Principle I: Preparedness is Key to Progress

I used to fear the ebb.

The ebb signified receding… or, a setback. Goal-setting required a constant state of preemptive strategy: how to avoid the ebb by any means necessary. It would work quite well for a period of time, but despite my best laid plans the ebb would reemerge and pause my progress.

I used to be unforgivingly all or nothing.

‘All or nothing’ was not only my approach toward nutrition, but it was also my approach toward achieving my life goals overall. The life goals that pertained to living a blithe existence (ie. sound nutrition, inner peace) suggested that I needed to remain in flow, at all times. Yet I would find myself, again and again, awash in the ebb (*pun absolutely intended).

This desire for perfection began to breed self-doubt: couldn’t I just do it perfectly this time? Couldn’t I just flow and forget the ebb?

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‘Preparation’ was a major theme on my most recent visit to Manhattan. I was excited to try the SAKARA Signature Meal Plan for 3 days: this plan helped me to focus less on what I was going to eat while travelling, and focus more on enjoying great company & taking care of business. Two of the major highlights of this meal plan were the Chia Protein Waffles and the Rising Sun Quesadilla. The Morning Glory Parfait would have been excellent had it not been for my cashew sensitivity (a.k.a. a constant party pooper for me when it comes to enjoying vegan desserts). I rarely eat nuts, so I often forget that cashews make the inside of my mouth feel itchy (*in retrospect, I am certain that had I mentioned this to customer service when placing my order, they would have provided a substitution).

What is not documented here are the days spent in ebb prior to my trip. That ebb could have persisted had I allowed it, but instead I chose (meal) preparation as a strategy to segue back into flow. I ultimately concluded my trip to NYC feeling incredibly productive. Why? Because sound food choices met overall preparedness. Overall preparedness met less chaos, and less chaos begets heightened productivity. I felt in flow the entirety of my stay in the city.

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Ebbs will happen, but they are rarely ever final. I’ve learned to be patient while in ebb as I remind myself that its tide is not terminal. History has taught me that once I return to flow, I almost always forget that the ebb has ever happened.

So, maybe you’re somewhere on your journey toward balance, or healing your relationship with food; or getting off of the hamster wheel of diet culture; or looking for the meal plan or food approach that feels blithe and easy for you. The take-home message is that where your nutrition goals are concerned, I hope that you’ll experience more ups, prepare for some downs, and remember to love yourself through it all. I hope that you’ll be patient, and remain faithful. I hope that you’ll flow along your journey, and move past the temporariness of your ebbs.

Setbacks are temporary, and all things will eventually become their opposite. If you’ve strayed from the path, be gentle as you make your way back onto its course. Progress isn’t linear, and the ebb is necessary. Always remember that eventually, you will get back into flow. At the end of the day, this truth holds evident: the ebb must always return to its flow. So, why would your progress be any different?