Nectar for the soul

Last week I wrote about the connection between diet and the resulting gut bacteria upon mood, energy levels and body size. It’s not a new idea that what we eat impacts what we feel. However, it may be novel to implement such knowledge via consistent action!

I am grateful that I mastered the art of maintaining a healthy diet (mostly) along with regular exercise over a decade ago. The key has been choosing exercise that I genuinely enjoy – my preferences are changing as part of middle aging – but I maintain movement and I eat food that I find nutritious and tasty. (with a bit of crap here and there too – gotta keep it real).

However, when it comes to consistently satisfying my deeper hungers, I’ve been a bit more sporadic. And less successful. Typically, in January, I have done what most people do then with diet and exercise. I’ve gone hell for leather committing to activities that satisfy my deeper hungers throughout January. But I gradually stop doing these things during February, or maybe March on a good year!  As with many things, this can happen so subtly that I don’t notice it. There is room for improvement!

I’ve been reminded of this again recently while I’ve watched the birds and the bees busying themselves with the business of food. Whether the blue tits feeding their young, the bee’s feasting on flower nectar or even the hummingbird on my screen saver. The bees seem to particularly enjoy the jasmine flowers’ offerings as well as those of a purple flower whose name I do not know. See pic. Answers on a post please.

As I’ve watched the wildlife, I’ve realised that I’ve often treated my deeper hungers like something I can satisfy here and there. When I think about this, I realise it is a bit like having my breakfast on Monday morning and then not bothering to re-fuel for the rest of the week. In other words, completely ridiculous if I’m expecting to experience the benefits of feeding the deeper appetites, in any consistent way. Or to avoid the consequences of not doing so.

I have certainly fallen in to the trap of, ‘I feel good’ (gotta love a bit of Jimbo Brown) so I can skip sustaining all the things that keep me feeling good! A bit like how I used to exercise and diet until I reached my desired weight then revert to old habits which restored my old weight! I was caught in that cycle for many years. But I’ve basically been doing the equivalent with my mental and emotional health.

Cue … time for a different more consistent approach if wishing to experience a different more consistent reality! And a better one at that where I feel good more of the time. I’ll just caveat that with the fact that no-one feels good all the time. But we can do things that support or undermine our experience.

Here’s how I try to commit to maintaining my mental and emotional health. First, I know what works as nectar for my soul. And as one who loves a list and a plan, I regularly write lists about this. My latest list looks something like this:

• Pray. A lot. (this used to be at the bottom until I realised it helps with the rest!)
• Nature, Nature, Nature
• Get to bed early – I’m a lark all the way & a miserable bugger without enough kip
• Eat healthily as the norm, eat unhealthily in moderation
• Move; walk, run, cycle, swim (out of desire not duty, mostly)
• Stretch, breathe, be in my body, aided by Pilates & Yoga, Open Movement/5 R’s
• Read, write, reflect
• Sing/dance/listen to music
• Watch films that move me/make me think
• Bake
• Share my heart with trusted friends & respectfully hear theirs
• Photography
• Massage/reflexology
• Rest, rest, rest (still rubbish at this)

I know myself well enough to know what nourishes me – my challenge is to understand that these are not optional extra’s but as necessary as the work of adulting. So I need to schedule times to make them happen with as much commitment as I schedule in my work.

As with all areas of life, if I do not implement what I know I cannot expect to enjoy the benefits of doing so! Or avoid the cost of failing to.

A proactive approach to satisfying the deeper hungers for maintaining good mental and emotional health is essential. And it’s ok to fail or fall short (I’m quite the pro at this!) so long as we’re willing to try one more time than we fail. And it’s important to understand that any prolonged failing to maintain mental and emotional health can cause physical ailments too. The mind and body are linked and the health of each effects/affects the other.

What is your nectar for the soul?