shut myself off from outside distractions and focused on connecting with my mindset so that I could identify my habits and the mental triggers associated with them. I started working out, eating healthy, stopping smoking, and never looked back. Now, I am 42 and recently ran a half marathon.
In the last six years, I have realised that I have to constantly audit my life every day. I have to always stay out of my comfort zone and keep my guard up for distractions.
I have found success but then failed again. This has been the story of my life. For as long as I remember, I have been struggling with my mind. I have been struggling to control my emotions, anger and habits. My life was an utter hell because of my actions and reactions. My relationships, my job and my health suffered all because of me. I was in self-destruction mode all my life.
One day, I had enough, and I wanted to make a change. I read books, listened to teachers and gurus, and learned that I must practice mindfulness. I needed to be mindful of my thoughts, actions, and motivations. I figured that the world would not change for me; it was me who had to change my reaction to the world. I learned that I can control my mind by constantly engaging in this inner conversation with myself and watching my every move and thought.
This practice has helped me a lot, and I continue to progress in all aspects of my life. I married the love of my life, have two lovely kids, and have a great job.
We can't evolve unless we start looking inward. We spend all our lives looking outside for answers, but we don't realise that all the answers we need are deep within us. Meditate, take a walk, listen to music, or dance; do whatever works for you and start listening to your thoughts. It can take time, and it's not always easy, but with enough dedication and discipline, you will get there.
As always, share your stories by simply replying to this email. Let me know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous.
Until next week,
Mudit Aggarwal
Thinker, Spiritual Teacher and Life Coach
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