Optimism and the raw food lifestyle

[BerryGirl]

After reading this forum and occasionally posting, as well as going to vegetarian, then vegan, then (mostly) raw in a few months, I've realized something about the raw food lifestyle that interests me: its inherent optimism. By eating the way we do, we believe that we can change our bodies and our lives. Additionally, many of us try to buy organic, compost, recycle, etc. which suggests that we believe we can change the condition of the planet as well as ourselves. I was surprised to realize this because I tend to have a more pessimistic outlook on life. Do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist? Have changes in your diet (such as goign raw) changed your life outlook?

[Svadhyaya]

I'm a pessamist by nature, but it makes me feel really positive and full of joy when I make great decisions for my health. In this way, being (mostly) raw has been excellent for my self-esteem and outlook.

The people here are very gentle, understanding, and supportive, too.
I've rarely seen judgment and harshness in my time here.....much different from other forums, even from other raw message boards.

[scott]

Just curious. Why are you guys pessimistic? You have so, so much potential to do so many wonderful things with your lives.
I hope that this lifestyle change breeds much internal strength and optimism for you.

Scott

[gatorgrrl]

I tend to always look on the brighter sides of things. That is why I think I discovered this lifestyle. For me, I knew the conventional medicine could not be the only way to help me, in fact through trial and error it has let me down. I knew something out there would be key for me to have better health. I am already very positive of a bright future now and in the new world.

[Svadhyaya]

I did not have a positive childhood experience and became very cynical at a young age. I've suffered from depression almost my whole life - sometimes it is worse than others, but always there hanging like a cloud.

I don't really like the world I live in very much - I love the beautiful earth, the creatures on it, and the people who live here (individually) but people make such a mess and things are so screwed up - wars, government, greed....I guess if I were God I'd nuke the whole place and begin again.

I don't like knowing that some people are starving and others (inculding me) get to live in relative luxury. I don't like the meat and dairy industries who are so greedy and cruel to the animals, and I don't like people choosing to be blind to it all because it's more comfortable to not see than to see.

Thanks SO VERY MUCH for caring and wishing me/us well. :)

It's hard to say what makes people who they are. I know I've always longed to be sunnier and happier. When I was younger I was called Wednesday (as in "Wednesday's child is full of woe.") I actually was born on a Wednesday, too, so maybe there's something to that little rhyme. If so, it would be cool to be Monday's child (pretty) or Friday's child (loving and giving.) :p

[gatorgrrl]

sorry but that reminded me of Wednesday Adams. I always liked her.

[Svadhyaya]

I love her, too, and wish I had her long, pretty, dark hair!
She was so much more fun at camp than that boring, mean old blonde girl....

[Denise Nicole]

pessamist here

[Rawkinlocs]

I think I can be a little of both...but mainly optimist. I tend to believe that if you look for the negative, you will most likely find it and vice versa!

So, I try very hard to have an optimistic outlook on things as much as I can...but sometimes it's hard depending on what the situation is.

For example, when we moved from MI to WA, we drove and our cargo van kept popping tires because we had too much stuff in there. Finally, 3 tires and around $600 or so later, we were advised to rent a UHAUL truck and divide our belongings up. Now, my husband looked at it in a pessimistic way saying that it cut into a huge chunk of our finances we had saved. But I told him that while it wasn't the most pleasant experience and YES, we could have definitely used that money for something better, I saw it as a BLESSING that we even HAD to begin with or else we would have been some stranded folks out in Nebraska somewhere. He agreed! :)

But I don't think it started with being raw...my husband and I made the decision to have a more positive outlook on things and on life before raw came into the picture...I think most of it has to do with our spirituality and our beliefs more than anything and just observing and examining our lives and how your outlook on things or how you handle stressful situations can sometimes make you have to only go through it again later! At least that's been OUR experience!

[Denise Nicole]

I own my own business and have to plan for worst case senario so a plan is always in place. Being in some sort of ownership or managerial postion most of my life has made me understand how important this is.

Beyond that I am a very unlucky person, not in the sense that I haven't been truly blessed with food, shelter, children etc. In the sense that "if it can go wrong it will". I will hit every light, every day, no kidding it is a totally amazement to my DH and children. My phone will break even new, my car will be the one with issues even thoug I have always taken very good care of it. I will get in the longest line, my order is always wrong, my motel will lose my reservations, the utility company will double bill me, etc, etc. My best friend once said she has never in her life seen anything like it. I have never nor ever will win a drawing or the lottery (so I don't gamble). So I have to be prepared, because I already know the score. I pissed someone off in the last life and am blessed enough to have the life I have, but nothing will ever be handed to me on a silver platter, I will have to work my butt of for it....and so I do. :)

[Conscious Midwife]

HYPER OPTIMIST,

I was the kind of child who you could give a bag of horse sh*t to and I would be in there tearing a part the bag looking for the pony :p :D


My teen just commented that I am tragically idealistic thus producing her, the overly pragmatic :confused:

which lends one to think that maybe I am a product of an overly cynical pessimistic mother!!! :mad:

My partial rawness Yields and ache and pain free ( reduced uric acid) happier being... ME

SO YEH I'm Cool, feeling better everyday :)

:D :D :D typing away with my rose tinted contact on !

