Attitude Changes Altitude
There is a well-known saying that attitude changes everything. Attitude can take you up, down, or keep you neutral but wherever it takes you, it does take you somewhere.
When you were a child remember when your parents got you try a new food and just by the look of it, for example if it was even slightly green in color, you knew you would hate it and you would refuse to eat it? Without even giving it a second look, our minds were made up, that food was not going in our bellies, much less our mouths. Even if it could have been the tastiest of dishes, the decision was made. And the funny thing is, later in life, 9 times out of 10, we ended up liking the dish and hearing the voice of an elder say, “Remember when you used to hate XYZ?” It must be one of those gleaming moments for a parent where there is undeniable proof that they were right. As we get older, we continue to judge food and fullness with our attitude. It is often our state of mind that decides if a bite or two is good enough and as we look at our plates, we know good and well what size portions will satiate our hunger, leaving us even knowing that we will want seconds or thirds before we even take a single bite. How do we know and is that what real wisdom is these days?
Prior to Whole30 I would typically eat oats in various forms for breakfast: oatmeal, muesli, granola, bars, etc. Oats, any style, I absolutely love. I love them warm. I love them cold. I love them baked. I love them raw. And as I began my journey towards Whole30, I knew it would be a challenge to no longer have my typical breakfast since oats are on the list of things I am unable to eat as they can cause inflammation to the digestive track. To be honest, I was a little glad, as I had noticed that I have been getting some stomach pains after eating my breakfast and I knew that something was going on. And if I am honest with myself, I know I was over doing it with them. I would eat some muesli for breakfast and snack on granola throughout the day, again to be accompanied by little pains and feelings of “over full” here and there. My love was beginning to blind my body’s signals telling me that it had had enough. But as I began Whole30 I was going to miss how full oats made me feel and how warm and cozy. I also felt well fed and ready to tackle the day after eating my beige flaky friends.
As I sat to eat breakfast the first week, looking down at my breakfast on a nice, crisp white plate, I saw bright colors of smoked salmon, mashed sweet potatoes, and green vegetables. It is a rather savory breakfast and, to me, appears like any other meal. It could be lunch or dinner. Oats had always defined what time of day it was and here I was sitting with my stomach confused. “What day is it? What time is it? Are we at brunch?” My stomach would ask. As I sat there, taking a moment to bless my food, I would look up and see this beautiful meal while my stomach was wondering where the “real breakfast” was. As I have greeted this breakfast day by day, I knew that eating it and feeling well fed and full was down to my attitude. I had to believe with each bite that although this was not my typical oats, in any and all styles, it was just as nutritious, perhaps even more so, and will give me the fuel to start my day.
I am just on Day 10 and I still must be aware of my attitude towards what is on that white plate each morning, for often after my last bite my stomach will ask me, “Okay, now where is the granola?” It is another trigger I am catching, the snacking on my sacred granola directly after most meals. Even though I am full, I have noticed how I will take myself to “over full” and feel my stomach as it meets the skin of my belly. If we are to care for our bodies as if they are the finest of cars, then I was filling my tank up with gas and going past the click that warns us that the tank is full. I was taking it to that point where a little gasoline would bubble out. And albeit we may use premium gasoline, or the healthiest of food, we are still privy to the dangers of over filling the tank and that is no good.
There is no magic or voodoo when it comes to listening to our bodies and changing our attitudes. It is merely taking a pause and daring to feel, having the courage to feel certain voids, which are not food related at all. It has been advised to stop eating just before you feel full. It is good advice, and true, but hard to follow, as it is scary to have to sit in idle emptiness and that is why we often eat to the point of a food coma so we ignore looking deeper. “Over full” becomes the normal way to feel and we numb ourselves to the signals at hand. Thus, it all starts with attitude, not your stomach. It is you that must listen first and reclaim your power to choose what is healthy for you and what serving portions are best for you. And this not only goes for food but all things in life. Are you “over full” on spending time with certain people, a job, a way of life, etc? Let your attitude lead you to a higher altitude. Take time to pause and listen. Stop yourself just before that point of full and ask yourself, “What is my body telling me? What does it want me to know?” And finally, as you look at your plate know that it is enough. And as you look in the mirror know that you, too, are enough. Meet not only meals but also your life with this curious and courageous attitude and you are sure to rise up in altitude. Namaste.