HalfroMacro–Intensity Dial

Each of us can relate to a deadline approaching, an impending exam, a project in need of fixing, so we panic, drink up some caffeine, and blaze onto the scene. Is this how you respond? Or is this how the ‘old you’ responds? Was there a period in your life when you responded differently, in a more balanced way? I am a graduate student, and this year, we have an average of one test per week. I’m in my second year, and through the last string of final exams and projects, I have become acutely aware of the difference in my approach last year and my approach this year (last year having been un-macro, this year macro).  The halfro in me is so thankful for easing into the macrobiotic lifestyle, finding balance in each step, and keeping the progress in a forward direction.

For me, it took this long to gracefully transition into macrobiotics and sense for myself how my body can feel. As much as I had tried before this, I couldn’t read it in a book, then go whole-hog and be successful. I needed to ease in, feel better, and have my own determination to continue. Then I needed to stop a moment, like I did yesterday afternoon, and say “woah, I do feel better. I do have energy. I do feel the yin and the yang. I do have conscious splurges, and they do make me feel icky.”

I am pleased to say that I am witnessing the difference in my intensity and energy. I have always read about it, dreamed about it, and hoped that it would happen to me. I am finding that my energy has definitely balanced out, yet it’s only obvious when I inspect it.

Here are the main things that I notice: I don’t stay up all night before tests, I am able to find energy from within myself instead of in a cup of coffee. I don’t freak out. My heart doesn’t race. Even when my final is within the hour, I go outside and bask in the sun while I look over the last bit of material.

Now: while these are all fabulous adjustments for my overall health, but I admit that I used to feed off of the fear of a final. The fear was amplified by the pounding in my chest.  A little bit of irrational fear drove me to study my brains out. So as an even-energied macro, I find myself staring blankly at my notes at time, with no impending doom.  I have even gotten to the point some evenings of shrugging my shoulders and saying, “the Universe is calling me to sleep, not cram, so I will sleep.”  My intensity dial has changed, and with its change there also needs to be balance to get the work done that needs to be done, and get the sleep that needs to be slept.

So this is me: excited and ready to delve into the philosophy of macrobiotics after having noticed the difference in my energy balance and mindset.  Yin and yang, here we come.

So todays post comes with two points: find your own way and more than anything, make it a conscious journey and exploration of your energy balance.  I know that we all find our own way into macrobiotics. We each find our missteps out of macrobiotics. We find our own distasteful mistakes on recipes, and our own favorite obscure vegetables. But this is me after 3 solid months of macro, heading into the Christmas season that I am no longer frightened will derail me, telling you to be patient and find your own way. And you will be so glad that you have.