A Matter of Perspective

Adopting a entirely different set of daily rituals allows us to see our "normal" routine in a new light. In a sense, we are forced to actually experience every minute of the day rather than just repeat our normal routine.

I have heard many of us noting how much time we have spent thinking about food or our physical condition as it relates to food. This mindfulness reveals how much of the normal day we pass through on autopilot.

This mindfulness also sounds just like what we are supposed to do when practicing yoga—be aware of our physical and mental sensations. Just as in yoga, we need to calmly observe what is going on without being drawn into the emotional response it sparks.

I'm sure we have all discovered how attached we are to our "normal" routine. Why do we suffer when it is changed? Is the attachment physical or mental? I think we would all agree that it is largely mental.

Once we realize that it is the mind that is attached the routine, and merely because it is familiar, creating a new routine is simply a matter of choice and time. Having made the choice, we can face the challenge with renewed motivation and overcome any obstacles we or others place on our path.

For me at least, this perspective has allowed me to view the challenges created by the Immersion and Cleanse in a new light:

Confronting the mental challenges it creates is just as important as achieving the physical benefits it offers.