When we begin questioning our beliefs, we may discover thousands of thoughts that no longer reflect our present perception of life. Then we may clearly see how this conditioning has been shaping our life, adding helplessness and frustration to it. The good thing is that we do not have to fight our conditioning but only to see it clearly. The minute we observe an erroneous thought, it disappears and the clarity comes into place. Clarity is our precious ability to observe reality as it is, without any distortion.

Step 11

SEARCHING FOR ONE'S.

SPIRITUAL MISSION.

"There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread."

-Mother Teresa We are all spiritual beings. I know this because I feel a spiritual connection every time I look into another person's eyes. Not only do we feel this unexplainable and immeasurable energy from humans, we can also feel these same deep vibrations from animals and plants. For example, have you seen how a blade of gra.s.s makes its way through a thick layer of dirt, clay, and rock? It's difficult to believe that such a tender plant could overcome seemingly solid ground. I cannot find any explanation for this phenomenon other than the invisible yet powerful energy that comes from the sprout in an effort to survive in spite of obstruction.

All living things are connected, and we communicate using different energies and vibrations. Think about Canadian geese, which are able to fly long distances and find certain lakes without ever being mistaken. I am fascinated by their powerful ability to navigate without compa.s.ses or other tools, using their incredible instincts. Another example comes from my encounters with dogs. Instinctively, they always know when I am afraid of them. They are also able to transmit their mood to me, so I may recognize that they are totally aware of my emotions. Several times I have had powerful experiences with cats. I consider them small and fairly safe animals to approach, but once in a while, before I even decide to reach out with my hand and pet a cat, it sends a ray of energy that warns me to back off-without even curling its back or hissing. I bring up these examples to ill.u.s.trate that every one of us, all the time, deals with energies that are not visible but nevertheless very powerful.

Why are we given these vast energies? I believe that these powers are given to us for a great purpose or mission. I believe that all human beings have their own mission in life. I also believe that to fulfill that mission is the most important purpose for every person because only then can one contribute the most to the rest of humanity. People who are able to do so mark history as the most gifted leaders in their profession.

How do we determine what our mission is? I think we can guess by observing our personal gifts and talents. Every single person has some particular talent. I have been working as an employer or director of various companies for more than twenty years, and I have noticed that all my employees have one gift or another. I've worked with dozens of people and have never met even one without talents. Usually, when I get to know people more closely, I find that they have more gifts than I expected. We definitely have different gifts and different missions in life.

For example, my husband loves to give ma.s.sages. He always carries several ma.s.sage tables in his truck. Igor doesn't care if he gets paid. Ma.s.sage is his pa.s.sion. Every day, he is looking for someone to rub. If Igor and I work on a project together, he offers me a ma.s.sage several times a day. If I agree to it, he will ma.s.sage me until I ask him to stop, and then he will feel sorry that it is over. Igor can talk for hours about how he loves to touch people and feel their energy. It is interesting that he cannot ma.s.sage just anyone, but only certain people with whom he feels a connection. That is why Igor is not giving ma.s.sages for a living. His ma.s.sage sessions with people are so incredible that my husband is surrounded by legends wherever he goes. Sometimes after Igor gives me a ma.s.sage, I make a feeble attempt to give a ma.s.sage back to him, but my ma.s.sages usually fail. One time, I honestly tried hard to learn ma.s.sage, living next to such a great master, but I don't have enough strength and I get tired and bored in the first few minutes. As much as I appreciate him, I myself don't like to give ma.s.sages at all. I wouldn't give ma.s.sages even for a lot of money.

My pa.s.sion is partic.i.p.ating in sincere conversations with other people. When I listen to another human being, I forget about time, food, and sleep. Igor praises my patience with people, which I don't even notice. For all the money in the world, he says, he could not "listen to the same stuff over and over for hours." We have lived together for many years, we have a lot in common, and yet each one of us continues to carry on with our own pa.s.sions through life.

Luckily, both my husband and I have found a way to make a living that lets us utilize our pa.s.sions. It took us many years to realize that doing what we love is more important to us than the amount of money we could make. We had to learn to live on less money, but the joy we get from doing what we love means far more to us than money.

Often I read different reports in newspapers about people who don't like their job. They are suffering, counting the hours and minutes until lunch, a break, or the end of the working day. They are spending their lives waiting, waiting for the end. Why can't we do what we love? Why can't we live more enjoyable lives? I find two main answers to these questions: People don't know what they love to do.

People consider their life pa.s.sions to be unimportant.

