How to heal oneself

Many people suffer from emotional pain. Nutritionist V. Gayathri offers solutions in her new book 

Pics: V. Gayathri; the cover of the book 

By Shevlin Sebastian 

At age 12, Shani was married off to an elderly man. But after a few years, he divorced her. She felt shocked. She remained inside her house for a few years. Feeling emotionally hurt, and angry with her parents for allowing this marriage to take place, she started eating. And eating, Soon, she ballooned and reached 90 kgs. 

Through a friend, she met the Kochi-based nutritionist/dietician V. Gayathri. “As she spoke about her experiences, over a period of time, she was able to forgive her parents and her former husband,” says Gayathri. “Her skin tone and energy levels started improving rapidly and her hormones began to function normally.” Shani began losing weight. She resumed her studies, and eventually got a degree. Later, she got a job. And it was at the workplace that she met Ramesh. They fell in love and got married, even though they belonged to different religions. “Now they are happy,” says Gayathri. 

Gayathri has just published a book called ‘Diet and Meditation for emotional eating’. Some of the topics include ‘Inner Child and Emotions’; ‘Food, Nutrition and Energy’, Sexual/emotional abuse -- the reason for obesity’ and ‘Diet and emotions during school’. “The trigger for almost every ailment, physical or mental, lies in our childhood,” says Gayathri. “In our society, we are not encouraged to express our innermost feelings so that others don’t experience discomfort. So we suppress all those unexpressed emotions within ourselves.” 

She gives an example. Mona, a daughter of a working woman was sexually abused by a neighbour. But when she told her parents they did not believe what she said and supported the neighbour. “Mona was deeply hurt,” says Gayathri. “This pain has now resulted in an unhealthy relationship with her spouse. Later, even after prolonged fights with her husband, her family refused to take her back. She remains stranded in this toxic environment.” 

Gayathri suggests that writing about the traumatic incidents in one’s life can help healing to take place. “After you write something, you should burn the paper, as a symbolic way of cleaning yourself,” she says. Another way is to smile often. “It is one of the most powerful triggers of positive energy,” says Gayathri. “You should also learn to love yourself. And do meditation, too.”    

Another important quality is gratitude. Or as the poet, Rumi wrote, ‘Gratitude is the wine for the soul. Go and get drunk.’ 

Gayathri tells her clients to maintain a gratitude journal. “An attitude of gratitude can change your life,” says Gayathri. “When you start the day writing a few lines of gratitude, your vibration changes and it helps your subconscious mind to seek out more of those positive things around you.”  

You can do this at night too. “You can end the day with an appreciative thank-you for everything that Nature has offered you that day and life as a whole,” says Gayathri. “Initially, you will struggle to name 3-4 things but when you start doing it daily, the list will grow longer. You can then sleep with a positive frequency of thoughts and emotions, which will embed in your subconscious during your sleep. Soon, you will start waking up with new energy and enthusiasm.”   

And when a single person is transformed, he or she can impact his immediate family and friends. They further share this with others until a community of love is built up. “Each one of us should remember that human potential and energy are limitless,” she says. 

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)