Desert rainbow Sedona, AZ April 2001 Eating Right, Feeling Good: how do I get there from here? KC...

desert rainbow Sedona, AZApril 2001

Eating Right, Feeling Good: how do I get there from here?

KC Hayes, DVM, PhD

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA

Basic assumptions….

• Assumes that we have enough resources to be concerned with how best to use them.

• Hunger and poverty are not primary issues.

• Rather we are trying to achieve the most meaningful existence in the face of relative abundance.

• The Mind/Body connection plays an important role in maintaining our balance.

Behavioral Pyramid to Eating Right, Feeling Good

Financial Securitypower control assurance

“driven by our primary script”

Sexuality (love)affection approval appreciation

acceptance

Exercisebody health

the Mind/Body connection

FoodCHO,fat,prot

kc hayes 2006

*

Our behavior is based on BELIEFSand ATTITUDES lodged in our primary script….




kc hayes 2006

*

Security of all types is the cornerstone of our pyramid….

Financial Security attributes…• Controlling the Fear Factor (anxiety) speaks to the heart of

daily survival for all species, with death as the ultimate fear…viewed as the UNTIMELY EXIT.

– eg. deprivation of either food or love induces great anxiety/fear, as any physical or emotional pain sets off automatic alarms in our nervous system.

• Having the $$$ POWER to control our environment and relationships is traditionally thought of as security…

– eg. consider the history of wars that seek dominance by force or the idea

that we can buy all the food and love we want.

• POWER and MONEY can be viewed as shielding the EGO against the fear and shame of defeat. But both are ultimately glass shields that shatter in the face of reality….

– eg. consider the feeling that you “have everything”, but still seek meaning in life.

FEAR (for survival) drives our behavior by riding its three dark horses of the night…

• …of failure (the loser syndrome)• …of being unloved/unlovable• …of being abandoned (loneliness)

• “Running out of TIME” ushers in the FEAR of FAILURE with negative automatic thots (NATS) buzzing in our Mind.

TIME, CONTROL and MONEY

• “TIME is MONEY”…or so it’s said.

• CONTROLLING my TIME exercises my POWER to secure a path on the road to riches (soothing my anxiety and placating my EGO) . The EGO likes to think it is master of TIME. It’s not. Only NATURE (God) controls TIME.

• PROCRASTINATION/avoidance (TIME diversion) is a way to prevent failure. If you never start something, you cannot be accused of failing to finish it ON TIME …– Here again we attempt to protect the EGO from failure.

the EGO vs the SOUL

• But deep down it is NOT the EGO (Superficial Self) and its “story line” we seek to satisfy, but rather the SOUL, ie. our True Self (feelings current) that typically plays second fiddle to our dominant EGO.

• Thus all communication has a “story line” and a “feelings current” that must be reconciled to get to “feeling good”.

• M/B awareness of these considerations and how to restructure (rewrite) a defective primary script is where one encounters the “feeling good” aspect of living day-to-day.

(cerebrum)Story line

EMOTIONS(amygdala, limbic)

Feelings current

THOUGHTS

SOUL 1

(+) LOVES (induce healing)

(- ) FEARS (inflict suffering)

Based on BEHAVORIAL TRAINING and our PRIMARY SCRIPT

MIND / BODY

Sensory input sights sounds smells taste touch

SearchForSoulkc hayes 2005

Imagination input (thots)

SOUL 2

behaviorpersonality

union

Meaningful Communication 1. Story Line…(facts) 2. Feelings Current…(like a river running thru us)

(+) LOVES(- ) FEARS

Living is all about relationships, and how we relate to each other’s SOUL….in trust ….via honest communication, or not. If we do it right, we’re happy ; if not, anxiety casts its shadow on our soul..

triage

Soultalk Communication….

• Life is TIME spent. Living is TIME spent in community.

• Life without loving is TIME wasted on the outskirts of living.

SearchForSoul kc hayes 2005





acceptance

kc hayes 2006

*

To communicate effectively one must become a loving person…..

Sexuality• Sexuality sits at the very core of our Soul and reflects both

generic (biological) and learned (environmental) behaviors.

• Very complex :

– Powerful reproductive aspect (testosterone, estrogen)

– Complex social, relational component to ensure togetherness (parents, family, social peers, self-awareness)

• Basic attributes of Soul characterize our sexuality:

(+) LOVE (joy and interest)

AGAPE, PHILIA….. ADIKIA, EROS

(-) FEAR/anger and SADNESS (SHAME)

(cerebrum)

EMOTION(amygdala, limbic)

dopamine, adrenalin,serontonin,

sex hormones

THOUGHTS

(+) positive thoughts

JOYINTEREST

(LOVE)“I can”… builds SOUL

(-) negative thoughts

FEAR… abandoned, failure, unloved

ANGER… neglected, deceived

SADNESS/grief…loss

distaste… poisonous, disgust

dis-smell… aversion, foul

DEVELOPMENT

Initial Attachments(genetics / environment)

shamedepression

“ I can’t”…destroys SOUL

•AGAPE•PHILIA•EROS•ADIKIA

Sensory input(touch / pain, eyes, ears, taste, smell, hunger)

