Happy Monday amigos,

I want to go out on a limb with today’s post and tackle the topic of De-press-she-own. I will be simplifying the hell out of depression. I will probably piss some people off. I will probably leave some things out. I will probably not be right on some claims… but that doesn’t mean that I’m wrong. I will be focusing on depression’s possible cause… because depression… is a symptom… a result… of something greater… of something underneath it all.

via Pub Med…

Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods.

True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer.

The exact cause of depression is not known. Many researchers believe it is caused by chemical changes in the brain. This may be due to a problem with your genes, or triggered by certain stressful events. More likely, it’s a combination of both. Some types of depression run in families. But depression can also occur if you have no family history of the illness. Anyone can develop depression, even kids.

via WebMD…

Most people have felt sad or depressed at times. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to loss, life’s struggles, or an injured self-esteem.

But when feelings of intense sadness — including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless — last for many days to weeks and keep you from functioning normally, your depression may be something more than sadness. It may very well be clinical depression — a treatable medical condition.

According to the DSM-IV, a manual used to diagnose mental disorders, depression occurs when you have at least five of the following symptoms at the same time:

• A depressed mood during most of the day, particularly in the morning
• Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
• Impaired concentration, indecisiveness
• Insomnia (an inability to sleep) or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
• Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide (not just fearing death)
• A sense of restlessness or being slowed down
• Significant weight loss or weight gain

A key sign of depression is either depressed mood or loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. For a diagnosis of depression, these signs should be present most of the day either daily or nearly daily for at least two weeks. In addition, the depressive symptoms need to cause clinically significant distress or impairment. They cannot be due to the direct effects of a substance, for example, a drug or medication. Nor can they be the result of a medical condition such as hypothyroidism. Finally, symptoms that occur within two months of the loss of a loved one are not considered to be clinical depression.

Ok. Let’s see here. Apparently for “true clinical depression,” one must have a “mood disorder.” I have come across a lot of selfish assholes in my time on this earth and I would certainly throw them into the mix of a “mood disorder,” but does that make them depressed? Well, it’s possible. We tend to correlate “sad, blue, unhappy, and miserable” to people who are depressed, but what about the assholes, the bastards, the pricks of this world that simply manifest their sadness in a different manner? According to these definitions, an asshole is just an asshole but a very, very sad person is labeled and put on medication. And why do we have to label it as a “mood disorder”? Why the labels? That just promotes seclusion and finger-pointing. Just because someone is sad, angry, or annoyed all of the time doesn’t mean they have a “disorder.” They have real-life problems and either manifest it differently than others, have a different way of handling it than others, cannot come to terms with their situation, or are completely unaware of their situation.

“The exact cause of depression is not known.” That’s the medical community’s excuse for, “Here, this medication should help.” Drugs make money. And doctor’s make money by writing prescriptions. I really do not believe that “anti-depressants” are necessary (have you SEEN the side effects on these tranquilizers?!). This is not medical advice and I am not telling anyone to stop taking their medication if they are prescribed such. This is my opinion. So, what causes depression? I can think of two generalized possibilities… 1) Traumas, shames, blames, comparisons, boundaries, expectations, let-downs, hard-times, abuse, illness, failure, pressure, stress… you know, all of the mental and emotional experiences throughout one’s lifetime that could manifest into a “disorder;” i.e., a person’s thoughts have been affected by something(s) throughout their lifetime and they are still dealing with that experience (because thoughts never die… only people do). 2) Another route could be the physical aspect of life: malnourished diet, over exercise or exertion, poor digestion, leaky-gut syndrome, constipation/slow bowel-transit time or elimination, gut bacteria imbalance or parasite/bacterial infection, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, blood-sugar mishandling, hormone imbalance, stress hormone responses, or poor/improper sleeping patterns.

