My new computer is lots faster than my old one, and it had been several years since my last upgrade. It seems the last few years I’ve had to learn some major new software programs, one after another. It can be frustrating, but I love to learn new things, so it’s always worth it. One program I love to work with is Photoshop! I’ve been learning to edit photos in Photoshop 7.0 and it’s great fun to tweak a face to brighten an eye or smooth a frownline. Working like that is a great way for me to ease into a meditative, contemplative state. I contemplated the implications of ‘tweaking the physical form’ and it came to me that it’s just another one of our bodies and aren’t we tweaking one or another of them all the time?
We tweak the mental body during intellectual pursuits, and when we learn to organize our thoughts and use language to our advantage.
We tweak the astral body when we learn to manage our emotional responses and learn to act and react consciously in the physical world.
We tweak the energy body by doing exercises to experience nonphysical energy, such as breathwork, chakra clearing, running energy, and by altering our brain chemistry when we reach altered mind states via meditation, prayer and creative visualization.
We tweak the spiritual body by contemplating the implications and consequences of our actions, and learning from our mistakes, by reaching out to those in need and practicing the Presence.
So the physical form is just another one of our bodies, and is only a fraction of who we are. It was a great help to me to begin to think of my physical body more as a vehicle and treating it like that.
I use all sorts of shortcuts to trick myself into changing my beliefs about something. The vehicle image helped me begin to make good decisions about what kind of fuel and maintenance are most efficient for my optimum performance.
I was heavier from 1997 til 2004, a period of time I gave more attention to my astral body and let my physical body tend to itself. Bad move. I’ve always liked to stretch and enjoy doing yoga each day. In Salinas, California ten years ago, living in a small condo with room inside to do only minimal yoga postures, and no yard, I let myself gain 40 pounds. Aaugh!
After 8 months, I returned home and was able to finally do the inverted (shoulder stand, etc.) postures I so missed in California. But upon my return, I found my tummy was suddenly in the way! My tummy! Where did that come from?? I really was surprised. I didn’t notice it was happening. I didn’t pay much attention and I wore baggie clothes out there. My partner never mentioned it (smart guy!) so it never occurred to me to address it.
So when I began thinking of the physical body dispassionately as a vehicle, I found it easier to let go of the bulk once I thought of it in terms of how it impacted my manueverability and personal-space-freedom. Like I don’t want to drive a car I feel cramped in or sit in a chair I feel stuffed in. I like space between the molecules.
After I programmed myself to think of the physical body as a vehicle, I stopped obsessing over ingesting, since food was now seen as fuel. Best trick I ever did for myself. Now I eat what I want and stick to 60 grams of fat or less a day and have been the same weight for the last couple of years. I also discovered I love walking and I feel better and have more energy since I work out on a regular basis.
So this month I’ve learned or been reminded of:
1. I love learning new things (even if I don’t love it at the time).
2. We’re always tweaking one of our bodies, be it physical or nonphysical.
3. The physical form is just another one of our bodies, and is only a fraction of who we are.
4. Beginning to think of my body as a vehicle helped me cure my food cravings and helped me begin to make good decisions about what kind of fuel and maintenance are most efficient for optimum performance.
5. I found it easier to let go of the body bulk once I thought of it in terms of how it impacted my manueverability and personal-space-freedom.
6. I like space between the molecules