Mental Malnutrition

We all know the phrase ‘’you are what you eat’’ and the importance of eating pure and nourishing foods.  Even if you don’t always do it, you know how different you feel depending on what you are putting into your body through food and drink. You understand the effects of natural, pure, real food vs fake, processed, conservative laden junk foods.

You Are what You Think 

But do you really understand that this is exactly the same concept with regards to your thoughts? We are nourishing ourselves not only with food, but also with our thoughts. 

Do you devote the same amount of time and energy to your mental nutrition as you do to your physical nutrition?  Are you aware of the quality of thoughts you are having in a day? 

Most people are not.   

And yet I would argue the quality of thoughts is EVEN MORE IMPORTANT than the quality of food you are eating.  

Keep in mind that this comes from someone who has dedicated a large part of her adult life to studying nutrition, naturopathic and orthomolecular medicine, and has personally tried almost all of the main diets and eating plans out there over the years.  It comes from a person who has suffered chronic autoimmune health issues in the past in which specific diets, nutrition, and supplements were the mainstay of treatment when mainstream medicine had nothing to offer. 

My personal experience has been that it is the quality of my thoughts that has been the most powerful healing force in my life.  

Nowadays, I actually put more energy and time into my thought nutrition than I do into physical nutrition. (I will write more another day about food and nutrition because it is obviously also very important and learning to eat intuitively means you can spend less time thinking and stressing about what to eat.) 

Mental Malnutrition: the Real Culprit 

I would argue that most people are suffering from mental malnutrition.   

This is not a lack of thoughts: it is a lack of high quality thoughts and/or a surplus of low quality thoughts.  Just like someone can be overweight or obese and still be malnourished. 

No, there is certainly no lack of thoughts. Most people complain of being inundated by thoughts.  Thoughts that keep them up at night, looping thoughts, negative spirals and fear-driven worries and preoccupations.

Most of us can relate to this at least some of the time. For others it is a constant.

But here’s the thing: even when you think you are not having negative thoughts and things are ‘’fine’’ and this doesn’t really apply to you, there are usually negative and low level subconscious thought patterns running just under your conscious awareness that are having an effect on you.  

An experiment to check your mental nutritional status

Set an alarm on your phone for at least 5 random times in your day for about a week.  When it rings, stop for just a moment and notice the thoughts you were having in that moment, as well as the mental-emotional-energetic state you are in.  No matter what you are doing-even if you are talking to someone, looking at your phone, washing the dishes–take just a moment and notice.  And then take another moment to write it down. I suggest jotting it into a note on your phone since you will have it in your hand.

I have done this multiple times and have had many clients and students do it as well. The results have been pretty universal: when we become aware of it, there is a kind of ongoing thought stream that is playing in the background that is being propelled by unease, discomfort, agitation and the desire to avoid these thoughts or keep them at bay. 

I don’t mean you are overtly feeling fearful or negative in every moment.  It can be very subtle. 

It takes a bit of dropping beneath the surface and really noticing. Try it and see for yourself. 

Never forget the incredible power of awareness to bring change.  By seeing something it moves from the unconscious into the conscious and this is the beginning of change.

The path towards optimal mental nutrition: Awareness is the key

It is not about resisting your thoughts or fighting anything. Some repeating thought patterns may be guiding you towards healing. Things may need to be acknowledged, emotions allowed to be felt and integrated.

Other thought patterns are simply like a virus on your computer inserted by negative programming found in the things you read, watch, and the people around you. They need to be seen as such and steps need to be taken to limit exposure to these kinds of malware.

The key takeaway is that awareness of your thoughts and mental states is essential. The alarm exercise offers a simple way to glimpse your mental nutritional status, but the most effective way to cultivate lasting awareness is through meditation—the process of observing yourself.