Living with passion

I watched Average Joe on the Raw again the other night and was struck by these simple words that Seth Hayhurst stated at the beginning of the film – ” I just want to be shiny.” It’s not that being average was the worst thing in the world for Seth, but the fact that as a young man in his early 30s his body ached, he had no energy, and there was no spark in his life, was more than he was willing to settle for. So he embarked on a 60 day journey to get his ‘shine’ on.

There is no true ‘exercise’ in how to live with passion. It simply starts with making a decision and acting on it. Deciding to make a change, for you, is often the first step in living with passion. It is pivotal when we finally determine that what we need takes precedence. We rarely allow ourselves to be truly selfish. However, no one else knows what you need like you do. And unless you take action no one else will.

I obviously have  a bias. I believe if you feel anything like how Seth was feeling at the beginning of his journey, then approaching change from the inside out will make a difference. It becomes a chain reaction and amazing results flow and accumulate as a result of that one action you take.

Seth had hoped he would change his blood test scores but didn’t realize he would do so, so significantly. However, what did surprise him was the trickle down effect into his improved and richer relationships with others, how more expansively he viewed the world, and how less angry he felt.

If the change you make is systemic, it makes sense that holistically you will begin to impact other areas of your life. What is surprising, is that we become so singular in our focus when we decide to make a change – “I want to lose weight. I want to reduce my blood pressure. I want to exercise more. I want to become more socially active.” We do so, thinking we will tackle one issue and cure ourselves of what ails us, forgetting how intrinsically linked each element of our being is to the next.

If you decide losing weight is your goal, that will alter what you ingest, which will impact positively on health issues (like high blood pressure or diabetes) which will offer you more energy to do things like exercise and be more socially active. Which will begin to alter your focus, provide you with mental and emotional clarity, which will effect personal and professional relationships. Which in turn may suddenly make your job become more tolerable or jump start you to make a professional shift in your life. When it works, it flows. It’s like the flood gates open wide and anything is possible. And suddenly you are living each day with passion. You are living your truth.

Now you may say, you have tried diets before and nothing this transformational happened. And I would suggest it is because you were approaching your diet as a ‘cure’, as a magic pill, as a one off rather than addressing a lifestyle change. It is more inclusive than just eating Lean Cuisine. It means making a conscientious choice to consume health and life giving whole foods. Foods in their natural and pure state that will give back to your body and replenish it. Providing you with the tools required for healing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

If one of your values is related to health and well being, then to live that value to its fullest entails weighing the pros and cons of your dietary choices. For example, it calls into question whether a packaged processed food item is equivalent to health and well being. If there are too many words on the label you can’t pronounce or know the meaning of, an alternative whole food option would honour your value more honestly. Living consciously in the moment. Paying attention to your needs and your values.

Is it time to get your ‘shine’ on? Then reflect on the values that are important to you. Commit to putting some life back into at least one of your values. And then live that value with boundless enthusiasm. Not until you allow yourself to feel intensely what it means to live that value in all its complexities will you truly experience living with passion.

Passionate Green Curry 

• ½ cup dried coconut soaked in ½ cup water for 30 minutes
• 1 lime – juice of lime
• 1 clove garlic grated
• 1 large chunk of fresh ginger grated (equivalent to 1 or 2 Tbsp grated ginger)
• Salt to taste (1/2 to 1 tsp)
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp curry powder (more if you like it hotter)
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 medium zucchini
• A variety of fresh vegetables – peas, cauliflower, green onion, green cabbage
• 1 bag of Kelp Noodles

First Step:
Blend all ingredients except for a variety of fresh vegetables and Kelp Noodles in a blender.

Second Step:
Chop, slice, cut any vegetables but for a green curry the following works well – peas, cauliflower, green onion, green cabbage. Mix in a bowl along with 1 bag of Kelp Noodles.

Third Step:
Pour the green curry sauce over the vegetables and noodles and stir together. Serve in a bowl or on a plate garnished with fresh cilantro or lime. If just using as a salad dressing, keep the sauce on the side to be added as desired.