I have had a few people recently meet me and think that I have always been this fit and this healthy and that it must be easy for me when it comes to making healthy lifestyle choices. Today it is easy to make these choices, because I feel the best health-wise and look the best I ever have. I have friends who have known me for 10-15 years who have said that I look younger now than I did back then. I definitely feel that way and I know it is a by-product of The Way of the Livingness.
Eating Junk, Smoking and Taking Drugs
From a teenager onwards I made some choices that I didn’t even realise were choices: I just made them because I thought it was normal, never once stopping to consider the effects these choices were having on my body.
Here are some of the things I would do:
- I would eat whatever I wanted – take-away food, chips or fries, deep-fried foods and packaged, processed foods. I used to drink a can or two of Coke or Diet Coke a day.
- I was so into cheese that I could eat a 1kg block of it by myself in less than a week.
- Smoking at least a packet of cigarettes a day – sometimes two – was normal. I grew up in the Caribbean where there were no laws for underage smoking and it only cost $2 a packet, so money never stopped me from being a chimney. I also smoked a lot of marijuana as well – that too was cheap and socially acceptable.
- I would drink alcohol to the point where it would make me sick and even though my body reacted every time, I would just do it again. On the island where I lived it was duty and tax free so alcohol was often cheaper than a can of Coke or a juice.
- I would drink coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks as well as eat a lot of sugary products as I was always feeling tired.
These lifestyle choices were affecting my moods, my energy levels and my whole life but I did not put the pieces of the puzzle together. I just thought it was a normal way to live. I didn’t know that there was another way. How did things change?
What Steps did I Take to Get to Where I am Today?
First of all I became aware that there was another way. I met some amazing people who are true role models and showed me The Way of the Livingness – being connected with yourself; taking responsibility, knowing that everything you do affects everyone around you. It has been presented recently by Serge Benhayon of Universal Medicine and is super simple.
In this Way, there are no rules or guidelines, so to speak, so you can’t fail or not ‘pass GO’. This ‘no-rules’ approach was what I embraced first as I have always been a bit rebellious and have never liked being constricted by rules and regulations.
The Way of the Livingness gave me the freedom to make my own choices and be responsible for all of them.
At first it was rather challenging taking responsibility for all the old choices I had made, but there was no point in beating myself up for doing things I hadn’t even been aware I was doing, let alone for being unaware of the damage I’d been causing in my own body.
- I didn’t go cold turkey and give everything up, wave the magic wand and ‘voila!’
- I took baby steps, making small changes slowly, without ever having to give it all up at once, and
- There wasn’t, and still isn’t, a goal as such – it was more like each day I just made choices that felt right for me.
I’m not perfect, I used to have an occasional hot chip if my daughter had some. But the thing is, my body speaks very loudly and clearly to me these days and I listen. I never felt great after eating the chips – I just enjoyed the part of putting them in my mouth. Nowadays I choose not to eat them, as I no longer want to ignore what my body will tell me later. And this is how I am refining my foods, with awareness and looking into the reason why I want to eat certain foods.
I didn’t give everything up and now live a boring life. It’s quite the opposite. I let go of a lot of the things that were not healthy for me, and now I live a vibrant, energy-filled life. I enjoy my days and dance and sing like I never ever did before. In the past I would only dance if I was wasted: now I dance and sing and have so much fun.
I have deep gratitude for Serge Benhayon and his family for showing me The Way of the Livingness and supporting me with so much love over the last 5 years. It has been awesome making healthy lifestyle choices and getting to feel younger as I grow older!
By RB, NSW
1,150 Comments
I feel that we are influenced by our friends and family from young so that we as you say RB we make choices without realising we are making them we just go with what everyone else is doing.
How many of us when young stop to consider that the food and drinks we put into our bodies when young can in later life have such a huge detrimental impact on us.
Listening to my body has made choosing what’s truly supportive for me much easier. I used to focus on health quite strongly and it was information from outside of me. Some of it worked but other things, like certain ‘superfoods’ for example were not right for me but I persisted because they were ‘healthy’, but some things things were giving me symptoms and were not right for me at all. I’m still learning each day as what my body needs can change depending on my health and different things like the season and what my body is experiencing in day to day living. What I really enjoy about body awareness is the simplicity and clarity, and naturally it works very well to support the body by taking direction from it.
