How much "raw support" have you got in your
environment? It's a good question, as one of the
main areas that people fall down in is the day-to-day
environment that they place themselves in.
To get the most out of this article and part two that
follows next week I am going to ask that you open
your mind to the possibility that you can create and/or
secure any environment for yourself that you want.
Now, I know for some this may seem more than a little
tricky, if not impossible, but I am firm believer
in "where there's a will there's a way" and in this
arena I feel no exceptions - so bear with me as we
begin our journey together...
But before we get to exploring that more fully, first of all
I want and need to say that if you have been struggling
to stay raw and it's NOT food related but
circumstantial, emotional or environmental, then
please (please) do not spend one more second
beating yourself up for not staying on the wagon,
because as you will see, if your environment - and
that's inner and outer - is not set up to support you
then really it is going to feel uphill all the way.
So let's first of all be clear on what environment is.
As per the "7 Circles of Raw Support" coaching model
that I use, I see environment as comprising of both
inner and outer terrain, namely:
Body, Heart, Mind and Spirit and Kitchen, Home
and "Your World" (i.e. your life as it currently shows
up, according to what you have created).
Through this coaching model I have come to see
clearly that for all of us when we're new in our raw
food journey, our first considerations are to set our
kitchen up for success (outer) and on an inner level to
have our heart and body feeling excited and positive
about our foray into raw and living nutrition.
With just these basic considerations, this first chapter
of our journey is typically pretty easy. Once we've
mastered a few good recipes and can see and feel
some positive changes, we tend to be feeling good
and pretty pleased with ourselves, because these first
changes are MAJOR and pivotal indeed.
However, once through this phase we have new
issues to address if we are to pursue "this raw thing"
more seriously and longer term. For instance, what
about all those in our lives who think we have
gone "extreme" or a little OTT with the vegetables?!
And what about eating out at friend's houses or
restaurants? And then there's those at work who think
we're on a diet or have some kind of eating disorder.
Any of the above sound familiar? I think by now you
know very well what I'm talking about, right?!
Well in these situations this is the time to have a
whole lot of compassion. And that's compassion for
yourself and compassion for those who do not
understand what you're up to. In these kinds of
environments it is "going upstream" to stay raw (and
don't we know it), but it can be done.... if you want to.
I'm pausing here as it really is up to you whether you
stick with raw or "do as the Romans" in upstream
situations like these. For my own part, mostly I chose
to go downstream with the herd in my early days of
raw just for a quiet life, but, I think you know as well as
I do, my inner life was not too quiet about it: "You've
compromised just to make others happy... but are you
happy Karen?" and similar kinds of chatter in my head
and heart ensued each and every time.
So what's the solution?
Well, it depends on where you are in your raw food
journey, so let me ask you this:
"Have you been through the phase yet where you clear
a ton of clutter from your home and find yourself
feeling introverted, thoughtful and wanting to stay
home more often?"
If your answer is yes, then you're either in the "raw
cocoon" stage or have gone through it. All perfectly
normal and all necessary to find the space and time to
reflect on the important things in life - i.e. "Who am I?"
and "What do I really really want?"
It does indeed take a brave soul to address these
questions at the best of times, but when we are new
to raw it feels harder still, as we are almost afraid to
hear the answers; we wonder, "Is what I'm about to
hear about myself and my life on par with the apparent
radical-ness of going raw?" and quite frankly it scares
the living daylights out of most of us! Does this sound
familiar?
The raw cocoon stage is where we move around to
the centre of the Support model, having already
enrolled the support of our body, kitchen and heart;
now we are creating a sacred space *externally* so
we can explore in our mind's eye what's really real in
our current outside reality and from a place of peace
decide how moving forward we are going to
consciously choose to show up out there.
Most importantly, please note the use of the
word "consciously" here. Most people live life rather
haphazardly to say the least. Not you, though, right? In
that cocoon, should you choose to weave it, you come
face-to-face with the realisation that you can, if you so
choose, consciously create a different future for
yourself, and, if you're ready willing and brave enough,
that future could indeed be very bright, very live and
very raw!
For deep
and soulful transformation to occur, we need to be in
an expansive, supportive and illuminated space - one
that speaks to our potential and definitely not our past.
Is your home that bright, encouraging, inspiring and
supportive space yet? Does your cocoon support your
transformation or simply confuse it?
I have learned the hard way that trying to live in limbo
with raw is a challenging and pretty unfulfilling path to
take. Neither "cooked" nor "live", in this space we walk
a path that is as confusing to us as those around us,
and our lack of conviction makes for a very tricky,
somewhat grey and often solitary journey.
My coach's challenge to you is to recognise and then
act on the information that radiant transformation is
not only your highest destiny and birthright but also is
open to you at any moment. Just say the word and you
will be guided in ways both seen and unseen to make
the changes necessary to live the life that you were
destined to live in your most live and awake form.
Lofty thoughts, I know, but please take my word for it;
having tried every raw path and every way of walking it,
it is the one thing I know for sure, and therefore
creating or securing the perfect environment for
yourself to transform is one of the most powerful gifts
you can give yourself, to others and indeed to the
planet.
The bottom line is this: the confusion that can reign
when "trying" to go raw is usually, if not always, directly
attributable to the degree to which you do or don't relax
into your own unfolding.
For those who resist, the struggle continues as long
as the resistance. Therefore, by not creating the right
environment for yourself to transform and then thrive
you are, by default, creating or upholding an
environment where it will be difficult if not impossible
to stay raw. It's really as simple as that. The important
thing is to stand in your power whatever you choose
and not to let lack of awareness be the unseen
problem that is preventing you from moving forward.
Now, while I see all this clearly and know it from
experience, that doesn't necessarily make it any
easier to do, I know! When radical transformation is
calling and "it's not a good time", you have two
choices: Stay raw anyway, or return to what "works"
with your current life until you feel ready for whatever is
calling you.
In the next issue I'll be addressing the second part of
this fascinating "environmental" journey. For those of
you who are afraid to weave your cocoon and hear
what needs to be heard as well as those who are in it
right now, part two will explain what happens next,
how and why this happens, as well as what this
means for you, your own "private" universe and
ultimately the planet your story plays out upon.
Who knows a few inspirational words and
understandings may just make all the
difference.
Until then, happy pondering!
© 2010 Karen Knowler WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR ON YOUR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach publishes "Successfully Raw" - a free weekly eZine for raw food lovers everywhere. If you're ready to look good, feel great and create a raw life you love get your FREE tips, tools and recipes now at www.TheRawFoodCoach.com.
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