Equanimity is a word that I don't think I added to my vocabulary until I was in college. I went to a college where it was cool to use words with more than 2 or 3 syllables, so this was a great addition.
But today the number of syllables a word has isn't important to me. It's the meaning of the word that is important. And this word is really big when it comes to a healthy relationship with food.
It seems like a big part of my life is about finding equanimity. Finding a sense of well being or balance. Whenever I feel uncomfortable, whether it's too cold or too hot, I'm upset about something that occurred, or not liking the taste of something, I'm immediately looking for how to change the situation. Looking for a way to feel better. Looking for a greater sense of ease or well being, a sense of equanimity. Sound familiar? I think we all do it. It's our nature.
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Isn't it interesting to see how, when we're reaching for food to shift a mood we're in or reward ourselves for something, what we're looking for is a return to a sense of well being, a sense of equanimity. And even though we may feel better after eating that food, have we found the balance and ease we're looking for, or do we just feel better than we did?
Could it be that the well being we're looking for is as close as the moment we're in right now? Could it be that by letting go of our thinking about what happened in the past or we're afraid is going to happen in the future, we can find our sense of well being again.
What we have found is that the more we're grounded in this understanding that our well being is right here in this moment, the less we're compelled to turn to food or other behaviors to feel good. The more we find ourselves effectively engaging in life from the intelligence of our true nature.
When we stop covering over our sense of well being with thoughts of what happened or what's going to happen, when we let go of living in the past or future, we un-cover, or dis-cover, what's there all the time: equanimity.
What if we don't have to learn lots of rules and strategies about how to live life, but simply learn how to access the wisdom and intelligence we have within, in order to navigate the ever changing landscape or our lives? Learn how to un-cover the equanimity and intelligence of that equanimity that lies within?
Next time you have a craving for a food to change your mood or feel better, take a moment to get present and see if that's really what your body wants for nourishment and satisfaction.
We have recipes for two dressings this week, a Raspberry Vinaigrette and an Italian Vinaigrette.
To your Amazing Health,
Bill and Connie
Raspberry Strawberry Vinaigrette *Adapted from Timaree Hagenburger
- ½ cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- ½ cup fresh or frozen raspberries
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 4 Deglet Noor Dates (soaked ahead of time)
- ¼ cup “date soaking water”
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender until creamy. (If too thick, thin with a couple tablespoons filtered water.) Store in refrigerator until ready to use. Will keep for several days.
Italian Vinaigrette Dressing *Adapted from Timaree Hagenburger
- 1 large garlic clove mashed in a garlic press
- ½ cup vegetable broth or aquafaba from garbanzo beans
- Pinch of onion and garlic powder
- 6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (or a mix of oregano, basil and rosemary)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Combine ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake until well blended and refrigerate until ready to use.