Thank you Rosie, as you have shared nothing is given up, but listening to the body and what serves it with the nutrition for keeping our body fit and healthy to be of service definitely eliminates a lot of choices that I dreamed healthy in the past.
‘From a teenager onwards I made some choices that I didn’t even realise were choices: I just made them because I thought it was normal,’ This highlights to me the importance of accepting our personal responsibility to ourselves because if we don’t we allow everyone to feel that it is ok to live in disregard.
Our super markets are filled with substances that abuse us and it is up to each of us to find what works and the time that it takes to eliminate foods that no longer serve our bodies as it is our choice as you have shared Rosie.
When we observe others and clock the level of health to which they live we do assume it was an easy journey for them. We do not acknowledge that the road to that point was paved with a series of consistent choices that were made not from ‘I should’, or ‘I have to’ or ‘I am useless’ but from a spark that said ‘I am worth loving’. The other day I was talking to someone who said she really ought to exercise because her joints really needed the support, but this person concluded that there was a laziness there and so was unlikely to. I don’t agree – there wasn’t laziness there, simply not enough appreciation of self and that fact that she was totally worth the effort to love herself in this way.
“… there wasn’t laziness there, simply not enough appreciation of self and that fact that she was totally worth the effort to love herself in this way.” Thanks Michelle for your comment, I appreciated reading this today, exactly the words needed to support me with my own exercise program, thank you.
It is a step by step process, I never cut everything out all at once either. Listening to my body again and again to refine how I live is a process I don’t feel I will ever reach the end of. I know there’s more vitality to be lived even today.
There is so much that can be said for eating and living healthy, put it this way my mental health is so much more stronger and on it when I eat to nourish myself rather than to bludgeon myself.
Its amazing what can be achieved when we make positive life style choices, like you I have family, friends and colleagues that have known me for years and they say the same thing I look younger now than I ever did in my twenties and 30’s. This has been confirmed by the medical profession when having a recent health check. They said what ever it is I’m doing to keep going that they wished all their patients took as much self care as I did because then their work load would be less burdensome.
Mary it shows the daily effect we all have on our health based on our self care.
“The Way of the Livingness gave me the freedom to make my own choices and be responsible for all of them.” This is true religion right here in this statement.
This article makes huge sense to me, for all our choices have an impact on how we live.
“The Way of the Livingness gave me the freedom to make my own choices and be responsible for all of them.” The freedom of choice to be aware of how we feel.
Similar to you Rosie I did a lot of not so Loving things to my body through drugs and alcohol abuse but I did go cold turkey on the lot some 26 plus years ago and my body went through what we could call the dry horrors for 6 weeks. Fast forward to 2004 when I first met Serge Benhayon and even tough I had stopped all that abuse years before, the underlying pattern had not been healed. Approximately 6 years ago the eminence of marijuana left my body wit the most garishly taste of the smoke. So energetic healing when done by a True Esoteric practitioner will work energetic miracles when we are ready to heal because of our Loving choices.
What I find concerning about the general approach to our health today is that we tend to not consider past this moment, so we could eat something, or drink something or smoke something because we like the sensation of it but the effect could last for days if not have a much longer lasting effect. It’s a bit like we are blind to or ignore the long term consequences that could have a serious impact on our health.
Love what you’ve shown here – that changing our lifestyle and making healthier choices doesn’t have to be an arduous struggle to lead a monastic existence, but is actually a super joyful and fun process, where the body leads the way. It’s like when we bring more awareness to our body we realise how loudly it is actually speaking to us, all of the time – and from there, things that don’t support the body to live in a vital way start to feel like hindrances that we naturally want to leave behind.
There is this misconception that when we give things up that we must be suffering or miserable but actually it is the other way around because the body rejoices at our choices.
To have the understanding that the changes I am making is affecting everyone around me is supporting me enormously to observe and accept the reactions from others. I simply cannot deny the changes that are taking place and this is all because of the choices I am making to deepen the relationship to self.
