Dear Friend,

Every morning I make dabba for my kids and tea for my wife Aarti. She is a pilates instructor and has clients coming in by 7am. I am the tea maker.

Have you seen what happens when you let a cup of tea sit for a few minutes unstirred? It forms a layer of 'malai' - a thin skin that forms on the surface of the liquid. Some people love it, some people hate it.

That layer is formed from the molecules of fat and other particulars suspended in the tea itself. It is made of the tea. It a condensation of the particles that make up the tea.

Such an interesting phenomenon it is.

We are made up of what we surround ourselves with - what we consume. Our life is a 'condensation' of the thoughts, ideas, desires, beliefs, aspirations, and energy that we are surrounded by and let into our system.

Essentially - we are what we consume.

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See, as young children we don't have much choice about what we are surrounded by. Whether is a loving environment or one filled with fear, whether there is peace or there is constant anxiety, is not really in our hands. Nor do we really know how to filter what we let in. Hence these early experiences shape our psyche and determine our likes and dislikes, fears and attractions, and 'subconscious' responses and behaviours.

But as we grow up and become more conscious and capable of being more aware of whats happening inside us, two things happen.

One - we develop the ability to filter and select what we consume or allow into our system.

Two - we develop the ability to understand what we consumed in the past, and how it affects us, and also how to dilute or resolve it's continuing effect on us (not so easy to do, but possible, and that's what our life's journey is really all about)

So, if you are reading this, you are already at a place where if you decide to, you can develop both capability one and capability two. But you have to decide and set a strong intent. And then you have to work towards it!

Work? Why does life have to be so much work, I hear you asking.

Work just means that you have to allow yourself to become more and more aware of what you have been consuming, what you are consuming, and what it's doing to you.

As we grow up, we have the power to create our own environment, and therefore to create ourself. But we must wield that power and use it to actually create. Don't remain a child and keep feeling that you have no power on your environment.

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So, what have you been consuming lately?

On instagram?

On Netflix?

Books?

Conversations?

Gossip?

Friends?

Colleagues?

What thoughts and feelings do you give 'gas' to?

What thoughts and feelings do you ignore?

Who do you think about, speak to often, and who do you stay away from?

Do you take compliments well?

Do you dwell on rejections or insults?

Do you think about 'what could have been' a lot?

Do you ask yourself 'why me?' often?

Do you allow other people joy and success make you feel good, or make you feel bad?

Haha, just like a dietician would tell you to make a note of everything you eat, I'm telling you to think about (or better still) jot down everything you consume!

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Let's say you experienced a set back. A relationship that went through some chaos, or a venture that is in turmoil, a loss of something you hold very dear. Such situations stir us from inside. They ignite our fear, anxiety and overthinking.

These situations are going to happen to us - time and again. The question is how do we respond?

Im going to suggest that how we respond is not entire our choice. This goes against what you keep hearing - how I respond is my choice.

Well, it is a choice, but it is a choice I've made up slowly over the years, based on what I've been consuming.

Just like my current body composition, shape and fitness is not a choice I made right now, but a choice that I have been making over the years and months with every meal, every bite and every morsel I put into my mouth.

What you have been consuming is going to determine how you are going to respond when life squeezes the hell out of you!

Scary thought huh?

A bit, yes.

But the good thing is, it doesn't take forever to change it. You just change what you are consuming. Start now, keep it going, and voila - within months and even weeks, you will see a shift taking place in how you are feeling and how you are responding. Things that irritated you, frustrated you, angered you, saddened you, will start having a different kind of response inside you🙂

It works. It is real.

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Ok thats it. Im not going to try giving droplets of wisdom on what to consume. I think you already know it. In fact, I'd love to know what you've been consuming / surrounding yourself that helps you stay peaceful, inspired and energetic!

Please send me your best practices and I'll compile them and share them with everyone on this list🙂

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In the meantime, here is a recipe that always fills me up with a feeling of goodness - physically and energetically!

Try it out when you feel like some warm, motherly goodness :-)

Step 1

Wash rice and dal a couple of times. Soak together in four cups of water for fifteen minutes. Drain and keep aside. Heat two tablespoons of ghee in a pan, add asafoetida, slit green chillies and cumin seeds.

Step 2

When the seeds change colour add potatoes, carrots, French beans, green peas, cauliflower florets and sauté for two minutes. Add rice and dal and sauté for two to three minutes.

Step 3

Add four cups of hot water, turmeric power, salt and pepper powder and mix well. When the water comes to a boil, cover and cook over medium heat till done.

Step 4

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, pour the remaining ghee and serve hot.

Yummmmmm!

Looking forward to hearing back from you with your experiences about ‘You are what you consumer’.

In fratitude,

adi