“And into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul” John Muir

If you know me, you know that I preach nutrition as a lifestyle, not just what you eat. The Greek word “diata” says it all. The translation of this word is a way of being, a way of life. Our diet is so much more than just the foods we put in our body… it is our environment as a whole…who we surround ourselves with, music, where we live, what we watch, books we read, our thoughts and our mindset. Our thoughts have a direct effect on our body which is why mindset has to be a conversation we have in the nutrition world if we want true healing. 

As many of you know I spent the month of September hiking the John Muir trail. Being in nature for over 3 weeks was a complete brain reset. So many ideas and concepts I have learned were demonstrated to me in a clear and obvious way that simplified things I have been struggling to integrate in my mind and life. 

Nature is clarity. 

While we may not be able to have that clarity each and every minute. There are so many things that the trail taught me and so many ways that it inspired me. All I want to do is share that with you in hopes that my experience resonates with even one person. 

It is so easy for us to spend time in our heads, to over think, to over analyze each and every moment. This is not how our brains are meant to work and in fact when they are operating at their fullest capacity, there is less thought and more stillness. Our mind thinks but our soul knows. Nature is one of the easiest ways to reconnect with your soul, escape your mind, and your ego. This is how to truly be you. 

I went on a different kind of “diet” this past month, one where I was able to eliminate distractions, constant stimulation and completel. The thing is…being removed makes things very black and white. Complex “problems” your ego creates are not present, not even relevant. You have the space to just be you, the real you. 

My goal is not to convince you to go spend a month out in the woods…I get it, it’s not for everyone. It is, however, to truly encourage you to reconsider your “diata”, the impact of both your internal and external environment each and every day. It is so much more than just food and you are in control of it.