Now, we’re all familiar with the first, mental/emotional, approach and I don’t think I’m too out of left field on the second, physical, approach. We produce a good amount of hormones within our digestive system. If I recall it’s around 60%+ of the hormones are born and raised in our small intestine, which is also the main site for nutrient absorption and the home of millions of digestive bacteria (that have minds and manipulations of their own). And, around 90%+ of our Serotonin (5-HTP) is made there, too. You know, that stuff that apparently makes us “feel good” and all sleepy-like. The thing about Serotonin (and SSRI’s) is that it’s not the problem… it’s the symptom. If a person has an imbalanced Serotonin count, why the hell do we think… “Ok, let’s provide them a platform for more Serotonin and all will be well!”? IT’S A SYMPTOM, peoples. And Serotonin doesn’t work alone. NONE of the hormones in our body work alone nor does anything produced by, ingested in, or applied to our body; it’s a system of systems! That’s like prescribing

I poked enough at PubMed. Now, WebMD’s take… to requote…

For a diagnosis of depression, these signs should be present most of the day either daily or nearly daily for at least two weeks. In addition, the depressive symptoms need to cause clinically significant distress or impairment. They cannot be due to the direct effects of a substance, for example, a drug or medication. Nor can they be the result of a medical condition such as hypothyroidism. Finally, symptoms that occur within two months of the loss of a loved one are not considered to be clinical depression.

MUST BE DAILY or DAILY for AT LEAST two weeks to be clinically “sad.” [Symptoms] cannot be due to the direct effects of a substance… so then my food theory is out of the question? And that other medical drugs can’t fuck you up, either? NOR CAN THEY BE A RESULT OF A MEDICAL CONDITION SUCH AS HYPOTHYROIDISM... Um, do you not understand how the body and mind work together? Do you not think that perhaps ezcema… a skin-disorder “medical condition”… can’t affect a kid’s ability to be happy and healthy while walking down the middle school hallways with funky looking arms that could possibly lead to verbal abuse by ignorant kids? Finally, symptoms that occur within two months of the loss of a lvoed one are not considered to be clinical depression. HEY, you… the one who just lost their loved one… you’re not sad… you’re making that shit up… so suck it up because medical science says there’s nothing wrong with you! Oh, you cry all the time, your bowel movements are off, you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, you have no appetite, you’ve gone into reclusion, and you sleep all of the time? You’re fine… trust me.

If you are dealing with depression, please, please, please get it in your head that there is nothing “wrong” with you. No, it’s not a “chemical imbalance”! I freaking HATE that dumb-ass reasoning. Yes, people’s “chemicals” may be “abnormal” but it’s a symptom. I can sit in front of the TV to watch 9/11 videos all day and I can guarantee you that my “brain chemicals” would follow a path towards “clinical depression.” No, you don’t have to fit a molded standard to be “sad.” No, you aren’t alone. Yes, you are normal. Yes, you are allowed to be sad.

My approach to depression: Learn everything about you, your life, who you are, why you are, how you get here, why you got here, and all of the factors that make you… you: Your past, your family, your friends, your diet, your lifestyle, your sleeping patterns, your bowel patterns, and so on. I shit you not, a person can be “depressed” simply by being chronically dehydrated. WHY would the body work properly if it cannot get what it needs to operate? And all of those past experiences people tend to bury because it’s not acceptable by society to be sad? Yeah, those can last a life-time and manifest in countless ways until peace is made between you and your scars.

I had a chat with an old friend the other weekend where he told me how sick, sad, and unhappy he used to be because he really hated his job. He switched jobs to one he likes and boom - he doesn’t get sick anymore, he sleeps through the night, and he has a reason to smile every day. How about them apples??

So, yeah. That’s my take. I’ve scapegoated two “credible” medical sources because a simple google search lists those two first and people like to believe everything that they hear from “experts”… especially since it’s been impaled into our brains for decades. I want to put it out there that there are other explanations, other perspectives, and, perhaps, better answers than the 21st century cycle of there’s-something-wrong-with-you-medication-heals-all.

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A happy monday fellow healthians,

This weekend I attended To Write Love On Her Arms’ MOVE Conference. It was a two-day informative lecture/conversation amongst two speakers, two coordinators, and about 40 attendees which touched on heavy/personal topics such as Addiction, Depression, Anxiety, Self-Injury, Eating Disorders, and Suicide. I participated in the conference in support of a friend. She had come to me about a month ago that she eagerly wanted to attend and, since we have shared many conversations in the past regarding our perspectives of personal healing and growth, she pretty much said you’re coming and I won’t take “no” for an answer. She didn’t have to twist my arm at all really because I had an idea of what I was getting myself into with my familiarity with TWLOHA’s mission; having “worked” with the organization in the past as a musician and through the friendships I was able to build from sharing an awareness of health. But my awareness only went so far when it came to these topics because I had yet to be thrown into a room with real people who have dealt with and are still dealing with real problems. I found myself being smacked in the face with a reality I have only read about and have reflected generalized philosophies upon. I knew I was in for a treat the moment we began going around the room stating our name, story, and purpose.

