What DailyBread365 is NOT
Thursday, May 14th 2009 @ 1:45 PM
One of the DailyBread365 members has been blogging some of her experiences of the DailyBread365 365-day e-program. I recently wrote to her to see how she was getting on. I would like to share with you all, my thoughts regarding her recent post. My words are not only for the ears (and eyes) of this particular lady, but also for all those individuals who have similar, and very real health and weight loss challenges. In fact I hope this helps each and every one of you on your own special journeys to greater health, and happiness…
Day 80 and A Little Embarrassed…
I recently received a letter from Lucy-Ann of DailyBread365.com asking if I would be interested in writing an update of my progress since starting with DB365. As you can see from the title of this article I have been… continue reading here…
http://thinkingaboutlosingweight.com/thinking-right/day-80-and-little-embarrased
My response…
I would like to begin by clarifying the important point that DailyBread365 is not a weight loss program. Certainly, it incorporates sound strategies and advise for effective fat loss (not simply weight loss), but it’s major aim (and what appears to be the experience of most individuals who have completed all, or even part of the year-long e-mail program), is heightened awareness of daily habits, actions and thoughts, new learning on all aspects of health and well-being, plenty of practical food and meal ideas to help put “nutritional theory into practise”, lifestyle tips and strategies, and an overall increase in self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and for some, and increase in self-confidence too.
Each and every one of us is on a different “life journey”, experiencing different physical challenges, emotional & mental challenges, and spiritual challenges too. I believe we all have a special, or unique “purpose” or path, and the more we stray or divert away from this, the more stress and unhappiness we encounter. Good health and happiness go in hand-in-hand, and weight loss incidentally is often a welcomed side effect of this. It is very difficult to be truly happy, when our health is compromised. This happens in reverse too! Personally, if I feel out of sorts or unwell, which thankfully is rare these days, I tend not to care for myself in the best way I could. Happiness has to begin with being happy with ourselves - happy with who we, what we are, and what we can give. As Alan Cohen says, “Our bodies know how to be healthy and happy. All you need to do is to cooperate with its wisdom”.
DailyBread365 touches on all aspects of health – physical health, mental and emotional health, and spiritual health too. As the author of the DailyBread365 e-mail program, I try to encourage, support and teach members to be aware of their food choices, to make the best food and lifestyle choices whenever they can, and enjoy food and life as best, and as much as possible! Soul Food (weekly motivational and inspirational sayings) are an often-expressed “favourite” part of the program, and of course, so are the delicious, and yes…“tempting” food ideas that so many of you love!
What DailyBread365 is NOT!
DailyBread365 is not a magic bullet to overnight weight loss or a sudden shift in health or attitude - although this does happen as many experience “light bulb moments” when light and wisdom suddenly appears to guide them! Weight loss and better health is however a happy consequence for many who do the necessary learning and reading, and the vital “putting into practise” of what they learn.
To achieve anything in life, we must take action, and take action consistently, however small those actions may be. Change is the result of small baby changes, done on a consistent basis. This pattern of “doing” builds self-confidence and self-belief, which in turns build self-worth and happiness, and before you know it… energy and vibrancy.
Our experiences in this lifetime are a result of our daily habits, and our daily thoughts. We ARE what we think, say and do. Those experiences may be “success” or stagnation in our endeavours. There is no right or wrong… simply what IS. There is nothing or no one to blame for where we are in our lives. We are all the experience of ourselves.
If we want to change, we have to decide, that “this change” is what we truly want. We can ask for any necessary help and guidance (which is always close by), and then, we must take action. No one can do, or take action for someone else. The responsibility for ourselves comes down to us, and us alone. In the context of DailyBread365, I can only encourage, inform, and hopefully inspire others… I can not “do” for another. If that were possible, I would do the learning and take from that, a new experience… not the person who needs it most!
Keep going Susan, and others in similar situations. Love who you are. Forgive who you are, and know that you can, and believe that you can do anything that you really, really want.
If you would like to comment, or share some of your “words of wisdom”, please do express them. I am always learning in how best to serve, and help the DailyBread365 community, which encompasses learning from you! DailyBread365 is not a magic bullet, but I do believe that a great many people will learn, and begin to experience valuable information that will take them 1, 2 or 100 steps forward in their journeys to better health and, I dearly hope, to more happiness too!
I’d recommend you read an “old” DailyBread article “Crucial elements of human health”, to remind yourself of what true health really is…