By Chia Chia Cheng, Dip. NCCAOM, L.Ac.
Panic and Uncertainty Vibes
Last week the streets were vibing with the need for hunkering down and staying at home. The panic about groceries and toilet paper didn’t affect me. Until Friday. It suddenly hit me that evening.
I began to think about all the folks in their homes. The ones who couldn’t go to work. The ones who only get paid a wage when they go to work. I started to think about how long it would take for them to recover from their wage loss. Down the rabbit hole I plunged.
I believed that other people’s anxiety and uncertainty were theirs. I believed I could live separately from their reality.
I was wrong.
Apparently I am not immune to the overall vibration of the community. As the week went on the somber attitude caught up with me.
I feel like I live in a ghost town. The folks I do come across on the street, half of them don’t make eye contact much less say hello. Even at 6 feet away their fear is palpable.
As a human I’m a social creature. As an extrovert I am recharged by interacting with others. Being isolated, as it turned out, is really hard for me to deal with.
How has the last two weeks affected you?
The Next Step: A Workable Solution
Coronavirus, like its previous predecessors of H1N1, SARS, and Avian bird flu, reminds everyone of how interconnected we are as a people. You may not be able to change the course of the current “global pandemic.” You can, however, take care of yourself and vibe positivity.
As you project an intention of wellness and hope, you are creating positive energy from which others will benefit.
The action plan is the same. Keep on the path of daily self-care by doing the following:
- Eat clean and nutrient dense foods.
- Drink water throughout the day.
- Move your body for at least two hours a day.
- Sleep well and get 7-8 hours each night.
These are daily things you can do to help yourself do and feel better. When you take care of yourself, your immune system gets a boost. So do the rest of your community as your feeling better projects positivity outward.
Since the sun was out all week and weekend, I prioritized getting as much solar love as possible. I made sure I got at least two hours of sun exposure and physical activity each day. This lifted my mood immensely.
I continue to eat nutrient dense foods. Every meal includes vegetables. I am sleeping well. I check in with friends and family over the phone. These are the things I can do to help me feel better about the current situation.
Was It Worth It?
“Was it worth it?” she asked. At the time I hadn’t eaten bread in 51/2 weeks. I had given up my favorite food, organic sourdough bread, in order to prepare myself to become a different version of me. One that didn’t eat bread like it was my last meal ever.
I knew that the sourdough she offered me was neither organic nor from my favorite bakery. I ate the end piece anyway. I wanted to prove myself wrong. I wanted to see if that particular sourdough was indeed as good as my preferred sourdough.
It wasn’t even close. Case closed.
How many times have you heard someone say, “That speeding ticket was worth it!” or “The hangover was worth it!” Yet, you or someone you know says this to food all the time. “________ was worth it!” while they internally had a contrary thought.
How do you relate to food and drink? What you put into your body becomes a part of you. Literally. Being thoughtful about what you choose as food and drink is being thoughtful about how you want to experience your brain and body.
Being Right Gets Boring
Not only do you do the same things habitually, you also think the same things. Neuroscientists describe this state as default mode.
Think of the drive you take to work, to pick up your kids, to the grocery store. The order in which you enter the grocery store. The order you put on and take off your clothes. Even how you respond to the news or certain politicians occurs in default mode.
I like to prove myself wrong. When I’m wrong about something I learn about myself and other people. This makes me grow as a person while making my brain grow by forming new connections.
A similar thing occurs on a physical level when you don’t eat when your body expects to be receiving food. This is why fasting works. Because all of the sudden when your body is expecting food, and it doesn’t get it, a different metabolic response occurs. You don’t have to fast for a week to get the benefits.
Intermittent fasting of 12-18 hours has been researched extensively. You will get some kind of benefit by fasting intermittently. Again, the key is consistency. If you’re going to do intermittent fasting, do so for 3 weeks and see how you feel. Otherwise you won’t experience any benefit.
Why Proving Yourself Wrong is Good for Your Brain
Your body likes to be challenged physically. This is how it grows and strengthens. The same goes for your brain. When you prove yourself wrong, you have a new experience. Being wrong
- Pushes you towards new horizons.
- Challenges your current beliefs, which may be limiting you in unknown ways.
- Expands your brain by creating different thought patterns.
- Allows for new connections in your brain, and possibly new connections with people.
How Being Wrong Relates to Wellness
I love working with people who are open to new ideas. Are you ready to rid yourself of the beliefs and habits that coexist with the rut you’re currently in? Common beliefs and habits may include:
- I can’t eat salt. Salt makes me swell up.
- I don’t like the texture. Makes me gag.
- I eat plenty of vegetables and protein.
- I know what I should be doing. I just need to do it. (But can’t get myself to start.)
- I tried everything and nothing works.
- I don’t need to take supplements. I have a clean diet.
Nobody gave up eating cake because they had one unsatisfying piece. Just sayin’. Don’t give up on giving yourself the opportunity to have experiences which promote growth and resilience.
How Will You Prove Yourself Wrong?
There is something that you’ve been wanting to do. Some change that you have been contemplating. You’ve been putting it off.
Prove yourself wrong today. Do that ONE THING that you’ve been simmering on the back burner. Then I want you to tell me what it was like for you to prove yourself wrong. [email protected]
If you’re ready to have guidance on making that one thing happen for you, I’m here to help. 503-939-9709. Social distancing doesn’t mean you need to put your dreams and goals on hold. Carpe diem!!
Make the life you want happen for you!!