The MIND

SearchForSoulkc hayes 2005

(cerebrum)



sex hormones

THOUGHTS

SOULspiritualitysexuality

LOVE ACTS

BEAUTY music


JOYINTEREST

(LOVE)“I can”… builds soul


FEAR… abandon, fail, unloved

ANGER… neglected, deceived


distaste… poisonous, disgust

dis-smell… aversion, foul

GOD, NATURE holy, sacred

artversetrust

TRUTH (wisdom)

IDENTITY(EGO…me/you/others)

attach / separate

MIND/BODY

DEVELOPMENT


shamedepression

“ I can’t”…destroys soul

hope faith grace




(cerebrum)



sex hormones

THOUGHTS

SOULspiritualitysexuality

LOVE ACTS

BEAUTY music


JOYINTEREST

(LOVE)“I can”… builds soul


FEAR… abandon, fail, unloved

ANGER… inattention


distaste… poisonous

dis-smell… aversion

GOD, NATURE holy, sacred

artversetrust

TRUTH (wisdom)

INTIMACY (vulnerability…empathy)Affection, Ethical communication, Inclusion / Exclusion

IDENTITY(EGO…me / you / others)

attach / separate

MIND/BODY

DEVELOPMENT


shamedepression

“ I can’t”…destroys soul

Communication thru listening, prayer, meditation

hope faith grace


RELATIONSHIPS… ..TRUST : “art of listening for the echo of one’s soul in that of another”





Sexuality (love)affection approval appreciation acceptance

Exercisebody health


kc hayes 2006

*

Exercise….• Maintains body functions and normal physiology ….including

stress control. Energy utilization and total energy balance are key.

• Mental capacity and body functions are enhanced in direct proportion to exercise. 1-2h walk per day is ideal.

• Helps control fear/anxiety (NATS) ....depression.

• The Mind/Body connection converges where thoughts intersect with the emotional center…balanced and refreshed by exercise.

• Meditation/prayer are a means of facilitating the M/B connection by suppressing our negative automatic thots (NATS) …thru self-awareness and communication between EGO and SOUL.

EGOThots.…Feelings

Soul realityLove-Joy

Peace

Superficial self Unconscious, Defensive Thots driven by assumed (false neg) beliefs Personality/Behavior

True self Conscious Awareness based on true beliefs

The NOW...in-the-moment presence Enlightenment

Input from senses, thotsOutput Words Acton Body language

Primary Script

Mind

Conflict zone creates anxiety*

*The duality and tension between Mind Thots (EGO) and Soul Beliefs (reality of ‘what is’) is the root of ALL conflict in life, resulting in anxiety. ENLIGHTENMENT occurs when fusion is achieved and the EGO assumes SOUL beliefs, ie. your personality is in step with reality, the honest YOU. The trick in life is acknowledging ‘What’s Real’, ie. telling yourself and others the Truth, then moving to accept it in your behavior.

The Mind and Resistance (to reality) are synonymous. Only by accepting the reality of ‘What is’ can we free the Mind from dominance by EGO (Superficial Self) and be in touch with the Soul (True Self), ie. EGO thots (past and future) cease to exist and you are present in the NOW (in-the-moment awareness) without anxiety or worry.

One must suffer (emotional pain) to overcome Resistance and experience new growth patterns. Grow with the flow. Do not linger in the past (with regrets) nor dwell on the future (for salvation). Both are illusions. The only reality is NOW, where all living takes place. Learn to live openly and positively in the NOW, and the future will take care of itself.….after Eckhart Tolle and Byron Katie.

refined, essential emotions




acceptance

Exercisebody health


FoodCHO, fat, prot

kc hayes 2006

*

USDA Dietary guidelines…2005

• Fuel for the body is necessary, but need balance and moderation.

• Balance food and physical activity• Eat a variety from all groups • Choose nutrient dense foods• Read labels • Limit saturated fat, cholesterol, salt, sugars• Take care when eating out• 100 calories/day equals10lb/year

USDA Food Pyramid

(ambiguous, not very instructiveor self-explanatory)

Willett, WC “Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy” 2001,2005

Harvard School of Public Health Food Pyramid

High glycemic index

aerobic, anerobic weigh scales

oats, whole wheat, brown rice

beans, lentils, peas, soybeans

phytochemicals

Calories in=energy burnedCHO as whole grains (fiber)Fat:protein ratio % caloriesPhytochemicalsCalcium/vitaminDn6/n3 fatty acids (no trans!)Folic acid/vitB12/vitA/vitC

Summary

• Wellness is a complex construct based on feeling secure

• Security can be traced to support, especially love (agape)

• The M/B connection keeps the EGO in touch with reality (the Truth) of soul needs (True Self)

• Good Nutrition and Exercise (eating right, energy balance) are key components of M/B wholeness (feeling good)

“Be well…always remember I care”

So it is that Love,disguised as many things,arrives unheralded, yet enduring,like the flowers in the Spring.

…from “Susan’s Smile” kchayes 2004

Desert rainbow Sedona, AZ April 2001 Eating Right, Feeling Good: how do I get there from here? KC...

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