I have always told other people with pride that I have no difficulty making changes. I embrace change. I proudly conjure many examples of why this is true: I have lived in many different states (Washington DC, New York, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Texas, Washington, Puerto Rico, California). I even lived overseas for six months while on a sabbatical.

I have also worked in many different jobs (Navy Officer, County Manager, Assistant Secretary of State, Professor, Business Owner). I even attended a healing school for four years. Now all of this evidence certainly sounds like I embrace change. You are convinced. Right?

Wrong. When I dig deep down inside myself, I have to admit that I hate change. I love living in the same house. I love driving down the same streets. I love seeing the same neighbors. I love eating the same foods. I love doing yard work in the same way every week. I love my routines.

OK. I admit it. I have have been lying to myself all these years. When our bodies begin to send out signals that something is out of balance (like with neurological symptoms)
it means that changes of some type or form are indicated. Worse, chances are good that changes we need to make in our life style are changes that deep down we do not want to make.

  1. We know we should make the changes.
  2. We say will will make the changes.
  3. But we do not change.

Perhaps I no longer should be eating certain foods that are bad for my body.
I have a variety of cleaver rationales that supports my decisions to continue my same
bad eating habits. My arguments seem quite logical to me. I use them to convince myself that I have the right to continue eating the food that I love.

Why?

  • I deserve it.
  • I have to learn how to give to myself.
  • I have to learn to receive.
  • I need a break from the stresses of the day.
  • Bla Bla. Bla. 

Believe me when I say that my list is endless.

When I personally eat dairy, my intestines become bloated. I look like Santa Clause. My entire digestive system shouts our in horror. Inflammation throughout the tissues of my body abounds. I feel absolutely lousy for days on end.

And I still do it? Hello.

Here is the truth of it all. When all is said and done, if you or I or anyone wants to feel
better when our symptoms flare (and everyone has unpleasant symptoms from time to time) we have to change our bad habits. Yes. it can be difficult to figure out what changes are necessary. But something has to change about the way we have been living, eating, moving, laughing and working.

  • Perhaps the exercise we have been doing is not right for our bodies.
  • Perhaps we have wrongly convinced ourselves that exercise is bad for us.
  • Perhaps we need to move our bodies but prefer the couch instead.
  • Perhaps our body is allergic to some of the food we love to eat but because we have been eating the same food since we were kids, we refuse to eat something else. 
  • Perhaps we are eating dead food that is rotting the insides out of our intestines.
  • Perhaps we are surrounded with people who vomit a deadly sense of negativity which drives us into the valley of depression day in and day out.

There are certainly an endless list of possibilities here. The bottom line is this: If I do not make some changes in my life, the symptoms of fatigue and depression that I have experienced from time to time will continue to linger.

The argument I have for you today is simple. If you are currently feeling lousy for whatever reason – some type of change is indicated. Something has to be added into your life or something needs to be taken away.

It is one thing to understand what changes are needed to feel better. It is another to institute the changes on a permanent basis. I suspect I am no different from most folks. I continue to struggle with making permanent changes to my eating habits.

I know what I should be eating, but do I? Sometimes. I know what I should not be eating. Do I avoid it? Sometimes.

What is needed is all the time. You now know all about my own resistance to making changes that will make me a healthier, stronger man. What are your truths? No one is listening to your thoughts right now. Why not be honest with yourself? Do you resist change too?

A big step toward making the changes that are critical to reverse troublesome symptoms is to take the first step. Acknowledge resistance to change. There. I have taken just this step myself. And, I am now more determined than ever to stop eating sugar.

What about you? What change are you making to your life today? Ah – too busy to even think about answering this question? My case rests and I am not even a lawyer.

Robert Rodgers, PhD
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease
www.parkinsonsdisease.me