The 30 Day Whole Life Cleanse
30 Days of the Cleanest Living I've Ever Done!
Welcome to the first big thing I’m going to do here on Substack and definitely one of the biggest things I’ve ever done for my personal health in real life.
What is a Whole Life Cleanse?
“Those who consider the unessential to be essential, and see the essential as unessential, don’t reach the essential, living in the field of wrong intention.”
— Buddha
Rooted in Buddhism as well as a number of other philosophies is the emphasis of the mind over the body. You give your body what it needs and only what it needs. From there you reclaim energy you might have otherwise wasted on physical excesses or diversions and refocus your efforts on your spiritual, emotional, and conscious self.
Why Such a Dramatic Change?
This undertaking sounds crazy, I know. About three (3) years ago I would’ve felt the same way. My family and I have gone through a lot of serious shit the last three (3) years. With all of it comes a choice:
“Get busy living or get busy dying”
— Andy Dufresne (Shawshank Redemption)
Turbulence in anyone’s life offers a choice; curl up into a ball and sing ‘Woe is Me’ or identify the opportunity that is presented to you when things you always took for granted are taken away or destroyed. The freedom in the latter is often missed or completely overshadowed by the pain and feelings of loss that come with such events. But if you have the presence of mind to see it and embrace it, the results can be life changing for the positive.
I have lived a lot of my life out of balance. For various reasons that I’ll probably expound upon throughout this series. The results of that imbalance have led to physical, emotional, and spiritual deficits that I am only now beginning to grasp the full extent of.
This cleanse is an attempt to get my mind and body back to its’ base state. A state of health and balance that focuses on the essential and removes the unessential. A place from which I can begin to fully realize health and happiness without the noise and negative complications that come with all of the unhealthy habits and choices that effect me everyday.
What Gets Removed?
The basics of physical and spiritual life are just that, basic. The next thirty (30) days will include only what I need to live a healthy life. Everything else that isn’t essential will be removed:
Alcohol
Nicotine
Caffeine (AHHHHHH!!!!!!)
Pharmaceuticals
Processed Foods (Sugar, White Flour, Seed Oils, Chemical Additives, etc)
Television & Movies
Social Media Surfing and Posting (only exception made for this endeavor of course)
Video Games
I’m sure I missed a bunch and will add them in future posts as I encounter them…’
What Stays or Gets Added?
Water & Herbal Tea
Vitamins and Supplements (There’ll be a post about how I go about determining which and when)
Whole foods, minimally processed (fruits, vegetables, cleanly produced eggs, whole grains other than flour, etc.)
Physical Activity (walking in nature, running, yoga, working out, playing with the kids and dogs, and work around the house)
8 hours of restful sleep each night (10 pm - 6 am)
Meditation (1-2 times per day)
Cold Showers (daily); and yes the warm ones for cleanliness
Hot baths (think sweat lodge)
Journalling and Substacking (is that a word yet?)
Launching a second Substack (The Anarchist Investor)
Relaunching the Ungovernable Podcast
Other items/activities I may add as the month progresses
My Goals
A greater feeling of physical health & alertness
Reduced inflammation in my digestive tract and generally whole body
Greater understanding of why I fell into the unhealthy behaviors I have
Deeper knowledge about who I am and what ‘lights me up’
Focus and Clarity on my future path personally and professionally
How to Follow:
Subscribe here to get daily updates on the more in-depth issues I am working through and deeper insights into the process
Follow on twitter for more real-time updates and specifics throughout the journey
How Can You Help?
Comment and include yourself in the journey. Feedback, encouragement and recommendations are always appreciated.
And Please Share!