I went into the conference thinking that the participants would be those who are dealing with the issues, those who are seeking answers for themselves, those who are in search of aha-moments to get themselves on a better track towards healing. I didn’t read up on the conference beforehand so I had some assumptions going into it and, while that general mindset held some truth, I didn’t expect that I would be in a room with people just like me… young professionals who have gone through their own tough times reality and have now come out on the other end with the approach of I’m going to use what I have learned in my worst-of-the-worst to help others in their paths towards happiness. And the most inspiring part? Everyone was real. Everyone had real stories, real obstacles, real battles, real experiences, real emotions, and everyone was dealing with their own reality all-the-while learning more about the realities of others for one common goal: to help. It was rather humbling to be in a room with therapists, with counselors, with speakers, with help-line workers, with undergrads, with graduate students, with mothers, with adults… with all different walks of life in one room who have been through it and who just get it. That is actually one of the main purposes of the conference - to find someone that just gets it - amongst the slightly more obvious reasons like raising awareness of such hush-hush topics, educating the educators, inspiring the inspired, comforting the disturbed, and disturbing the comforted. To find someone who you can relate to is such a milestone in the world of healing because we have all gone through our own shit and you damn-well know that it certainly helps to speak to someone who understands and relates through their own trials to what you are going through. We all have different experiences, but we def-def-definitely share the same feelings of hurt, pain, shame, or unhappiness (as well as happiness, ease, comfort, or success). 

It is my understanding that these symptoms umbrella under and manifest as a result of a greater cause. To extremely over simplify that greater cause, I chalk it up to unhappiness. This mental state can be caused by many factors and we all manifest its symptoms in various ways, but I do believe that the foundation exists as a lack of happiness with self and the experiences of self, i.e. what you understand to be your reality through your own [influenced] filter system (thoughts, beliefs, conditionings, perceptions, habits, knowledge, ignorance, diet, digestion, stressors, sleep patterns, priorities, et cetera).

Yet, the conference didn’t really hint on any sort of generalization. There were times in the conversation where we saw commonalities for treatments or fine lines between diagnostics, but it still resorted back to this is this and that is that. It focused on each symptom as its own entity and that one must “treat” each realm accordingly. An addiction counselor should not treat a self-injury patient because, from what I gathered, they are not the same. I ask why? If we’re approaching this holistically, the body’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health fall under one cyclic/complimentary umbrella so why can’t our symptoms? It just doesn’t make sense to me. For example, self-injury is mainly the act of inflicting pain or cutting one’s skin, but how is cigarette smoking not a form of self-injury, as well? Both involve an awareness of the action and its consequences, both inflict pain in exchange for euphoria and a quick-fix result only to come back again because the thrill wasn’t enough and the underlying cause/relief structure still exists. Also, each are forms of addiction and, perhaps, can be a result of depression, too. Of course, I was in a room with trained professionals whose experiences on paper far exceed mine so perhaps I do not have much room to speak, but I do not think that limits my platform to question the approach or to raise an awareness of more foundational-based ways to do things. 

I really found this intriguing because this is the habit of our society. We like to label things… every-things. And, in the medical/health field, people can lose their identities or any mindset of who they are because their names can be replaced or associated with a specific disease, disorder, or mental state. This replacement can come from the doctor’s vocabulary/perspective or can even be adapted by the patient. The nice guy named Bob becomes a Drug Addict. Why the heck is Bob a drug addict in the first place? Some sort of shit in Bob’s life culminated, made him freak, and he turned to drugs. Can labeling Bob as an addict make him more unhappy? Why can’t we just say that Bob is unhappy and retrace the steps to where/why Bob became unhappy? He’s still the nice guy he’s always been, but people may not identify him as the nice guy anymore because we label. And when we label, we segregate by default. And when we segregate by default, we impose stigma by default. And stigma is an imposed reality which we seldom take the time to step back from to look at the bigger picture - what truly matters in a universal reality. It’d be nice to look at things objectively rather than subjectively. Then again everyone tends to have their opinion and we all know the saying about opinions… It’d also be nice to get away from labels but I don’t think it’ll ever happen. Really, we just want to belong. Even if it means we belong to a negative connotation, at least we belong to something. 