In either case, people often do something they don't like, hoping to get back to their pa.s.sion upon retiring. Or they do what they love, but they apply their talents to destructive processes instead of creative ones. For example, I have a friend who is a very good salesman. He claims that he could sell ice to an Eskimo. Obviously he is very talented if he can inspire people to buy things they don't need. I think that his real talent is to inspire people. I told him that he would make a great teacher or motivational leader, that he could inspire people to do beautiful, creative deeds. When he heard these words, he cried and told me that it was his secret dream to be a teacher, but he was afraid of poverty. Another friend of mine is a gifted artist. Her paintings are unique and beautiful and they touch the heart. However, she has not created a new painting for many years, because she can make more money designing for commercial and promotional advertising.

When I observe people partic.i.p.ating in destructive businesses and activities, manufacturing environmentally harmful products, pouring chemicals into fields, distributing cotton candy in amus.e.m.e.nt parks, shooting B movies, and many more thoughtless and harmful actions, it becomes clear to me that these people don't understand the huge importance of following their mission. If a single blade of gra.s.s has the power to grow through the ground, one can only imagine the potential power of human energy applied with pa.s.sion.

How many people can you name who have made a significant positive difference for the whole world? For example: Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Byron Katie, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Leo Tolstoi, Mother Teresa, Eckhart Tolle, Paul McCartney, etc. These people pa.s.sionately followed their life's mission. I believe that anybody could start following his or her life mission at any time and make a wonderful difference in the world.

Because we are spiritual beings, our spiritual missions are more important for our spirit than obtaining money for other than spiritual needs. When we do not follow our true goals, we develop spiritual pain, which we feel as boredom and emptiness. Since as early as childhood, many of us begin to feel bored once in a while. It often happens when we are forced to do things that we don't like, or when we are unable to do what we are pa.s.sionate about. There is a vast difference between pleasurable activities such as watching television and visiting amus.e.m.e.nt parks, and things that help us evolve spiritually such as creatively working on projects that one has talents for. After watching movies, we often feel drained and even more bored, while after working creatively, we feel empowered, inspired, and fulfilled. We try to find the means that will give us a break from feeling senseless and empty. With years of disconnection from our life mission, our spiritual pains acc.u.mulate. Sometimes we have attacks of feeling lost, lonely, bored with life, or losing sense in life. Often this pain is blamed on life problems such as loneliness, troublesome relationships, debt, disease, etc. Spiritual pain can be worse than physical pain and can become unbearable. Most suicides happen because of spiritual pain, not physical pain. In America alone twenty-eight million people are taking antidepressants to be able to live through the day.1 Yet it is everyone's birthright to be happy. I invite you to observe the feelings you encounter while performing various tasks, and let your pa.s.sions guide your life. For example, can you remember if you ever had a situation when you were enjoying doing something to such an extent that you completely forgot about time, missed lunch, and didn't care what other people thought of you? That was probably something that can give you an idea of what you should be doing more in your life. The spiritual awakening runs like a thread through all existing 12-Step programs. Staying away from cooked food is no exception. If you quit eating cooked food but keep suffering from loneliness and boredom, you will have lost your escape from spiritual pain and, being unable to face the emptiness, you might simply find another addiction to take the place of the former one such as shopping, gambling, watching TV, overworking, etc. That is why I have dedicated several steps in this program to spiritual awakening.

Step 12

GIVING SUPPORT.

TO OTHERS.

"There is no better way to thank G.o.d for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark."

-Helen Keller We rarely remember our first encounter with a raw-food diet, when one of our friends confided about his or her special lifestyle. Perhaps this person inspired us enough to sign up for the lecture of a famous raw-food teacher or loaned us a book written by a renowned raw-fooder. Later, it never occurs to us to whom we should be grateful to in the first place. Please take a moment to remember the first person in your life who told you about raw food. Send this person your grat.i.tude. Without this person, you would never have gone to that lecture or read that first book. My first personal encounter with raw food happened in line at my bank, with Elizabeth, whose last name I don't even know. I would like to specially thank all the "first persons" who do the gra.s.sroots work in the world without being mentioned or rewarded or paid. I praise these people for their empathy with other people. Over and over again, they keep patiently answering all the same questions: "Where do you get your protein?" and "So you eat raw meat?" and "Don't you ever miss pizza?" I make my living by writing books and teaching cla.s.ses about raw food, and I know that I wouldn't even have an audience without the heart-warming network that these enthusiasts have created.

