Welcome to Week 3!
This week reminds us about quality – ‘Every choice has a quality – it is either supportive or not supportive.’
We are making choices every moment of every day. So are we aware of whether these choices support us or not? And what do we want our choices to support us with?
To keep it simple, let’s consider food. Eating sugar and junk food affects how we feel. It makes us feel potentially satisfied in the moment but overall, our body eventually crashes, we feel fatigued, perhaps heavy and foggy, not able to focus or think clearly. Same goes for long TV watching or video game sessions that facilitate our ability to ‘check out’. In the moment we might feel some relief from stress or anything else that may be going on in life, but ultimately we are disconnecting by using constant stimulation. The fact is, momentary relief does not provide true support for our overall health.
And likewise, choosing food that does not stimulate or dull, that is nutritious and replenishing, is supportive for our bodies. We tend to feel lighter and able to think more clearly. This then inspires us to make more supportive choices to feel like this more of the time. Being outside in nature, playing in the park or the back yard with friends or with pets is nurturing on many levels and keeps us connected to life. Being with real people and enriching life through real connection is valuable beyond measure for our overall health.
Every choice, either supportive or unsupportive, has an effect on our quality of sleep and our ability to restore and rejuvenate our bodies. When I was talking to my son about this the other night (who is studying business and economics), he said – ‘It’s a bit like compounding interest – over time everything accumulates, either in a good way or a bad way.’ Yes! Exactly. So essentially, EVERYTHING matters!
Sara Harris – First Aid & Well-being