One final thing I’d like to note is a shared story from one of the speakers. The speaker’s father did not allow the use of Neosporin within their household. If you are not familiar with Neosporin, it is a healing agent that can be applied to small cuts or scrapes to speed up the healing process and to prevent the formation of “ugly” scars. The father wasn’t a doctor, but he knew a thing or two about the healing process. Neospiron is promoted as a quick-healer and offers a good-as-new look. That’s cool and all, but while the skin on the outside may be “healed,” the wound underneath remains open and prone to infection because the body is not meant to heal as such a rapid pace. Hey, at least it looks good and my date tonight won’t think I’m a zombie freak, right? When we give the body time to heal on its own time at its own pace in its own natural environment, the wounds mend accordingly. The same can be said about our emotional and mental states. We can take all of the medication we want, we can try all of the quick-fix protocols we come across, but they will never truly heal until the underlying cause is addressed and fixed naturally through being honest with self, yielding compassion for self, having patience with self, and, thus, gaining a greater awareness of self.

I learned a lot from the conference and I’m very glad I was given the opportunity to go. If you are not familiar with To Write Love On Her Arms, please check out their website, blog, and calendar to verse yourself in the awareness and the hope that they spread.

Thanks for stopping by, folks. 

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Do we benefit or lose when we compare ourselves to others? Is it good to compare to get a better sense of self or does that act simply push us further away from self [and others]?

• We compare what we are not… I’m not strong enough. I’m not smart enough. I’m not pretty enough. I’m not skinny enough. 
• We compare what we don’t have… I don’t have a car. I don’t have an outlet. I don’t have a good job. I don’t have a significant other. I don’t have friends. I don’t have energy. 
• We compare where we are not… I’m not as successful as my peers. I don’t have a place of my own. I am not where I predicted I’d be at this point in my life.
• We compare our present to our past… Life was easier. I was healthier. I could run for miles. I could eat anything and not gain a pound. I was happier. Growing up sucks.

Any type of comparison is negative - it builds, defends, or hurts the Ego. You are not your Ego… the Ego is a part of you and it’s good to know when you are calling the shots and when your Ego takes charge. The Ego is a culmination of expectations, assumptions, judgements, predictions, and shameful events of the past. The Ego can protect us, but it can also blind us. Even those comparisons where we label ourselves above self and others - I am stronger, I am smarter, I am healthier, I am prettier - are all ego-boosting judgements and don’t really help anything in the long run. To think that you are better than someone else or better than your past self pushes you further away from a true reality - we are all equals and you are equal to your past self because it is a part of who you are, not who you aren’t.

• Are you able to accept yourself the way that you are? If not, why?
• Are you able to not judge, not assume, not expect, not predict, and not shame self or others? If not, why? Can you take note of when you do and why that occurs?
• Are you able to be happy regardless of who, where, or what you are? If not, why?
• How do you define happy? What makes you unhappy? What isn’t enough? What are you lacking? What are you comparing? Why are you comparing?

It’s good to take perspective on yourself and others. It’s good to know who, what, and where you are not, but that should not define who you are. We all grow, evolve, and mature at different rates, times, and ages. Don’t let your Ego prevent you or your perspective of others from being.

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In recent weeks (after working at a cafe), I’ve become a little more aware of people’s definitions of and reactions to “fattening” foods…

Oh, I can’t eat that… it’s too fattening.

I’m watching my weight so I need to choose something less fattening to eat - a salad would probably be healthier for me.

A common “fattening food” theme? Fat-based foods such as Butter, Whole Milk, Cream, and Eggs are mainly avoided to be “healthy.”

Why the heck do we correlate Dietary Fat to Body Fat? Are we that brainwashed to believe that once we consume Fat that we will automatically gain fat? The mindset is very interesting to say the least. But hey, I’ve been there - thought that, and I can say from my experience that whenever I avoided “fattening” foods I actually got fatter.

