Great question. The truth is, there is not one path, as everyone is on their own journey with different motivations and goals that are unique to them.
One might consider the path being when we make the wise choice to truly value health. To actually confront and recognize the cause and effect behind sickness and suffering.
Then we will most likely put our efforts into creating the exact opposite of that. Here are some ideas of healthy habits that will inspire your journey.
Breathing practices. Oxygen and lung inflation has so many benefits. Connecting to the breath can get us out of our head instantly. Six seconds of air in the nose followed by six seconds out the mouth is an easy technique to practice no matter where you are. Try guiding it with the diaphragm while walking or driving, ensuring to deliberately deepen the breath more and more with each cycle. This calms and settles the nervous system, allowing for clarity in potentially tense or stressful situations. There are many awesome breath work systems to play with. Endless freedom there.
Hydration. Get a water filter. You deserve it. Add magnesium, salt and other assorted minerals to it and get to quenching that thirst. Dehydration and hunger feel the same, explaining why people are commonly diagnosed as being both dehydrated and overweight or obese. Rather than skull or gulp, try taking small sips throughout the day, aiming for a third of your body weight in liters/day i.e 100kg person would drink 3.3L/day, then extra for exercise. The body needs liquid to perform every process from digestion to reproduction. When dehydrated it sacrifices some systems to prioritize others. Remember partying back in younger and more foolish times where we would dedicate whole evenings to consuming alcohol and then wonder why hangovers were so bad. Imagine dedicating your energy to making sure the body is getting all the water and nutrients it needs? Next time you are celebrating and someone holds up a glass to say cheers, try giving the body something it can use, instead of something it needs to remove.
Movement. They say life is to be born with a destiny. You may not believe in destiny but like it or not you have one. No matter what happens you’ll have to move to do it. As hunters every step needed to be careful and quiet so as not to give away our position. Even today we need to get in and out of cars or beds and occasionally climb stairs or run for or move away from things quickly. So you may not know your destiny in detail but whatever it is, you can be sure it is to move and become something. When we move in an incorrect or careless way we create injuries, pain and suffering. This will eventually make us stop and think or look for solutions. Once we are recovered we may forget we were even in pain until a new or repeat the same one appears, thus leading us to try to move more and correctly with experience. Indirectly life is teaching us to move in a wise, sensitive, careful way. Over time I’ve learned how to move efficiently, effectively while still having the potential for power and agility. This is called moving meditation and is the highest form of movement and concentration in my humble opinion. While this is the advanced goal, anything is better than nothing. Don’t go doing anything too advanced without guidance and technique obviously but starting off slow and gentle till you get the hang of anything is fun and new. Training the body is an amazing mental health and emotion stabilizer. Having to concentrate on moving and coordination is a wonderful way to escape the trap of overthinking. Some movement systems can even lead us into new levels of freedom and joy. At its very foundation, learning to train and build the body is where valuing our health and fitness becomes a daily practice. It’s the difference between dealing with the same problems over and over again or learning to train through and overcome them. It teaches us resilience and to not be controlled by impulses or feelings while stimulating nerve pathways. Exercise is free and we don’t need anyone or anything to get the benefit. All we need is to make that wise choice to actually do it.
Nutrition. Research the history of people. By people I mean humans. Check out Dr Weston A. Price’s book, ‘Nutrition and Physical Degeneration’ He highlights the foods being consumed over human history and the associated diseases they were experiencing at the time. ‘The Disease of Kings: The Raw Food Nutritional Basis for The Rise & Fall of Civilizations Varis Ahmad (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22623436.Varis_Ahmad)’ is another eye opening read. We are part of this earth and its food chain. The ability to decipher for yourself what sources of nutrients and ratios of protein, fat, carbohydrates and sugars works best for you is a testing ground. The stakes are high when our health is on the line so it should inspire a sincere interest in getting to the truth for yourself and testing the theory with practice. If it doesn’t work, keep adjusting. Anyone who hasn’t seriously considered the cause and effect of what goes in their mouths, up their nose or on their skin has not fully accepted some very unbreakable, irrefutable truths. We are the result of every choice we make. Our body is literally around 90% water plus what we eat and inhale. Quality over quantity.
