Lapse vs Relapse

Thursday * January 3, 2008
MAIN MUSINGS: Some people think that because I’m the creator of Power LivingÂ® I’m somehow perfect. That’s so not true! Well, I take that back. I am a perfect spiritual being. However, sometimes my own physical habits get off-track, particularly during the holiday season or when I go to visit my mom.

Since I know I’ll be vulnerable, I plan ahead. I pack my own rice milk, goat’s milk yogurt, and amazake rice shakes to satisfy my sweet tooth. Unfortunately, this strategy does not always work. This time around I had my share (and many other people’s shares) of fat-ladden egg nog, mint chocolate-chip ice cream, sweet potato pie, sweet potato bisquits, apple pie, etc. (this is not a part of the Crohn’s anti-inflammatory diet by the way!).

On the other hand, I had very healthy collards (seasoned with turkey bacon courtesy of my brother and nephew), some tender turkey (courtesy of mom), brown rice and a dose of my special homemade Cran-Apple Sauce sweetened with orange juice. Also, my nephew and I made the bisquits and pies with gluten-free flour… AND I managed to do 30 minutes on my mom’s treadmill every day while I was there – even on Xmas day! So, I do give myself credit for trying to balance the bad with the good. Nevertheless, despite all of those efforts, I still had to roll myself off of the Long Island Railroad back into Penn Station.

Now I’m completely back on track. This weekend, I made Kale-Barley Soup and a Veggie Rice Pasta dish (since I made up the recipes I’ll have to write them out and post them on the main Power LivingÂ® site). I upped my water intake and committed to an hour of cardio every day, in addition to my regular yoga practice. So, I count this as a lapse versus a relapse. A full five days of all-out war on my normally healthy body. If I had gone one more day like that my jeans were certainly not going to fit. Thank goodness I faced my reality.

At times like this you have to remind yourself that commitment is not a one time thing. It’s a series of choices. If you made bad choices over the last five days (like I had), then start making really good choices today. That’s the value of the Reflect & Review habit I’ve spoken of previously. That’s also the difference between a lapse and a relapse. A lapse is often conscious (I truly enjoyed the egg nog!); a relapse becomes an unconscious affliction on your spirit that leads you to oblivion. It breeds a victim’s mentality (I couldn’t help myself… Oh, yes you could!!) You don’t want to go there!

Remember that Power LivingÂ® is a daily practice - that’s why it’s called a practice. If you go down the wrong path today, then course-correct tomorrow. Don’t use it as an excuse to throw the whole plan out the window. So, today I’ll leave you with these words from Buddha: