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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The One You Feed

Raise your hand if you eat only to satisfy your body's need for fuel. Hmm, I'm not seeing a lot of hands going up!

Yes, food is fuel. Remembering this is useful in helping to fortify your willpower when cravings strike. But it may not be enough.

The next time you find yourself mindlessly opening the refrigerator or cupboard door, looking for that perfect little something to fill the moment, I encourage you to pause and ask yourself this question: What am I really hungry for? And as you enjoy your treat, consider this question: Who am I feeding? Is it your body? Your emotions? Your soul?

All the parts of your complex and tender self need to be nourished, and each may hunger if left unfed. But the "food" that fills this hunger isn't always something you put in your mouth. Food, as such, comes in a multitude of guises.

Laughter is food. Movement is food - dancing, stretching, running. Meditation is food, as is stillness, and relaxation. Air is food, inhaled deeply into the lungs and released. Love is food, as is touch, and the warmth of friendship.

Similarly, thoughts are food, perhaps the most important food of all. Every action begins in the mind. Purify your thoughts and you are on your way to health and happiness. Mind matters most.

The following Native American proverb is one I like very much. Consider it food for thought. And may you be deeply nourished. ♥ Diana


The One You Feed

One moonlit evening, an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My child, the battle is between two wolves.

“One is Low Wolf. It is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

“The other is High Wolf. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought quietly about the wolves and their battle. After a few moments, he asked the old man, "Grandfather, which wolf wins? Low Wolf or High Wolf?"

The wise Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

3 comments:

Tess said...

:) I love it.

Catherine Fabrizi said...

i love this. thank you, diana. it's amazing to think of food in many guises. this will be "food for thought", quite literally, next time the chips or cookie beckon.

Catherine Fabrizi said...

and p.s. the images in this post are mesmerizing and the fable fabulous. :-)