There is a simple principle in life that I am learning makes the difference for me of feeling HAPPY... Gratitude! A" Gratitude Attitude" is freedom to find something good in everything! Pollyanna was one of my favorite movies as a little girl because she lived the simple principle of being GLAD. Remember her "Glad Game"? She could find something to be glad about in good times and in her trials. What a great lesson... choose to be "Glad" in all things.
(D&C 59:7 "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.")
I want to share how gratitude has become a part of my eating healthy. We live in a very abundant world and we pretty much can have whatever food or treat we want, whenever we want it, and yet we still act like this might be the last time we ever see that treat or food again. We can learn to be selective in our choices and not indulge every time.
When we take control of our eating habits and we know what is good for our body, we can make good choices for ourselves. We don't need to accept the quantity of big portions, or eat something out of obligation to others. We can chose what is best for our bodies and feel good about our choices. Knowing how to eat 6 small balanced meals each day helps our bodies maintain optimal health. What a blessing to have so much healthy food options available to us. Yes, there are healthy choices almost everywhere we go now days.
My favorite section of modern day scripture is D&C 89, the "Word of Wisdom". It is "a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weakest of all saints" (v.3). The Lord has given us seasonal herbs and fruit (v.11,16), flesh to be used sparingly (v.12), and grain for the use of man (v.14-17). He has warned us against consuming wine and strong drinks (v.5), tobacco (v.8) and hot drinks (v.9). When we are obedient to this commandment, we are given the promises of health (v.18), wisdom, knowledge and hidden treasures (v.19), strength in the body (v.20) and protection from Satan (v.21).
To me, this is where our eternal spiritual souls and physical bodies connect. When we obey the principle of healthy eating, using the food the Lord has blessed us with, we can immediately feel His blessing in our physical body. I have felt a greater joy, happiness, peace, health, strength in body and strength in wiser choices. His goodness and mercy can be felt by all who humbly turn their will power over to the Savior and allow Him to be the Master "healer"of their body. I have felt the protection from Satan as "my will power" has changed to "I Will Be Obedient" power. (See my previous post "Will Power")
To turn this principle into action, I simply choose my food mindfully and wisely and with a grateful attitude, I thank Heavenly Father for the food I will eat. A prayer of thanksgiving for my food allows me time to express gratitude for what I have, and in return, I have been blessed with a greater satisfaction and nourishment from what I eat and the ability to "run and not be weary, and walk and not faint"(D&C 89:20).
