I was just thinking about a particular phenomenon, but don't know what to call it. This is something I used to notice mostly after watching movies, although it's something that happens all the time in life -- and I think it does in fact relate to diet, so I'll share. Here it is:
Ever leave a theater after viewing a particularly uplifting film Recall what it's like for a moment. You walk outside, maybe with friends or family, still filled with that magical feeling of having visited another world, or having been moved beyond words, or being filled with inspiration. There's a glow about you, and the air seems sweeter as you stroll out to your car, absolutely care-free. You spin around as you walk, laughing with your friends, joking and hugging each other, engaging in imaginative conversation all the way home -- and the spell lasts for a good long time thereafter. Oh, I love, love, love great movies!!!
But, let's say you didn't see *that* movie. It's the same night, but instead you saw something scary. I know some people love scary movies. But, imagine this one was truly creepy and/or just plain disturbing beyond the adrenaline rush you sought. So, you walk out of that theater after two grueling hours of gore and/or psychologically traumatic imagery. What's it like now? No glow, right? No smiles. The air seems somehow colder as you zip up your jacket in a protective manner. Your stomach is a little upset and you're filled with fear as you walk to your car, glancing at nearby strangers with suspicion. Friends make small-talk, of course (some of them being more desensitized -- which, itself, is a little troubling to you). But the images haunt you; they pervade your dreams and psyche.
[Quick break: Okay, let's wash away those bad vibes... Think unicorns and rainbows, everyone! Happy thoughts again... ]
Okay, now for the meditation. Consider the night air, the environment just outside the theater. In that specific respect, nothing changed at all in those two scenarios. For one person, the night is magical, abuzz with dancing ions; for another, it's truly scary and isolating. But it's the *same exact air*, the *same exact night*, the *same exact parking lot and ride home*.
In other words, it's what you choose to put inside yourself, to fill yourself with, that determines your experience in the world.
Here's the foodie angle on that: The way in which we feed our body isn't too awfully different from the way in which we can feed our imagination. Processed foods, unhealthy sugars, foods with labels that read more like a chemical list than a roster of ingredients ... these are the "disturbingly scary movies" of the food world, as far as the human body is concerned. On the other end of the spectrum, though, are the "uplifting films." If you put wholesomeness into yourself, your body will respond by expressing itself in a positively healthy fashion. The negativity, expressed physically as fatigue, disease, indigestion, etc., naturally subsides. You're rewarded with lightness, health, and the glow of a happy body!
So, the next time you're facing a tough decision about what to eat, think of your food as kind of a movie you're going to show to your body. Ask yourself: Am I going to give it the uplifting feature, or the horror show? Whether your body cares may be a matter of conjecture. Some might say that it doesn't, that it just reflects whatever you give to it. But, I think it does. I think it's screaming out for that uplifting gift of health that it knows it can give to you, if only you'll choose wisely.
Original Comments
Below, we have included the original comments from this blog post. Additional comments may be made via Facebook, below.
On January 14, 2010, wrote:
Jim, I LOVED this blog post! It's a great analogy.
It really is all about choices. Are we are choosing to subject ourselves to things that aren't necessarily feeding us in positive ways, or are we filling ourselves with loving energy (in many different forms: food, thoughts, actions, etc)
It's all about LOVING ourselves!
*blows kisses*
On January 14, 2010, wrote:
Yes, it really is about choices! Sometimes we make good choices and sometimes not so good...but we always have a fresh slate each morning!
On January 14, 2010, wrote:
You must have just seen Avatar. Lol. But yes, this is a great analogy. Gives me a bit more inspiration to work harder and enjoying my 'internal' movie!
Thanks.
On January 14, 2010, wrote:
good one, jim! capricorn on a roll!
there are currently 5 planets in cap...
wow! i was shocked by some things
i wrote yesterday. they were so
outrageous and yet clear and i think
ultimately helpful. :) i hope! :)
On January 14, 2010, wrote:
Thanks for the really wonderful post! I'm going to file this one away as a reminder.
Tam
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Nicely put Jim. I printed it out and circulated it around to all my staff.
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Jim ~
Beautiful analogy and I TOTALLY agree with you... when I was reading through the post, I could relate to every sentence. And oh, how I LOVE the feeling when my body feels "fed" with raw foods. Even as I type this entry, I can feel the lightness, the joy and the energy.