“I have friends who have known me for 10-15 years who have said that I look younger now than I did back then.” I notice this too and that I meet sometimes people that are the same age as me but they look and feel much older. What I see in the bodies is often this burden of the choices people make, our choices to age our body unnaturally when they are against it instead of supporting it.
Our lifestyle, the everyday choices we make, all have a huge impact on our health, many people are unfortunately still unaware of this fact, ‘These lifestyle choices were affecting my moods, my energy levels and my whole life but I did not put the pieces of the puzzle together.’
It’s very common to associate a healthy life with something boring, but I agree with you RB, there’s lot of fun when we simply choose to take care of ourselves. As care is love and love is joy, the better we feel, the more we can enjoy our joyful body. Simple.
I echo your gratitude and thanks for Serge Benhayon and what he brings for myself and all of humanity, boy oh boy does the world need love and truth in our world today.
As I was feeling what was happening to my body I went cold turkey as the saying goes and my body literally shook for six (6) weeks and that was over twenty five (25) years ago just before I turned forty (40). Around ten (10) years ago as I was going through a deep energetic healing and I could smell and taste the marijuana coming out of my body. This begs the question when does True Healing actually occur?
At brith we know how to care, in the way we breathe, in the way we start moving our small little bodies. But what happend thereafter? Did we loose our connection to how to care for ourselves? And if so, why? This is for us to explore.
It’s great to see how many people have been inspired to make healthy lifestyle choices based on how their body feels and not simply to follow a diet.
Love the straight forward common sense of your sharings, baby steps and making the choices – no rocket science PhD needed. Just to want to feel good in your body more than the desire of the tongue and the desire of the spirit to numb thyself!
It is amazing how certain foods will suddenly ‘drop out’ of our diet without realising it once we start making different choices in our lives. This has happened so many times for me over the last few years, and I will find that one day I realise I havent had something or even craved it for sometime.
As much as one can try to discount or ignore it, you cannot honestly deny the vibrancy and lightness of being that naturally beams from the bodies from the students of The Way of The Livingness. Especially observe those that are ill, terminal or otherwise, and beyond their physical aliment or disease there is a glow that cannot be dulled, a definite sparkle in the eyes and quality of stillness that reflects the wisdom of the Soul. And then those who are not ill, that naturally live with an energy and vibrancy that is not commonly lived. There is much to be studied here of understanding illness and disease and how we can live with true vitality and well-being, heal and return to the natural vivaciousness of our Soulful way of being.
Our true vitality has no yo-yo effect and when we have vitality as a Livingness then that is constantly felt as the Way that we can evolve and thus when we are out of sorts it stands out like sore thumb, which can be traced back allowing us to heal the ill energy causing us to feel lesser than our true state of normal.
Yes, recognize that in full RB. Today I look and feel more vital then 10/15 years ago. It was never my focus but a mere by product of The way of the Livingness, as presented by Universal Medicine. In the past I had moments of happiness, and got my self stimulated in between to cover up feeling not so good, and now I feel amazing most of the time, with some moments that I feel miserable, which I allow myself to feel to learn what my body is saying to me. And the latter moments getting less and less as the joy and love in my body is building and building.
“I enjoy my days and dance and sing like I never ever did before. In the past I would only dance if I was wasted: now I dance and sing and have so much fun.” I can relate to this RB. There was a time when I only felt confident enough to dance when I was drunk, holding a cigarette in my hand made me feel confident, and singing in front of others simply wasnt an option. How times have changed. I now love to dance and sing simply because of the sheer joy of singing and moving my body in a way that is a true expression and celebration of me and because how I can feel others being inspired, giving them permission to do the same.
Hear hear this is exactly the process, well for me it was too. The first stages of thinking you are missing out on something and having to give up something as opposed to getting to a place where you don’t like what ever it is doing to your body and letting go of it to have a more vital and joyful body is why it makes so much sense to make these choices.
The way you lived, as you describe, is for many many people the normal, because they think that it is the normal and they don’t know another way to choose. How is it possible that way, which is a way that has been known for thousands of years, is so shielded from humanity?