So, what’s really fattening? Carbs? French fries? Sweet Potato Fries? Chips? Blue Non-GMO Corn Chips? Soda? Diet Soda? Natural Soda? White Rice? Brown Rice? Bread? Whole Wheat Bread? Sprouted Bread? Fruit? Juice? 1/2 The Sugar Fruit Juice? Sugar? Brown Sugar? High-Fructose Corn Syrup? Stevia? Aspartame? Saturated Fat? Red Meat? Egg Yolks? Bacon? Butter? Whole milk? Cheese? Ice Cream? Chocolate? Not exercising? Watching TV? A lower Glycemic Index Food? Beer? Liquor? 

What CAN we eat that’s NOT fattening?!

Much of what’s “fattening” is based on the individual - not-so-much the food, but how a person consumes (caloric amount/value, nutrient value, environment, emotions, duration, preparation, temperature), digests/assimilates/absorbs (breaks down properly, secretion of digestive enzymes, attain all nutrients available), utilizes (energy efficiency, conversion to cellular energy for proper bodily functions), detoxifies (eliminate dietary/environmental toxins via the liver and kidneys), reacts hormonally (levels of testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, serotonin, glucagon, insulin, leptin, etc.), and excretes the food (healthy BM’s, constipation, diarrhea, food in stool, irregular patterns, etc).

There’s that and then there are environmental stressors: sleeping patterns, work deadlines, school deadlines, relationship burdens, self-love, self-happiness, life decisions, daily choices, and so on.

Yes, I do believe that certain foods play a consistent role in fat storage (dietary stress), but before you go blaming food, try to take some responsibility, blame, and perspective for yourself.

FYI - While writing today’s blog I consumed a whole pint of whole milk vanilla ice cream w/added salt and a 12 oz. coffee w/4oz. whole milk and 4 packets of sugar… and I ain’t storing no fat. Approximate Totals: Calories: 864. Fat: 52g. Carb: 96g. Protein: 10g

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Health is promoted by providing a decent standard of living, good labor conditions, education, physical culture, means of rest and recreation… health is not simply the absence of disease; it is something positive, a joyful attitude toward life and a cheerful acceptance of the responsibilities that life puts upon the individual.

Dr. Henry E. Sigerist, Medical Historian and Social Visionary

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I often feel like I’m not good at anything - nothing I do is ever good enough for anyone’s standards, including my own. How can I stop this negative thinking?

Perspective:

Well, this seems to mainly be a matter of your own approval. While others can influence or sway your judgement, you are making the decisions are the end of the day - not anyone else. I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as “negative thinking,” rather “influenced thinking.” Try not to think negatively of your decisions because it’ll only manifest into more negativity. By taking a positive perspective on your thoughts, beliefs, actions, and reactions it can help you define what is “real” and what can be changed for the better. Always learn from the negatives by shifting them into positives.

Here are a few questions that may open some doors…

• Define: “good enough”
• Why do others have an influence on your decisions?
• Define which people have an influence on your decisions (usually this is a family member or a peer whom you look up to) and why you allow them to hold such an influence.
• What’s more important: Making yourself happy or making others happy?
• Are you more upset with others for influencing or with yourself for allowing an influence (the true reality)?
• Do you lack confidence in your own decisions? If so, why?
• Do you disapprove of yourself? If so, why?
• Trace back in your past to when and why this started happening. This will help define the cause - the “influenced thinking” is a symptom.

Self-approval can only be achieved through valuing and confiding in self - not through neglecting self, not through pleasing others, and not through appeasing others.

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You’ll figure it out, J.

I’ve heard this perspective plenty of times throughout the past 8 years of my life. While I was not always welcoming of this advice, I knew that these words were genuine and that they held a universal truth. You’ll figure it out was a reminder that no matter what I was going through at any given point in my life - trials, errors, hardships, pains, shames, blames, ups, downs, or confusions - that I will eventually figure it out.

The last time I heard these words from my friend was on August 2nd, 2011. I didn’t know that would truly be the last time I heard them from his mouth and with his genuine delivery because two months later my friend passed away in an accident. While I wish I still had him a phone call or hang out away to ask for his advice through my ups and downs, I already know what he would tell me: You’ll figure it out, J.

No matter what happens - good or bad, right or wrong, healthy or sick, happy or sad, loved or unloved, accepted or un-accepted, understood or misunderstood, strong or weak, bulls-eye or complete miss - I’ll always figure it out. It may not happen in the most ideal time frame or in the most ideal experience or on the most ideal terms… but I’ll figure it out. I always have and I always will.

