Heading In The Right Direction

In my last post I wrote about the book I was reading and since then I have been thinking a lot about a line from that book that really gave me some insight. It goes something like this - "There is no point in running if you don't know what direction to run." As you may know by now, I have quite a few fears and anxieties. But lately, when I start to get scared I think of that sentence. I think to myself, "Is this something I can run from, and if so, do I know which way to run?" This thought process almost always calms me down because it allows me to accept what is, rather than plotting all the possible escape routes. I am better able to stand up to my fears rather than constantly running and hiding and getting nowhere.

This coping mechanism doesn't always work. For example, when you think you know which way to run, but it turns out to be the completely wrong way, or when the fear is too big for you to fight and you crumple under the pressure. But for the most part, it has been a handy tool for making me feel better. God knows I need it with all the scary things out there. Maybe you need it too, which is why I am sharing.

All Natural

I am in the middle of reading a book that I got from the library called All Natural by Nathanael Johnson. The description on the cover reads as follows - "A skeptic's quest to discover if the natural approach to diet, childbirth, healing, and the environment really keeps us healthier and happier." I was intrigued when I saw this because I am always wondering if natural is better, as so many people think. As I started reading, I quickly learned that there are no solid conclusions about this matter. (Like just about everything in life.) The answers usually lie somewhere in the middle ground between natural and unnatural. (Johnson even points out that we can sometime confuse the natural and unnatural.) But he does do a lot of research that can help people make more informed (and hopefully better) decisions. I like his writing style because this could easily turn into one of those books where the author spouts off about what he believes and you are left wondering what is true. But this author actually did the investigating and, in the end, leaves you to decide what you believe.

In one chapter, Johnson sets out to find out if sugar is really as bad for us as everyone claims. What he found is that eating sugar produces dopamine, which causes compulsion without pleasure. He goes on to say - "The sales pitch that promises everything and delivers nothing - that tickles our wanting neurons while making sure we can't get no satisfaction - relies wholly on confusing pleasure with desire. Perhaps it could be defeated by simply learning to distinguish the one from the other. For food, this would mean learning to truly taste - slowing down enough to take pleasure in the flavors and textures in each bite. Food corporations have learned to cater to what they call 'the lazy American palate,' which basically means lots of sugar, fat, and salt. They don't waste subtle flavors on us because, in the grip of a dopamine-driven desire, people stop tasting. When I ate this way I was trying to muffle craving, not produce pleasure. The problem of gluttony is not too much love of food, but too little." This was a revelation to me be because I always had a feeling that people would become more healthy if they didn't only change WHAT they eat, but HOW they eat.

I added the quote from the book as an example of one of the things I have learned from reading it. But truthfully, I couldn't add every quote that enlightened and inspired me because they were on almost every page of the book. I am considering buying my own copy, just so I can highlight the things I find interesting and refer back to them from time to time. I can not recommend this book highly enough, and I don't do it justice in my writing, so you might as well just go get it right now. GO ON! GET OUT OF HERE!