My Childhood
My upbringing was both difficult and blessed.
I grew up in a working class household.
Our parents insisted on education to make our way in the world.
My mother was very loving.
As for my father...
we had a difficult relationship.
He was volatile.
I don't know what he'd be diagnosed with today.
I'm also oblivious to what he went through growing up himself, moving from India to England in the 1960's.
Culturally, the UK was a different place back then.
One thing I never lacked at home was food.
I'd fine solace from his rages and my loneliness through binge eating, drinking but also reading, writing and watching.
My ambitions fell off, and I was led onto a path of overeating and drinking...
My ADULTHOOD
From the bad, to worse, to better.
As a workaholic IT Architect, I wasn’t prioritising my health.
I had a professional purpose, belonging, responsibility and control, but my well being was suffering.
Multi-tasking and decision-fatigue, be it home, work, or the pub, was common and
I’d reach for binge food and drink to comfort the stress.
Think pizzas, beer, chocolates, shots, fizzy drinks, packets of biscuits, two or three whole dinner plates.
Over time I was getting heavier and bigger.
I was failing the societal and family expectations; expectations of "work hard and don’t be a sissy."
“Don’t care about yourself, it’s SELFISH.”
My mind had hardened those thoughts into priorities; it was working against me.
My dynamic was poorly balanced food, sleep, and thinking, and my body was taking the brunt.
Getting around the football pitch was no joke any more.
Skin and gut problems also developed, and my sleep became erratic.
On the surface my work was ‘just fine’. I was performing, yes, but the joy had long since been strangled out of it. I was just grinding metal.
I mostly suffered in silence.
I also cushioned my ‘failings’ in gallows humour or self-deprecating jibes..
There were periods of eating rigidly well for weight loss but I would slingshot back.
Yet another football injury forced me to seek gentle exercise.
Will power alone wasn’t cutting it.
Spiralling Downwards
Deeper problems swirled.
The most severe were relationship issues.
I lost connection with people I held very dear.
Then, my father passed away.
He had suffered from diabetes, heart disease, had heart attacks and a triple bypass, and high blood pressure.
I looked in the mirror.
A bell tolled.
An Evolution
Desperation. And finally reaching out.
Cycles of bingeing intensified.
My partner encouraged me to get help.
She was worried about me but I wasn’t ready to hear that.
Out of desperation, I swallowed my pride and contacted a life coach.
The progress was tricky and slow at first,
but over time this has opened to progress I couldn’t even have imagined.
My emotional state has been freed from the onslaught of misaligned internal and external expectations.
Having integrated mind-balancing meditation more deeply,
I now sustain healthy habits, weight balance, and free thinking.
Discovering Yoga
Through my journey, I also discovered the art of yoga. The stretches made my body feel great.
The benefits compelled me to qualify as a teacher, such as improved relaxation, increased energy, pain relief, and injury avoidance elevate my life.
I learned so much about the mind-body connection through allied meditation: deep and joyful wisdom.
The Deepest Joys
My most valued benefits have been my improved relationships and keeping my good humour.
My physical health and sleep quality are also great.
The difference is night and day.
Helping Others
Compassion for the same struggle in others, especially men 45yrs+, has driven me to give others a transformational life-boost.
I have trained, studied and succesfully inspired hundreds to find the right progress for them.
I coach natural
health and wellbeing improvements.
Are you struggling to make a breakthrough?