I have used this advice over the years to get me through the hardest of hard and the easiest of ease. Currently, this is where I’m at…

• Love and accept myself and others
• Forgive myself and others
• Be happy with myself and others
• Give myself and others the benefit - never the doubt
• Have faith in myself and others
• Have an open and honest heart with myself and others
• Listen to my mind, heart, and body - they always know best
• Have perspective when my Ego is calling the shots
• Find a balance of Wants vs Needs
• Do not judge, assume, or shame my battles or other’s battles
• Do not place unrealistic expectations on myself or others
• Do not provide myself with unnecessary boundaries or limitations
• Do not compare myself to others
• Surround myself with caring people who unconditionally support and understand me, and to not waste my efforts on those don’t
• Take everything and everyone that I experience into perspective
• Learn from everything - even if I don’t learn right away
• Appreciate every single experience that I go through - good or bad
• Be kind and easy on myself and others
• I am always doing my best - that’s all I can ask of myself and others
• Communication is the foundation of a good relationship with self and with others
• Take responsibility for my actions and reactions
• Never run away because it’ll only create more problems in the end
• Fear is an illusion - I create all of my fears and fears create all of my dis-eases
• Trust that what I give will be received in return
• Try not to take myself so seriously
• Have fun!
• At the end of the day… I’ll figure it out

I share this story because I have faith that we all will figure it out. Some may figure it out quicker than others. Some may figure it out and have it fall through their hands only to figure it out again. Some may figure it out longer than others. Some may think they figured it out only to realize they have a lot more figuring out to do. Some may figure it out in different ways than others. Some may not think they need to figure it out only to experience quite the figure-it-out-wake-up-call. In the end, we all figure it out.

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Have you ever traced back all of your good and bad experiences from your earliest memories? 
Your accomplishments? 
Your setbacks? 
Your happiness? 
Your pain?

We are all taught to work hard for our future and to not live in the past. While I agree with that mindset, I feel as though it can be interpreted as too exact and leave much room to lead an unfulfilling life…

How can we know where we are going when we may not even know, understand, nor appreciate how we got here?

Have you ever set aside time and patience to truly understand how you have gotten to the place where you are today? ”The place” as in your personality, your reactions, your actions, your beliefs, your self-view, your wants, your needs, your habits, your addictions, your likes, your dislikes, your emotional state, your mental state, your physical state, your digestive state, your stress, your maturity, your friends, your family, your relationships, your location, your job, your school, and so on.

While reflecting and appreciating are necessary steps, the real magic happens when we revisit our past and take full responsibility for our experiences.

It’s obviously much easier to take responsibility for our good accomplishments, for our positive achievements, for our good deeds, for our beneficial reactions… but what about for our poor accomplishments, for our negative achievements, for our bad deeds, for our selfish reactions?

When something good happens because of our conscious efforts we are the first to step up and claim our prize - promoting that we did “it” happen rather than “it” happening to us. Why can’t we do the same when we experience, accomplish, or encourage a negative outcome? Why, when we experience a negative, do we find ourselves asking “why did this happen to me?”

In every single situation we must take responsibility for what happened, how it happened, how we reacted or encouraged that happening, and how we shared in a part of that happening. While much of what occurs is at the power of a greater reality, we also have the power to influence our own reality.

Everything that we pride ourselves on and everything that we are running away from can be better understood by taking ownership of our lives.

Only when we take responsibility for our experiences can we truly learn about who we are and how we came to be.

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The Secret to Life! How to Lose Weight, Gain Muscle, and Get Healthy now!

Here it is! The answer everyone is looking for: How to Get Healthy and Stay Healthy in three easy steps!

Sound too good to be true? It’s not!

No hype.
No bull.
No marketing campaign.
No diet or detox miracle.
You don’t have to take any pills.
You don’t have to take any drugs.
You don’t have to starve yourself for weeks.
You don’t have to go from one diet craze to the next.
You don’t have to drink protein shake after protein shake.
You don’t have to weigh your food or weigh yourself every day.
You don’t have to run miles upon miles and do sit up after sit up.

Want to know how the heck you can get healthy starting right now?

L. F. B.

• Love yourself.
• Forgive yourself.
• Be happy with yourself.