Community. This is often very underrated. The people you share life with influence you. If the person next to you thinks what you are doing differently to them is weird it’ll mess with your momentum. Having people that encourage and support a wise direction is like a cheat code. Collaborating knowledge or wisdom is more helpful than criticism and objections. Sharing time with people that value what we want to create is way more fun. What we have in life is nowhere near as important as who we have to share it with. Loneliness is a difficult challenge for many. Having people to enjoy the journey with is awesome. Appreciate anyone who brings light and positivity to the wisdom path. It would be darker and heavier without their spark after all.
Toxins and Inflammation. Why would you want to work so hard and then counter the progress with terrible food choices? You wouldn’t. Problem is we get stuck in routines and being healthy isn’t often the most convenient so contradictory thoughts and feelings appear. It can also be confronting and disheartening finding out what you’ve been doing all along is actually not so great. Like when I realized Nutrigrain isn’t Iron man food as it’s advertised but sugar and not much else of value. It can be overwhelming trying to sift through all the information, especially when there are conflicting arguments still ongoing. While everyone is out to make a profit, some care about your health some don’t. Some have observed the cause and effect of what they’re selling honestly and some haven’t. Obsessing over every health decision feels more unhealthy than it’s worth sometimes. One of my best mates passed away with cancer around his fortieth. He was quite disciplined and conscientious about his health and fitness. I’ve seen people still smoking well into their 80’s on a diet of alcohol, soft drinks and frozen packaged foods so I’m honestly not certain of anything anymore. All I know is, I feel a thousand percent better when not consuming complicated crap. The taste and energy kick off high quality ingredients has a night and day difference. One might consider this a placebo effect that I’m exacerbating but no matter. It works for me and that’s the only thing I can be sure of. I’ve made a gradual shift over the years to try to buy all natural fibers like organic cotton and linens rather than polyesters and elastics as much as possible. My mattress is flame retardant and chemical free with all natural fibers and materials. The shower has a filter on it as does my kitchen tap. The dish and laundry soap I use as well as my toothpaste and skin care oils are all a mix of natural ingredients. These routines are more challenging to upkeep especially when traveling. Rather than let the anxiety or fear of taking on toxins inhibit my freedom to enjoy life I make a conscious effort to follow as many of these as often as possible and keep unlocking and maintaining my circulation hoping to be able to clear or detox again soon. There is an obvious benefit in managing all the cause and effect we are being influenced by as much as possible. There is much to still be said about cultivating a correct attitude and intention towards ourselves and others. In some ways our own character and internal state of being has more effect on what happens to us than anything from outside. If Health is an optimal state of harmony or function. Unhappiness, boredom, frustration, stress, fear and worry are all stages of sickness. Any type of suffering is a sign we are out of balance. Life is an amazing journey of rebalancing all. First step is always to observe and try not to make mistakes.
Enjoy life and keep practicing what you’ve learned but keep learning new awesome wisdom. The path is not in the end goal or destination. It’s in every perfect step, in every perfect present!
A true healing ability is represented and perfected treating and rebuilding ourselves first. If my own system is broken, I can’t heal anyone. Most practitioners learn ideas that in theory should work but a system needs to be built on a perfect foundation of logic. My ability has evolved over decades. Repairing all the injuries sustained playing rugby, surfing, horse riding and the rest. The only reason I’m still moving pain free is the discipline and efficacy of the training and healing system and the discipline to remain in that system.
Every moment is precious. Don’t waste a second of it in discomfort. Start now, and tomorrow will already be better than today!
Alternatively, explore the Path of Wisdom app for a pain-free, joyful life so you can love life again and not just forebear it.
Also, consider purchasing my Ebook— Coming soon. Your support through donations will contribute directly to healing and uplifting those who are ready, willing, and able. Have a question? Feel free to ask!
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