Digestion goes far beyond what you put in your mouth.
For example, have you ever noticed how much harder it is to take in food when you’re surrounded by clutter and noise? Or how about when you’re in a bad mood?
According to Chinese medicine, your thoughts, emotions, words, and environment all get digested—right along with your soup n’ sandwich. Unfortunately, not everything is as easy to swallow…
We may not be able to make stress and worries magically go away, but there are some things we can do to keep them from ruining a good meal.
One of my favorites ways is a little practice Jas and I call “What’s Going Well,” which we’ve been bringing to our table for over ten years.
It’s pretty simple. One person kicks it off with “What’s going well?” Then each person takes a turn to speak—without interruptions or “helpful” feedback (which we sometimes forget). These are the topics that we enjoy the most, but feel free to add or remove some, however it works for you.
Complete the following sentences:
Something that’s going well is…
Something I’d like to invite more into my life is…
Something I am grateful for is…
Something I acknowledge about [someone you’re dining with] is…
This isn’t idle chit-chat to pass the time away. It’s a conscious shift in thinking that has the power to lift moods, shift perspectives, strengthen relationships, create change, and even improve your digestion.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come to the table grumbling and ruminating on something that was bothering me that day. The thought of having to shift gears and scan my mind for something “positive” felt annoying and inconvenient. Those are the times that I need this practice the most—and it really does work wonders…
By the way, you don’t need to share a meal with someone (or even be eating) to benefit from this. It’s also a great way to just drop in and reconnect with yourself—which is always good for digestion…
Don’t take my word for it though. Try it out yourself and see what happens. I’d love to hear what you notice!