Mindy said when she is with her grandchildren, Mason, 2 (l) and Zachary, 4 (far r), she is immersed in their world and doesn’t pay heed to the time, because it is all about being present.
By Mindy Gorman-Plutzer
“Time, time, time, see what’s become of me … while I looked around for my possibilities …” Paul Simon from “A Hazy Shade of Winter”
Doesn’t it feel like time is passing so quickly? How often are you asking, “Where did this past year go?” Do you feel like there is always so much to do? Are you starting 2017 with a new to-do list?
Perhaps you are resolving to eat better and exercise more in an effort to get a handle on your cholesterol, pre-diabetes or digestive issues, finally lose those 5, 10, 20 or 50 pounds, spend less time on your tech devices and more face-to-face time with friends and loved ones, drink less wine and more green juice, spend and save money wisely, not depend on social media for your news.
The list goes on and on as it relates to you. Yes, these intentions are worthy and will result in a better version of yourself, but most of us view these common resolutions as challenging tasks that we need to do perfectly.
Some food for thought: If trying harder worked, it would have already.
What If …
Instead you just listened, sat quietly and tuned out the clutter of old messages and beliefs about what you need to do in order to facilitate change? When we let go of the noise and voices from the past, we can hear what we really need as it relates right now to mind, body and spirit. In the quiet, we can find space to re-frame and move forward. We learn what it means to be.
For me, this means letting go of my attachment to expectation — I will put my authentic self out there and trust what happens. I’ll quiet the voice of old messages that no longer serve me and know all I’ve experienced has brought me to the place I find myself now, to the woman I’ve grown into. I will lovingly accept the here and now, and let go of the clutter and small stuff from the past that has no future. I will nourish and nurture my body in a way that honors it and I will continue to learn all I can and refine the tools and strategies that motivate and inspire you to be the change you want to see.
How we do one thing is how we do everything
If you are a regular reader of this column, you know that my passion is to help you navigate a transformative relationship with food and in turn, a fully nourished life. Perhaps you are facing health challenges as a result of disordered behaviors or confusion about what to eat. With the changing of the calendar, you’ve been inundated with offers to “detox,” “cleanse,” or sign up for yet another diet and exercise plan. Let me assure you the only cleanse you need is one that eliminates the toxic beliefs and dietary myths that have you stuck. This kind of elimination diet will have the most transformative effect on all aspects of your life as you discover that what truly nourishes you is not found in the kitchen.
My promise to you is that when you set yourself free from needing to do it all and from the fear of not, when you quiet the noise and include your body in the conversation, you will experience clarity, a lightness of being and, in turn, a lighter body.
May the coming year bring you health, joy, peace and serenity.
In addition to being a board-certified health coach and nutritional consultant, Mindy Gorman-Plutzer is a Certified Eating Psychology Coach in Manhattan. She is the author of The Freedom Promise: 7 Steps To Stop Fearing What Food Will Do TO You and Start Embracing What It Can Do FOR You (Balboa Press). For more information, go to www.thefreedompromise.com. Follow her on twitter at @FreedomPromise.