[rawpriestess]

I am neither, I may look like an optomist to many, however I believe that what we put energy into increases in our life,and what we allow to be released, and not put energy into, decreases in our life,


so I look for the good in all things, and thus I see the good, I am sure if I chose to look for the bad or challenging things, I'd find them too.

I only allow positive, beautiful energy into my life, by only focusing my attention on that which I wish to manifest more of in my life.

[lissomllama]

That's a big yes for me. I used to be VERY pessimisitc and since going raw I have become quite the optimist. I do occasionally slip back but that's usually in response to outside factors and I may never be 100% happy go lucky but raw has made a significant difference, that's for sure. These days I am constantly reassuring myself and telling myself that all is well, rather than worrying all the time and ruining my own life. Raw is really becoming a cure all for me. It's remarkable. It's such a no-brainer, I'm shocked at the secrets that are hidden in such a basic way of living.

[Svadhyaya]

"I was the kind of child who you could give a bag of horse sh*t to and I would be in there tearing a part the bag looking for the pony"

lifeAgift.....this is just great!
Bless you for being so full of joy.

[jenna rose]

I was a little of both before going raw and after raw. The things I was pessimistic about and optomistic about just changed.

[robertandenith]

I was at some point a pessimist back when I was single and waiting for my prince to rescue me haha!

ok, on a more serious tone. I am now the more optimistic enthusiastic person as can be. Everything started since my first daughter was born. Even if things go wrong, I still keep my positive attitude. I always say, there is a reason for things to happen, something really good may come up from this experience. And it's true. Also, remember, you will attract things by your emotions, feelings, thoughts, etc. If you feel positive, you will see positive things in your life. The more positive you feel and the more positive you are, your life will turn that way and you will be filled with positive vibes. Mind over matters, that's what I always say :) I always say yes (well I try most of the times lol), always say half full not half empty, always say I will not maybe, things like that. I think raw lifestyle has given even more of that optimistic attitude, I feel great, my body feels great and I wish I could be contagious! :p :D :o :)

[Lady Green Jeans]

Die-hard optimist here. I was 100% raw and loving it. Feeling and looking better and--WHAM! I weakened and satisified a mashed potato craving. Did not stay 100% for the last couple months. I am now back on track 100% for just two days and feeling a very big difference in my mood, attitude, stamina (still recouping from the awful flu going around), and lifting of depression.

Does raw make a difference? My vote says--BIG TIME.

[chilove]

I am so much more optimistic and happy about things in general and personal stuff since I became 100% raw. I used to be somewhat negative and just not very happy in general. Now I actually look forward to my day and feel optimistic about the future, no matter what it might hold. It is amazing. It is one of the improvements that I like the best about raw.

Take care!

Audrey

[akh78749]

I'd have to say I am a pessimist. It can be ugly. But I constantly fight and stuggle with my negative emotions. What I have found is that is very difficult to be happy and positive when I have toxins coursing through my veins. A raw lifestyle helps purge these poisions, and thus the negative emotions out of my system. It has taken me years to learn that healthy eating and exercising is the panacea for my health and happiness. I have stubbornly ignored people that told me that's what I needed and that I am so much happier when I do it. If only I had listened sooner, I could have saved myself a lot of pain.

I love the way the raw diet makes me feel. It's like I am a completely different person - happier, nicer, more patient and loving. The negative, nasty me just cannot reside inside this body when I am raw. Hopefully it will stay that way. :)

A.

[dreamrawalwz]

raw has definitely changed my perspective. I was in a deep depression for about 7 years strait and the day i went 100% raw i was soo much happier. I didn't worry about the future or anything. I'm trying to live for each and every day and take it as it comes.

[cornvalley]

It's certainly easier to be positive when eating raw foods and just doing healthy activities in general, they kind of feed :D off each other.
But an interesting POV from anthropology is that, because the world humans evolved from was such a dangerous place the mind is constantly aware of things that may do us harm even though most of us are quite safely tucked in a cozy way of life. It's funny when you realize how wonderful life is when you've got it all but still worry about the smallest details that are quite inconsequential to your overall well being.

[lodestar]

i find it difficult to be negative when my heart is thankful...and there is sooo much to be thankful for :)

[GoddessInTheRough]

I just want to add a little tip in this thread on how to get green lights or to move lines faster. I drive in the Seattle area. (That should tell you I drive in a place of constant madness.) Most of the time I take backroads and enjoy the scenery, but whenever I want to move really bad bottlenecks I do these things:
1) Get out some clear nail polish. Start to polish a nail. Before I can finish, people will move. If that doesn't work, I switch to a really ugly shade.
2) I bring along a very short magazine article. I circle a long paragraph and say in a voice as natural as possible (so as not to let the Cosmos get the wiser), "Oh, gee, I hope I can be in a traffic jam today. I really must read this little article." For really big jams I add, "This is really crucial to my success and happiness."

As for getting through the boredom of standing in line, get people to talk about their sex life. For some reason, the time flies. :p

And finally, for people who are pessimists: There is no such thing. You are only a depressed optimist. And there is nothing more depressing than an unhappy optimist. It's enough to make anyone pessimistic. Therefore, stop thinking you can control life. If you have a day planner, a business plan, an IRA and the words "light" or "dark" marked on your laundry drawers, then you have done all you can. The rest is up to Forrest Gump and a box of chocolates.