A Passion for Paleo and Profits (Part 1)

I am completely passionate about eating paleo and about creating profits in my business. Both of these lead to an experience of prosperity - a physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
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Today, part 1 is focused on paleo, which you will discover is a lifestyle.

Part 1: Paleo.
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I have a constant, innate desire to nurture my body and to nourish it with the best I can offer it in the moment. Every time I am in overwhelm or struggle, I go back to my wellbeing, and it begins with paying more attention to my body. Being in my body, helps me calm my mind... without doing anything about it.

It is presence and engagement which allow me to rest in the mind.

Why do I love paleo so much?

Read below for some curated content!

SEVEN WAYS A PALEO LIFESTYLE CAN BRING MORE MEANING INTO YOUR LIFE

While I am not advocating a Paleo diet for you here, I was blown away to find out that it is a lifestyle, rather than a way to eat. Here is what I learned from an article written by Brad Rudner in an issue of Paleo Magazine, in the summer of 2016.

I find that what is most important here is the philosophy and how it helps us put into place the sustainable success elements for the life and business we desire. I believe no matter how you choose to eat, you will benefit from this lifestyle piece.

Appreciate your food.

This is not simply a prescription for a particular diet or macronutrient ratio, but a stance for finding a healthy relationship with your food. Like in any healthy relationship, you need to actually know your food and understand where it comes from. Beyond the nutrition that fuels you, the psychological and spiritual significance of choosing food that is raised and grown well is empowering.

Whether it’s conscious or not, eating foods that travel far distances, that are farmed inhumanely and that put profit ahead of people leads to denial, guilt or ignorance. When you embrace the value of food as a way to connect you to the organism of the Earth, you transcend the notion of food as something you just put in your mouth and forget about. When food becomes a potent connection to life, you will have awoken, and this makes healthy choices even easier.

Paleo philosophy in practice: Be aware of the food you eat and be mindful when you eat it. Think about what you’re eating while you’re eating it. If this particular food turns you off, maybe that food isn’t right for you. If you can’t grow your own food (we all can probably at least maintain a small basil plant in the window), get as close to knowing a local farmer or provider as you can. It empowers you and enriches your meals.

Move like a human.

Ever watch a child play? That’s how humans are supposed to move. They explore their movement potential, and their movement is not defined by what they want to be (a runner, a football player, a golfer, etc). Unfortunately, as humans age, many of us give up on climbing trees, running sporadically in nonlinear ways, or trying strange new ways to move our bodies. If you’ve given up sports altogether, you might only move in a very limited way, like jogging in a straight line for X miles. If you’re doing this on a treadmill, that’s even more limited. While there’s nothing wrong staying fit any way you can, especially with time so scarce, breaking out of overused movement patterns not only increases your overall fitness levels but also helps you avoid becoming rigid and machine-like.

Paleo philosophy in practice: Pick new ways to explore movement beyond the activities you do. If you have kids, follow them around and play with them on their terms. Not only will you become more agile and develop little-used muscles, but you might just feel younger, too.

Note: Be patient with this transition. If you’ve been rigid in your movement for too long, it will take time to expand your planes of movement significantly. If you don't have kids, take a recess and don’t go to the gym; instead, go explore the natural playground nearest to you.

Value rest and sleep.

Being busy is like a drug. “No pain, no gain” has become a trophy of strength in our culture. Our society dismisses the notion of true recovery, relaxation and rest. Nighttime is not respected and sleep is condemned as a waste of time. 

Brad Rudner says, “Without sleep, there are no dreams.” We are humans, not machines. All living things have cycles and need rest. Taking from one ebb impacts the flow, and this can only last so long until things start to break down. Don’t just grudgingly approach sleep as a necessity, embrace it as an opportunity to renew and be whole. With the right quantity and quality of rest, you open up doors to push harder when you really need to. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself burnt out one day, unable to do what you want to.
.. and FYI, this will impact your profits!

Paleo philosophy in practice: Build in defined parameters for rest, i.e., bedtime. Let the light be your guide as much as possible. Get some natural light as soon as possible in the morning and avoid artificial (especially blue) light as much as possible after sunset. You will become more in sync with the rhythms of your location on this planet.

Create energy.

As humans, we have an amazing capacity to establish long-term goals. We can build toward something. We can determine outcomes by maintaining focused energy toward these goals. Without ignoring point 3 above, rise to the occasion by the sheer will of your consciousness. You have a choice in bringing positivity, hope, gratitude, and a belief that you can make a difference to every situation. Do it. Understanding your power to affect change could be the most profoundly freeing notion in a world where it’s too easy to feel insignificant and at the whims of forces beyond us.

Paleo philosophy in practice: Avoid the victim mentality. When you have negative thoughts and feel wronged, push these things away and establish an action plan to improve your situation. Acknowledge you still have breath in your lungs so you can think, speak and act in ways to make your world a better place. Do this regularly and your world will be a better place.

Connect on every level.

We are more disconnected from nature than ever before. We spend more time in front of screens, in mechanized vehicles and protected from the elements than any previous generation did. While there are great comforts and luxuries available today, they can make us believe we are something separate from the world we live in. We are “connected” online, but not connected to so many other things that feed our sense of self. As long as we pretend who we are is defined by the borders of our physical bodies, we miss out on understanding our deeper nature and selves.

Paleo philosophy in practice: Unplug and actually be present with people, pets, plants and the changing weather. Take a hike in the rain. Leave your phone and go for a walk on a trail with a friend. Feel cold, and don’t rush to correct the situation. Break out of automation and connect to nature, people, emotions and anything else that feeds you as being part of the living world.

Protect nature.

This is your future and your children’s future. We won’t destroy the Earth — we will just make it uninhabitable. To think that we have infinite resources to support an arrogance that has cost humanity time and time again. We have allowed unsustainable practices to perpetuate for too long, and we are all affected by it.

 We can aid the planet for the better of all life, or we can be selfish, fail to protect nature and suffer greatly. Either way, it’s time to act like many of our ancestors did and show a respect for the gifts of nature. The Constitution of the Iroquois Nations: The Great Binding Law upholds the practice of considering seven generations ahead, about 140 years, when making all decisions. Doing this would dramatically change our relationship with nature and the impact of our actions upon it.

 I’m sure you’ve noticed the increased cost of food, the droughts, wildfires, clear-cut logging, over-hunting and over-fishing, and the discarding of foods just because they aren’t “marketable.” This is unacceptable and cannot continue.

Paleo philosophy in practice: Vote with your dollars by buying local, and supporting ethical farmers and sustainable practices. Let your voice be heard in the face of abuses of the environment. Sign petitions. Donate your time or money. Make an effort in your own life to minimize waste and maximize sustainability. However small it seems, it all makes a difference.

Transcend time.

By choosing to live fully and passionately, by embracing the principles laid out above, you can become present in your life and in the world around you. You will not live in regret of something that has passed because you are striving to act better now. You will not live in fear of the disappointments of the future, because you are striving to act better now.

 This way you will live with purpose, integrity and meaning. Time will bend for you. You will accomplish more and be more satisfied by your efforts. You will avoid watching the clock or fear running out of time. In the words of Mark Twain, “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”



Paleo philosophy in practice: Each day, set out with a priority that will move you one step closer to your goal; no laundry lists, just one thing. Get it done, each day, again and again, and you will achieve greatness. Humans have walked across continents, so choose your “continent” and take step after step toward it. Don’t worry about perfection — it’s the process that counts.

Join me for Part 2 to read about profits, our essential business component. You will discover that whereas we usually think we need to make the money first (an outside activity), you most likely need to be in your wellbeing first (an internal presence).