Strength for Life

On Oscar’s Impact

I don’t watch much TV these days (with the exception of my stock of Tivo’d Seinfeld episodes) but like millions of Americans I too tuned in to the Academy Awards last night. Far from an extraordinary year in film, yet I still find something magical about the pomp and circumstance of this annual Hollywood ritual.

I get that celebrities can be “interesting” people in so many ways—that by in large we tend towards an unhealthy relationship with them as we use them to project our own greatness on—and that they have all manner of issues, varying from serious to silly. But then again, whom among us wouldn’t look a little scary around the edges with a couple hundred (or thousand) camera’s shoved up our skirts?

All that aside and for all that may be wrong with so many of these people, there’s one underlying truth they all have in common: They impact a lot of people. And even the most self centered, ego maniacal of them must still know, feel and at moments be in awe of this impact. For the measure of one’s impact on the world (which is ultimately what we are here for and what we all seek albeit in various disguised forms) is a matter of both the Depth of one’s affect on others and the Span—the number of people we affect.

It’s about doing the greatest good for the largest number of people. That’s impact.

All bias out, that’s what actors, directors, producers and all the people who make the magic of movies come to life do...

When Your Body is Wiser Than Your Mind

We humans do value our minds—that higher capacity and intelligence which separates us from animals. Why not… it’s at once our ego, our sense of control, our superiority, our world.

So captivated by our codependent relationship with mind, many (if not most) people have long sense relegated their body to a second grade citizen—akin to the crazy aunt we park in the basement. It’s handy for utilitarian uses but otherwise we ignore it in favor of the mental-monologue.

While this common approach to living from the shoulders up can fail us in many ways, none may be more readily visible and serious than in our eating. For the mind is tricky thing—it’s smart and it learns and when our sole relationship with life is via our mind we’re extremely vulnerable to its trickery.

When it comes to eating—fueling your life energy—my advice is to take a step towards freedom and tune in to your body and out of our mind when eating for your body craves nutrition, your mind stimulation.