You Are What You Eat

Habitually, after a few hours of online work, I click on that enticing, blue icon to surf the web for a bit before continuing on with the rest of my day. Often I'm looking for something in particular. But, sometimes what can start as a purpose driven action can become a mindless, rabbit hole-like wandering towards an internet abyss. Entertaining, but sometimes brain-numbing media devours hours, even an entire morning, and leaves me feeling sluggish and unambitious to productively get through the rest of the day. I feel like I unintentionally gorged myself on an entire pan of baked mac 'n' cheese with a side of French fries and a large coke. (No, I've never actually done that, but I can feel the nausea and brain fog just imagining it.) Most of that feeling just comes from the media overload and prolonged lack of movement, but the rest of it sometimes actually comes from mindlessly over indulging in literal food.

Sound familiar?

I hope not. But if it does, you aren't alone.

If you have ever discovered wrappers and dishes from food you wouldn't remember eating if it weren't for the evidence scattered around you, you aren't alone. And if you've consumed endless videos and hashtags until only the watch and search history enables you to recall all you've indulged in, you aren't alone.

But let's not stay in that group. Okay? Let's be more mindful about our habits and move beyond yet another "2020 residual" (as I like to call a pesky bad habit or feeling dragged up last year that is still sticking around). That thing needs to be learned from and then burned with the rest of the negativity that may have occurred in the year of hindsight.

Now, I am not saying that indulging a bit here and there is a terrible thing. But "once in a while" is different from a "habit". And developing and persisting in a poor habit, especially when there are so many good ones to be had, is something everyone can do without.

There are so many good habits to be inhabited. So, so many good ones.

So... as I clicked on that icon this morning after I wrapped up teaching...

Yeah, new habits take time, old ones die hard.

My set browser tabs of scripture, email, and Pinterest popped up. (Yes, in that order. #priorities) I read the daily scripture; I checked my email; I closed out of Pinterest ('cause I'll admit it, I had already browsed that app on my phone for a new recipe). Then, I proceeded to minimize the browser, and open up some work files before remembering an email to which I had yet to respond. Unfortunately, opening up a fresh tab blew up my desktop with politically charged images, fear mongering, irrelevant pop-culture "breaking news" and an article telling me that I've been eating my waffles all wrong all of my life. #SadDay And, in an instant I went from feeling pretty, flipping good to feeling like I wanted to go eat an entire pan of mac 'n' cheese and waffles.

I tore my eyes from the chaos and closed the window, sat back in my chair and took a breath.

Why was anger and fear and disgust and confusion simultaneously filling my heart and the craving of cheesy-noodly-waffly goodness filling my brain?

The power of media and persuasion, ladies and gentlemen.

When you let negativity into your home, it will inevitably enter your heart and your mind. Just like if you keep a pan of mac 'n' cheese (or whatever you like to indulge in) at the ready, it ain't likely to go to waste - just to your waist. And just like overindulging in junk food can make you feel like junk, feasting on negative or empty media will also make you negative and empty.

You've heard it before:

You are what you eat.

But let's apply that not only to food, but everything else with which we fill our minds, bodies and hearts.

So, after taking a breath and assessing the situation and my thoughts and feelings , I maximized the first browser tab that had this beautiful verse waiting for me:

Psalm 118:5-6 (New International Version)

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

What can mere mortals do to me? They can influence me, especially when I let them.

So I clicked through the settings until I'd created a new tab page of simplicity and unobtrusiveness. A neutral color, a few favorite topic quick links, and a search bar. A healthy, balanced diet that won't flip me on my head.

Five Basic Steps to Feeding Yourself Better:

Step one: Identify and acknowledge the issue/poor habit. Identify and acknowledge triggers that make it more likely to follow and act upon hat negative thing.

Step two: Contemplate and acknowledge how the issue/habit impacts your life and those around you.

Step three: Make a plan to make changes and to develop healthier habits.

Step four: Ask a responsible, healthy and trusted friend to help keep you accountable.

Step five: Act on your plan and check in with your accountability partner. with your progress.

It won't always be rose petals and fresh spring rolls. Sometimes it will be thorns and soggy, reheated take-out. (In other words, there will be relapses and "Are you still watching?" messages.)

However... you can reset. And, the effort of making better choices and building better habits for yourself will be worth it sooner than you may believe right now, especially while those 2020 residuals might still be threatening your 2021 resolutions. Your better actions will not only positively impact yourself, but those around you. And that's a pretty good reason for inhabiting healthier habits and filling your time, home, body, mind and heart with all around betterments.

Philippians 4:8 NIV

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.