Life can never ever be boring when you are in touch with yourself and you know who you are.
When one knows who they are the magic of life abounds them.
As with anything, if we take baby steps to implement changes, the impact is lasting and it is much easier to keep up a committment to keep moving forward.
What I considered to be a healthy choice a few years ago, has changed to what I consider to be healthy for me today. When we are willing to deepen our level of self care, there is no end to the changes we can make that will continue to support us as our bodies become clearer and more perceptive.
Could it be that in consuming certain foods or quantities of food, we are trying to achieve an outcome of feeling heavy, dense, dull, unaware of what’s happening outside of our stomach or another effect? Do we always use food for the ‘food’ aspect or sometimes for the after effect?
With loving refection and awareness we can look at the reasons why we may want to eat certain foods, when we look deeper we see it always about choices we made which are either about Love or not.
Those beautiful baby steps ensure that what is altered is more sustainable.This is the beauty of responding to the body and what is required. I also have people think that I have always been healthy, but this is also far from the truth, I have lived in a very disregarding and unsupportive way for my body. I continue to develop and refine how I support my body through baby steps, steady consistent honesty about how my body feels.
What I am coming to understand is that it takes a lot of commitment to live in the way described here – eating junk, smoking, drinking – then waking up with a hangover to pull ourselves out of it and do it all again. We put our body under a lot of pressure and strain to push through all this. But what we don’t want to see is that making healthier and more supportive choices is actually easier and takes less energy – because our body welcomes this.
I love it when it comes up nationally in discussion like with an exercise physiologist, or to a stewardess on a plane on what I actually do eat… It just is such a revelation for people so understanding that it is possible to eat in such a different way
Spot on – there’s nothing boring about exploring what really works in life and what doesn’t and knowing that we have the ability to constantly review our standards and our way of living everyday.
Beautiful. For indeed, there is nothing boring when you connect with your Soul. From here only greater plans and communication and movement exists.
The steps taken by the writer are so simple and gentle. I also found that not having a health or weight goal but focussing on listening to my body (for the first time since I was a child) made changes so natural. I also allowed the changes to occur as I became aware of them, rather than trying to fit a diet or exercise regime.
Life can never be boring when we choose true responsibility Life becomes more magical and more real and exquisite when we make choices to truly support.
It is the everyday little things and rituals that can truly support us throughout the day, as they build the foundation we are standing on.
Thank you for your reminder of how simple and practical The Way of the Livingness is. It is about the foundation we lay for ourselves and supporting ourselves to walk that foundation every day. I love the fact that it takes us from a victim to an active participant in our lives and how we react or respond to what goes on around us.
That coca cola is cheaper than water I have always found incredibly saddening. How can a drink that is in no way any good for us be so easily available, while water that requires no extra manufacturing and is in effect the only drink our bodies need is made, one can say, a high priced commodity. It shows that in business it is the greed of the people that rule but never the care of another.
Taking things slowly and feeling our way, generally honouring our body as best we can, slowly everything changes of its own accord. We find ourselves more lovable and more truly understanding and loving with others.
I have this too, people not being able to imagine that I was once chronically ill, overweight and in poor condition. On top of that people assume my way of life is very hard and I have very little to enjoy. I can understand where they are coming from, I once would have felt the same in their position. If we look at from a point of view that is needing things outside of us to make us feel good, leading a healthy lifestyle may seem challenging. But if you slowly make amendments based on building self love and how you feel in your body, things that do not go well with you will naturally drop away.
Isn’t it beautiful that we are now able to inspire others and share our stories and how we are not special or anything but we have been able to turn our lives around.
Things do drop away effortlessly when we let go of the expectations of what this will be or what it will look like. Bringing the simplicity back to life is the key.
Yes, totally agree that things drop away without any trying whatsoever, when our body doesn’t need them any more. It starts by the smallest and simplest of choices, to just be aware of how we feel and be honest about that, and builds from there.
When we choose to make food choices that are loving and we feel the impact on how we are offering more vitality and connection to others there is no chocolate bar or ice cream that can come a close second!
