Play & Book Excerpts
Joyful Delicious Vegan
(She Writes Press)
© 2021 Sherra Aguirre
Listen and Love—Living and Feeding Ourselves Mindfully
“The greatest medicine of all is teaching people how not to need it.” —Hippocrates, father of modern medicine, fifth century B.C.
“SHOW YOUR HEARTBURN WHO’S BOSS!” says the actress in an acid reflux commercial, which suggests that by taking this particular antacid product, you can continue to “enjoy” the same foods that contributed to the problem in the first place. In our media-dominated, consumer-based society, we are coaxed into viewing our body as the simple servant of the brain. The messages and images we hear and see all around us tell us how this servant should behave and what it should look and feel like.
“The greatest medicine of all is teaching people how not to need it.” —Hippocrates, father of modern medicine, fifth century B.C.
“SHOW YOUR HEARTBURN WHO’S BOSS!” says the actress in an acid reflux commercial, which suggests that by taking this particular antacid product, you can continue to “enjoy” the same foods that contributed to the problem in the first place. In our media-dominated, consumer-based society, we are coaxed into viewing our body as the simple servant of the brain. The messages and images we hear and see all around us tell us how this servant should behave and what it should look and feel like.
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The German term gestalt refers to the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It is a simple but very appropriate term to describe our body and how it works, and why making an attentive, loving, and thoughtful choice in response to something as simple as heartburn will reverberate throughout our system in subtle ways we may not immediately feel.
Loving choices are powerful. When we are tuned in to our bodies, an ache, pain, or other “problem” is really an alert that offers a pathway to improvements in how well our bodies function. The cells of every organ are connected by energy exchanges with the cells of other parts of the body, and when there is distress or improvement in any one part, it is communicated to and affects the whole. Because of this, our smallest healthy choices have a powerful multiplier effect and can boost our vitality and resilience in surprising ways. |
"We are not machines but living, breathing, loving masses of intelligent energy, connected to the energy and intelligence of nature. Now that I am mindful of the work that my cells do to keep me healthy and see that work as an expression of love, I feel empathy and acknowledge the distress I can cause them with poor everyday choices. My motivations to make better choices are gratitude, love, and the power of knowing what my body is capable of achieving." ~ Sherra Aguirre |
Rather than showing our body “who’s the boss,” we can direct our efforts to finding the root cause or causes of our symptoms. In the case of acid reflux, we could research it online or consult a health care professional about likely causes or triggers, and to help us rule out the possibility that it may be linked to a more serious condition. We may also speak with a nutritionist about foods that contribute to heartburn, learn about herbal support for healthy digestion, or simply make time to relax with a cup of chamomile tea. By following this path, we increase the chance that long before more serious distress signals or symptoms appear, we will be on a path to restoration and a natural state of internal harmony, balance, and coherence.
The concept of coherence is very important and refers to the alignment of our intentions and the food we put into our mouths.
Foods are forms of energy, as are our physical selves. When we pay attention to the signals we get while or after eating our food— lower or higher energy, upset stomach, heartburn, better or poorer ability to focus—that information can help us align what we feed ourselves with our physical needs. By doing so, we help our body to carry out an intention for healthy digestion, for example, with foods that have the nutrients and other attributes (e.g. less fat and sugar) to achieve that result. The food and our body will be able to communicate effectively and work in harmony. Coherence also refers to the emotional or psychological aspect of eating. When we are guided by the body’s messages and feed ourselves in concert with that information, we produce a symphony as opposed to energetic discord and noise. The positive results we see and feel will lift our mood and our energy, and will reinforce those actions, which is how new healthy habits are formed. The opportunity for this sequence of events is exactly what our cells, through the symptoms we experience, are communicating to us. If only we would listen and act out of love in return! Unlike the alternative offered by our antacid commercial actress, this is real love.
The concept of coherence is very important and refers to the alignment of our intentions and the food we put into our mouths.
Foods are forms of energy, as are our physical selves. When we pay attention to the signals we get while or after eating our food— lower or higher energy, upset stomach, heartburn, better or poorer ability to focus—that information can help us align what we feed ourselves with our physical needs. By doing so, we help our body to carry out an intention for healthy digestion, for example, with foods that have the nutrients and other attributes (e.g. less fat and sugar) to achieve that result. The food and our body will be able to communicate effectively and work in harmony. Coherence also refers to the emotional or psychological aspect of eating. When we are guided by the body’s messages and feed ourselves in concert with that information, we produce a symphony as opposed to energetic discord and noise. The positive results we see and feel will lift our mood and our energy, and will reinforce those actions, which is how new healthy habits are formed. The opportunity for this sequence of events is exactly what our cells, through the symptoms we experience, are communicating to us. If only we would listen and act out of love in return! Unlike the alternative offered by our antacid commercial actress, this is real love.
Photo Credit: Grady Carter Photography
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Sherra Aguirre is an entrepreneur, articulate health enthusiast, environmentalist, food security activist and author.
She founded and led a successful business for three decades and sold the company in 2016 to focus on her passion for healthy diet and lifestyle. Now in her seventies, Aguirre describes herself as high energy, in better overall health, and in many ways more fit than in her thirties or forties. She has practiced meditation and yoga daily for more than twenty-five years, and for many years has researched and read extensively about diet and lifestyle as the most important factors for achieving and maintaining good health. By adopting a whole plant-based diet, she improved overall heart health and eliminated symptoms of hypertension despite a significant family history of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. She is passionate about empowering others to maintain vibrancy and good health throughout their lifetimes. As a health enthusiast, environmentalist, and food justice advocate, Aguirre writes about the healing qualities of compassion, simplicity and gratitude. She draws attention to the ripple effect vegan eating can have on individuals, families, and communities. |