L. F. B.

Why do we become sick in the first place?
Why do we become sad?
Why do we eat too much?
Why do we not eat enough?
Why do we go from diet to diet?
Why do we go from exercise to exercise?
Why do we burn the wick at both ends?
Why do we believe that a fit body means a healthy body?
Why, now more than ever, is the United States becoming so unhealthy despite all of the diets, studies, and supplements available that apparently promote health?
Why, no matter what we do, can we not seem to get healthy?

• Health comes when we take responsibility for our lives, our choices, and how we experience life.
• Health comes when we are aware of why we may be unhealthy.
• Health comes when we understand what it means to be healthy by questioning everything and listening to hour body.
• Health comes when we have respect for ourselves, our body, and the food that we choose to become part of our body - our life.
• Health comes when we balance our life’s wants and needs.
• Health comes when we let down our ego and open up our heart.
• Health comes when we provide a healthy external environment to reflect our internal environment.
• Health comes when we do not place unrealistic expectations upon ourselves, others, or our experiences.
• Health comes when we forgive our past so we can be present in the now and work towards hour future.
• Health comes when we stop self-sabotaging.
• Health comes when we are not ashamed of who we are on the outside because we accept ourselves on the inside.
• Health comes when we accept who we are, and how we came to be.
• Health comes when we do not compare ourselves to others.
• Health comes when we understand that we are doing our very best in every moment and that no moment is ever wrong nor a mistake.
• Health comes when you Love yourself.
• Health comes when you Forgive yourself.
• Health comes when you Be happy with yourself.

L. F. B.

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• Why do we self-destruct?
• Why do we cause ourselves more pain?
• Why do we run away, bury, or hide in chaos?
• Why do we not take self-responsibility and trade it for self-negligence?
• Why do we not realize the immense pain we are causing ourselves by creating more pain?
• Why do we build walls between ourselves and our surroundings to feel more protected when it only creates loneliness and fear?
• Why do we turn to outer escapes to temporarily fill an inner void?
• How did that void appear in the first place?

 What is necessary to be indestructible?

• Self-responsibility
• Self-awareness
• Self-acceptance
• Self-love
• Self-trust
• Self-fulfillment

Self-responsibility is important to understand why and how we experience life, but that responsibility can only come through awareness, acceptance, love, trust and fulfillment of self.

 1) Become aware of the cause - actions and reactions are symptoms

• Take time to reflect on the possibility of self-unhappiness - Am I truly happy?
• Take time to understand why self-unhappiness may exist - What makes me unhappy? 
• Take time to revisit where and when self-unhappiness began - What are the first memories of my unhappiness - the root cause?
• Take time to realize what are the symptoms of that cause - Actions, reactions, habits, personality, attitude, hurting, inflicting, neglecting, sabotaging, drowning, abandoning, excuses, avoiding, controlling, and selfishness to name a few.
• Take time to see where that unhappiness has lead or built a path to present day - How did I get here?

2) Accept [and be grateful for] the past because it has shaped the present

• Appreciate taking the time to reflect, understand, revisit, realize, and see the root cause - this is not always an easy first step.
• Appreciate good and bad past experiences because today’s world would not exist without yesterday’s construction and destruction.
• Appreciate the bad so it can be learned from and turned into good.
• Appreciate all flaws, mistakes, imperfections, actions, reactions, judgements, assumptions, pains, shames, walls, and escapes as a part of self - I didn’t know any other way (this is all I knew how to do) and I did the best that I could at that time.

3) Unconditionally love self as a perfect culmination of the past and a desire of future

• Forgiveness of self and others is an important step towards self-love
• Love self of the past to love self of the present to be self of the future
• Life is perfect because it occurs as it is intended - I am perfect.
• Love can only be found within self. - An outside acceptance of love will come when an inside acceptance of love exists.
• Give what is willing to be received. Receive what is willing to be given. - Karma.

4) Trust in self

• Be open and honest with self.
• Trust in self-love - My love is enough.
• Trust that exists on the inside will attract trust that exists on the outside.
• Trust and love in self are necessary to find trust and love in others.

5) Fulfill self - The effect of the cause

• Awareness, Acceptance, Unconditional Love and Trust are the foundation of Self-fulfillment.
• Self-happiness will come when it exists within.

jdperryhealth.com
jdperryhealth.tumblr.com
jdperryhealth@gmail.com