Excuses, Discomfort and Transformation
There are two trends I see sabotage people when trying to heal.
One is going off your healing protocols because you get sick- a cold or a flu.
The second is waiting for the “perfect” moment to start healing.
I’ll start with the second first. I will say that intention is important. If you know there is a time that is going to be more stable, or has nostalgic meaning, like after a birthday, to start a healing protocol, that can make sense. There is a difference between being intentional or thoughtful about your official “start” date for a protocol, and using the normal ups and downs of life as an excuse. There is always going to be another stressful event, another flare up, or another holiday. At some point you have to draw a line in the sand and decide- no more excuses. It’s going to be hard to matter what. There are going to be obstacles no matter what. That is life. There is always going to be another reason to delay. Be honest with yourself. Is this a true practicality issue (I’ll start once I move into my new mold free apart next month), or is this a self sabotaging pattern (I’ll just wait so I can have Mother’s Day brunch with my family).
Another pattern I see is people using acute illness as a reason to go off their healing protocol. If this has been you, it means you need to change the way you think about food or healing. All the time, I hear, “Well I had a sore throat, so I had to eat an orange.” “I just couldn’t eat meat, so I had to eat crackers.” “I was so tired, I had to order pizza.” It is important to remember- you don’t HAVE to do anything. We make choices. And when you are acutely sick, this is actually a time your body needs MORE support. It can be a critical occurrence in your recovery. The immune system will often “allow” viruses or other microbes into the body to provide a cleansing effect during a time of acute detoxification. This is also true with “flare ups” of autoimmune or dysautonomia nature. “Flare ups” are in fact often a side effect of deep healing or detoxing occurring- and therefore it is even more important to follow your healing protocol closely.
People get scared. People get uncomfortable. I get it. I have felt my share of fear and suffering. Healing is an inherently painful process. This is important to understand and respect. We need to see the big picture of healing in the body. A fever, body aches, a stomach bug, a wave of crushing fatigue- these can actually be an integral part of your healing journey. Transformation is scary and it is uncomfortable. Falling back into old vices and comforts moves you away from the potential changes that are trying to occur.
Our standard diets and lifestyles that are conventional in the western world are not comforts. They are toxic to our minds, bodies and souls. Surrendering to the process as opposed to turning to what is familiar for relief is key to your long term success.
