In The Tao, life is a journey often symbolized by the river. Go with the flow means taking life, the journey, as it comes, like Pooh Bear. He's Happy Go Lucky because he's Going With The Flow.He's in the moment, not worried if rapids or rocks will be popping up ahead, not thinking about that last portage, not focusing his attention on what if it rains? Or does this canoe make me look fat?
I have a question for you?
Do YOU spend your present moments lost in thoughts about the future--planning, preparing, or are you caught up in the past--regretting, reliving? How can you truly know what you want and need especially when it comes to food and your body if you are not here now?
Before I learned to Go with the Flow that was right for me, I mostly just paddled in circles. It was exhausting and I definitely was not Happy Go Lucky. Back then, a mean, bossy, critical guy I named Fear Mind made the rules about my journey.When it came to food, he ALWAYS called the shots.
For instance, I would know I wanted a turkey sandwich for lunch, but Fear Mind said, NO. Bread is Bad. Eat a salad, no dressing. It's good for you. You'll loose weight. Don't you want to fit into your white pants?
So I would gag down my dry, virtuous salad, feel bloated and often-pardon me-gassy, and then, since I already felt awful physically and tremendously resentful besides, I'd then stuff down all the food I really wanted, starting with the turkey sandwich.
How did I learn to Go With the Flow, to get in tune with what was right for me? By trusting my brilliant body rather than reacting to the yapping, Fearful Mind. The Mind wants rules, boxes, laws, neat piles, nothing to ever change. With practice, I learned to Step Away from this Mind, from doubts and what-ifs and lean into the Adventure of the present moment, meaning: take the ride, live the experience and let the experience be the teacher.Over time I became more calm, and more present so I could be gently guided by clear physical signals about WHAT TO EAT, WHEN TO EAT AND HOW MUCH TO EAT.
I became more spontaneous--when I was hungry and clear about what food I truly wanted, I ate it. To paraphrase Allan Watts, a Buddhist writer and philosopher: "When I got the message, I hung up the phone."
How FLOW can you go?
In the next few weeks, I suggest you practice:
1. Break a rule: If every Wednesday morning your Fear Mind Rulebook says: You should eat yogurt,this Wednesday morning ask, what would I REALLY like to eat right now? A bagel, a baked potato or a burrito? Before eating this food, imagine it in your mouth, in your body. How does it feel? Does it hum? Hit the spot? Great, Go for it!
2. Eat like a baby: You were born knowing exactly how to eat.Think of a 2-week-old infant. When hungry they scream. When satisfied they push the breast or spoon away. You are hard-wired to know WHAT TO EAT, WHEN TO EAT and HOW MUCH TO EAT. Your Go With the Flow Adventure around food, weight and body means to proceed slowly, gently, baby mindful step-by-baby-mindful-stepas you learn to reconnect to and trust the guiding signals inside you. Close your eyes. Take a breath. Ask: Am I hungry? Have I had enough? Say YES! To you, to what you really want.
3. Loving Kindness: To go with the flow, you need to LET GO of whatever you ate yesterday, whatever you should/shouldn't have eaten today. Repeat after me: So what, big deal, who cares, whatever!
Close your eyes-Imagine-you're in a comfy canoe, on a calm river on a perfect day. Let past and future thoughts float away, like clouds. Let them all go. Give your attention lightly to this very moment--the soft breeze, the smell of pine, the call of the loons. All is well.Open your eyes. Keep paddling. Enjoy the adventure!
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. ~The Buddha
