|
Since 1980, as a nation, we’ve gained weight. Instead of 10-20% of us being classified as obese, 25-45% of us have slipped into that category. That’s a significant shift in our lifestyle and our health. If you are interested in learning more about this trend, you might find this chart interesting: http://www.rwjf.org/files/newsroom/interactives/awgp/awgp_feature.jsp. The home page link for this chart is found on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation web site: http://www.rwjf.org.
Spiritual Agreement
There is no spiritual agreement for Americans to be overweight. We’re eating to bury stress, emotional pain, problems we think we can’t solve, to feel better about our lives. We’re also eating as a symbol of our success. The two behaviors
work together and feed off each other as well. It’s easy to diagnose the problem as cheap fast food access, prescription drugs, our emotionally unsustainable lifestyle and pace, toxic materials that now affect brain function and metabolism. But there are sources to these “top layer” rationales. Drug and food companies, and government agencies have taken advantage of our weaknesses, but they are not the cause.
Energetic Sources
This phenomenon is a by-product of two main thoughts/goals set in the European and American unconsciousness several hundred years ago. These two main thoughts have not only shaped our bodies, but how we work, our policies on land use, national economy, health care, the environment, education, and our community and political involvement.
Source #1: Early Christian concept: Man is separate from God
The first is the Christian concept that man is separate from God/Nature/Body. As a way to curb the pagan belief that God is in everything, several denominations of Christian religion in the early centuries AD, promoted the doctrine that man is separate from God and the physical body should be ignored or at least treated with stoicism. This concept manifests today as a general fear to learn about our bodies, deferring to “experts” instead. Medication in the form of food, drugs, and television also quiet the body and mind so we don’t have to hear what they’re trying to tell us – we know whatever it is we can’t do anything about, and it’s probably bad.
Source #2: American settler concept: Command over environment
The second concept emerged from the first American settlers determination to understand and conquer their new environment to avoid starvation and death. It was reinforced in later years by wealthy settlers who were proud of their weight as a symbol of success in commanding this new wilderness. If you were thin, then it meant you were not as powerful a person.
Spiritual agreement for wellness exists
From the first attempt to separate the people from the energetic world around them, there has been a spiritual agreement among them to remove that control from their lives.
Currently, the agreement in America is to acknowledge that personal/spiritual growth comes with challenges and opportunities that should not be considered problems that require an outside treatment as the only solution. The foundational concept of this agreement is communication, acceptance, and community. Where a person has the freedom to learn about themselves, accept and be accepted for who they are, then work as part of a community to address their challenges, and allow others to address theirs in an environment of autonomy and cooperation.
It sounds like a fantasy, but it’s how many people in this country would like to live their lives.
Interestingly, the companies/organizations/governments who have been exploiting our weaknesses are full of people who are part of this agreement. They wish this life for themselves as well. The organizations will find a way to be profitable in the new marketplace. This shift is already happening and it looks like it will continue. [ Back ] |