I can so relate to this dropping away of things that no longer work or feel right as I make different choices about the way I live. And what is so great about it is that there is no trying or stress involved. Its simply that as I deepen my connection with myself so that I literally feel more it becomes very clear that certain things no longer have a place in my life because I no longer ‘need’ them.
It is great to check why we want certain foods, why we feel like watching a movie, why we feel like shopping online, why why why…. rather than just do things with our blinkers on or automatic pilot, we can learn a lot and change old patterns when we are aware and ask why.
Changing how we eat and what we eat takes times and can only succeed if we are being guided by our body and not other people’s viewpoints.
Absolutely, and for me, it has always been a bit of this here and there, then stop, then try again and then I know or I still keep trying even though I can feel the effects…. but I just have to work it out in my own time and not compare to what my friends are doing.
Baby steps are really important – I have found that when I go all out and try to change everything at once, I burn out and slip back into old patterns. A gradual change as I feel each area needs to, builds a more solid foundation and slips are smaller and more manageable
I agree, I have tried lots of different ways and you know what, each time and each way can be different for each person and that is okay… and there is no need for perfection, comparison or competition. Just you and your experience is what matters.
I used to be one of those people who thought that I could only have fun if I had a drink in my hand. Fun and alcohol seem to be so commonly linked. But having stopped drinking over 10 years ago now, I have more fun than I have ever had simply because I have come to know myself through making simple loving choices that support me and my body, and I no longer need something else to to give me a false confidence.
My daughter said to me the other night, don’t you miss going out and just partying like you used to? I said No way, I don’t miss it at all, in fact you couldn’t pay me to do that again. I feel so much better without the booze, late nights and all the drama that went with it all and like you, I feel my life is way more fun these days.
You are an inspiration- in not just letting go of those patterns but in also opening up to the amount of love you have in your life and for allowing all that you are to be expressed out with no reservation- this I find very refreshing and super inspiring.
Thank you, it is lovely to get the feedback as it just confirms what I have been feeling. It feels so good when we drop the guard, the protection and just be, and what I love is seeing the ripple effect it has on those around me.
Makes me realise how normal and socially acceptable abuse is. It is crazy how being truly healthy today is actually against what is socially normal and acceptable.
Yes, being healthy makes you a health freak, yet over eating, drinking till you vomit and pushing your body to stay awake way past its natural need to sleep is okay and quite normal? Doesn’t make sense to me.
Your blog RB is testament to the fact that it is never to late to change our lives around and a confirmation of the fact how quickly our physiology responds when we start being more loving with ourselves by giving up the drink drugs and eating more healthy, our bodies are simply rejoicing when we stop feeding it such rubbish and are often super quick to respond.
Its true, the body responds real fast and loves you for even the smallest adjustment that you make. The body is fascinating when we take the time to listen and watch is responses.
“I enjoy my days and dance and sing like I never ever did before. In the past I would only dance if I was wasted: now I dance and sing and have so much fun.” How refreshing this is to read RB. When we make a choice and commitment to reconnect to the innocence of who we are, it is absolutley possible to have as much fun as this without the need for any form of stimulation.
When we are you young, you just are and don’t worry and then we adapt, and mould ourselves to fit in and eventually we lose who we are. Its great to come back to the innocence of who we are and just live and let that out.
” I let go of a lot of the things that were not healthy for me, and now I live a vibrant, energy-filled life. ”
This is very important and I found knowing the truth behind the unhealthy life style makes healthy choices easier.
Yes I agree, having worked as a herbalist and heard all the stories over the years of digestive issues and haemorrhoids and constipation it has really shown me how much we as a society do not only over eat but also eat things that were never meant to be eaten.
I love the fact that making healthy choices does not mean we are suffering or depriving ourselves, in fact quite the opposite. If we listen to the body, it tells us when to refine what we are eating and how much it wants, and what has become clear to me is that the body does not need all the food we shove into our mouths.
I am still experimenting with that one, and some times over eat and feel so sick and I can do this now with the most healthiest food options. So what I am finding is its not just what we eat but the amount and when we eat it.