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
I thought about the time I went to the theatre with my family and saw Forest Gump. There were things that touched me from my past and when the movie was over, I couldn't stop crying. We got to the car, and I couldn't stop. My husband finally took the kids to a close store to "shop" while mom worked through the emotional backlog. I still shudder when I think of that movie. And after the years of getting things in line, I still wont watch that movie again. A scripture in the Bible says, whatever things are true, upbuilding, well spoken of, good, keep considering these things. And yes, that means what we put in out bodies and minds. It has a profound effect, be it movies, books, music or food.
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Good stuff! I consciously try to make sure I make the best food choice with what I have available, because yes, I know there's a lot better chance I'll get that uplifting experience by making that choice. Granted, it's hard to make a "bad" choice when you're raw (unless you decide to eat two jars of almond butter for lunch or something), but it's still good to strive to put the best thing in your body when given the option.
I too have noticed the movie phenomenon, but never really correlated it directly to food as you have in this post. In addition to what you said, I think it's a good idea to have positive, guilt-free thoughts about what you're eating as well. Even if you know it's not the best thing on the planet, I think you can dampen its "damage" somewhat by not getting bent out of shape with thoughts like, "Oh my, I'm cheating!"
Obviously it's best to be upbeat and happy while consuming the best foods around, but having that same attitude while consuming less than the best foods ever will at least allow you to "walk out of the theatre" feeling satisfied.
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Here's to uplifting, inspiring choices. :-) !!
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Thanks, Joan!
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Actually, I was definiteely waxing a little Avatar-ish on that last post about the saber-toothed tigers. I think it just carried through here a little. (I really do love movies!)
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
5 planets in Capricorn? That's interesting. Didn't know that -- but it sounds auspicious!
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Thanks, Tam! It was fun to write.
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Thanks, Kevan. Wow, circulating raw food / health blog articles like memos ! Sounds like a gret office!
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Thanks, rawkin Robin! I feel it too! :-)
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Wow, it's amazing how everything is so subjective, you know? --how a piece of art can be viewed as calming to one person, uplifting to another, disturbing to yet another... I have things like that, too, though -- e.g., movies that haunt me and/or affect me deeply. And sometimes I know why, and sometimes I don't. But, YES -- keep considering the upbuilding things. :-)
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
Very true. Good points! I kind of do that with certain raw foods, actually -- like those Hunza raw chocolate brownies over at Whole Foods. (Ever tried them ) Frankly, they may be raw, but they just *can't* be that good for you. (Delicious, though.)
(As a personal aside, I should mention that, at this point, I'm not sure if my attitude would matter much if I ate, say, a big piece of pan pizza or something. I might be able to attempt to transcend any latent guilt and say, "Okay, I'm going to eat this and be happy about it," but I'm not sure my stomach would get that message.)
On January 15, 2010, wrote:
I never had the Hunza brownies at Whole Foods. Perhaps I should check them out sometime. One thing I sometimes indulge on are Lara bars. I could probably eat half a dozen of the Cashew Cookie ones at one sitting if I ever actually bought that many.
Yeah, you do have a point about the pan pizza. I think there are physical limitations here that you can't overcome with the power of positive thinking, hehe. I'd probably have to lie down for a few hours if I downed some of the dinners I used to have years ago...like a whole Tombstone pizza for myself. Maybe they should actually come with a tombstone
Speaking of positive thoughts, I'm currently looking at a five pound bag of cacao beans. :) I'm on pace to consume about 72 pounds of them this year, haha. Hopefully I don't turn into a cacao pod one night in my sleep. ;)
On January 18, 2010, wrote:
Almost missed this comment! Yes, Lara Bars are life savers ... perhaps the most widely-available raw junk food item I know of. My faves include the Lemon, the Key Lime, the Gingerbread, and a few others. Not all are 100% raw, though. I think their cacao one is 90% raw. (Although, in truth, most of their 100% ones probably use irradiated almonds. But that's another conversation.) BTW, interesting to hear that you were a Tombstone man. I always preferred that brand, too.
On January 26, 2010, wrote:
Lots of great thoughts there Jim!
I have just remembered a quote from Sir Chimnoy, I can't remember his full name, "Your mind is like a container you choose what you put into it"!
Yes I am going to imagine food like a movie that I will show my body.
Great way of putting it!
Thanks Jim,as Scooby Doo would say "Thanks for keeping it real!"
sheryl miller
canberra australia