A Diet for Your Soul – Truth

Yesterday, I was going to write about “Truth” in the basic “tell the truth, it’s good for you” context.  Then I found myself in some pain and remembered that sometimes truths can be felt in your body before your mind even knows you’ve told a fib.

In Martha Beck’s The Joy Diet, absorbing a new truth about yourself is the second item on the menu.  The idea is to compassionately check in with your life.  Is there anything that you’re hiding from yourself or others that is keeping you from experiencing full time joy?

Truth digging is most effective on the heels of doing your daily 10 to 15 minutes of Nothing.  On Friday, I went through Martha’s six suggested questions with a touch of a temper and a side of Excedrin.

“What am I feeling?”

Like a giant pain in the neck.  Literally.   I’m also fidgety and unfocused.

“What hurts?”

I told you… my neck!  It’s a crick on the left side, coupled with a headache.

“What is the painful story I’m telling?”

If I were focused, I’d be able to tell a story.  There’s just pain.  No story. I haven’t had a crick in my neck like this since leaving my old j.o.b. back in January.  Now I remember how I used to feel on Monday mornings. 

Fascinating.

I had agreed to step back into that life for a few hours that day to help them with a project. 

While I was not spinning painful stories in my conscious mind, my body kicked in to tell me the truth.  I’ve looked back occasionally wondering what would have been different if I had stayed.  Now I know.  I really didn’t want to go back there.  I felt like I was about to waste a day of my life walking the wrong path. 

“Can I be sure my painful story is true?”

No.  No experience is a waste. 

 “Is my painful story working?”

No. If I think it will be a waste, it will be a waste.  What a waste that would be!  And my neck hurts.

“Can I think of another story that might work better?”

First observation:  I do not feel compelled to eat my way through this like I would have a year ago.  I love this coaching stuff.  It, like, works.

Second observation:  I left that job when I came to a fork in the road where the corporate world path and the one toward my destiny split.  I made the right choice.  My neck just told me so. 

As I drove away from that office building Friday afternoon, my headache died away and the tension in my neck eased.  Amazing what a good dose of Nothing and a teaspoon of Truth will do to turn a subconsciously wasted day into one of gratitude and thanksgiving. 

I’ve been practicing this (almost) every day and never seem to run out of food for thought.  As a result, I have new friends, a new career, have lost weight and have emptied at a ton of clutter from my mind and home.  In other words… the truth will set you free and, quite possibly, turn your life upside down.

Next week we’ll add Desire to the mix.  I mean, if you’re going to turn your life upside down, it should certainly be for something you desire!  Right!?

Until then, I’d love to hear about ways you uncover your truth.