Now you have the chance to contribute your support. It is your turn to be patient and empathetic towards other people. Let me clarify that I don't encourage you to jump on everyone in the street with the radical concepts of raw food. By the words "giving support" I do not mean making major repairs for someone, but rather "planting seeds in fertile soil"-helping those who are already seeking the natural lifestyle. Often after attending a lecture on the benefits of a raw-food diet, people try to convert desperately ill people, especially cancer patients, to this diet. They call me on the phone and request, "You need to talk to this person. She has cancer!" They a.s.sume that dangerously ill people are all ready for a change. My personal observation proves that the opposite is true. If people haven't started making healthy changes before they get seriously ill, they are unlikely to make changes while they are being closely watched by doctors. I recommend a.s.sisting people who are already willing to change their lifestyle.

There is no better way to introduce people to the idea of a raw-food diet (to plant a seed) than to feed them delicious raw food. Remember the very first raw meal that impressed you. Do you remember how you were thinking that maybe you could really eat this way? Was this experience important to you? Good-tasting raw food seems to be a turning point in most people's lives. The way to the heart may, after all, be through the stomach.

Giving support to others-this Step is about helping yourself while supporting others. This Step will support you in several ways. First of all, you strongly validate and greatly reinforce your own lifestyle by sharing it with friends. Second, it is always best to learn by teaching others. Finally, having more raw-fooders on our planet will make a world of difference, not only for them but for you as well. For example, how would you like to be able to dine out in a raw-food restaurant everywhere you go? Select a raw meal while flying in an airplane? Give a dollar to your child for a raw lunch at school? View billboards with "Got Your Banana Ice Cream Today?" instead of "Get Your Cheap Hot Dogs Here!" Imagine never feeling weird explaining what raw food is, no matter where you go. A juicer instead of a coffeemaker in every office, a little package of sprouts at every convenience store.... This sounds like a fantasy, yet we are the ones who can create it.

Another important way of supporting beginners in the raw-food movement is to prepare delicious meals for raw-food potlucks. Through these potlucks, you may introduce delicious raw food to many people, and you can literally influence people to make life-changing choices. Even if you eat simply now, don't just bring a couple of kale leaves to a potluck. I encourage you to take your time, spend an extra $10$15, and prepare an attractive and yummy plate. I remember one of the first raw-food potlucks in my life, where the attendees brought plain salads and bowls of whole fruits. The most prepared dish was sliced bananas with toothpicks in them. There were several newcomers, curious about raw food, and I felt sorry for them when I saw their disappointed faces. Since then, I always try to bring two or three special dishes to every potluck I attend.

Please think about a raw-food teacher who impressed you most in your life. What was special about this teacher? Was he or she a dynamic speaker? Have you felt as if this teacher was your friend and you could trust her? Think for a moment with grat.i.tude about this teacher, the one who touched your heart.

Now perhaps it's your turn to become a teacher. I've heard many raw-fooders say that they would like to become teachers. I believe that every single person in the world is a teacher, in potential, when they sincerely do what they love. Then they don't even have to advertise-those who want to will follow them and their path. While educating others, try carefully not to scare but to inspire your listeners, as fear is a destructive emotion. From my own observations, I know that staying on a diet out of fear is temporary and might last merely a couple of days.

I used to think that we teach mostly by example, and now I know that we teach only by example. I would like to inspire you to become and stay a living example. How many people do you think you will influence in your life by simply eating healthy? Think of all the people you touch in a day: all your neighbors, relatives, co-workers, and people who see you buying and eating healthy food. The cashier at your local store might ask, "Do you have a horse?" Perhaps you might reply, "No, but I have a juicer." The cashier wonders, "Maybe I should get one too." Even the other shoppers, when they see your green-purple-red-radiant-colored cart, might run quickly to the produce section and grab an additional head of romaine lettuce. When your children go to school and tell their teacher, "In our family we eat salad every day," don't they influence even the teacher? If your neighbor persistently invites you for a barbecue, and you keep showing up with a plate of "neat-b.a.l.l.s" and a raw cake, they will inevitably begin to include more fresh foods in their menus.

Your co-workers may be eating fast food for lunch. They will notice your cute-looking raw snacks and most of all, your fresh look after every lunch break while they might feel tired and sleepy. People always subconsciously make the connection in their mind between a healthy glow and a healthy food choice. Your example will move them towards making a better choice for their health.

Your relatives could be the toughest challenge. They won't hesitate to let you know what they think. However, don't get discouraged too quickly. They could be the splinter in your side for the longest time, but at the same time they will be proud of you and even call you for advice, especially if they see your persistence. I remember how my father would always burst into angry accusations and criticism towards my dieting when I mentioned anything about raw food. Later, I would be shocked to learn from my aunt that my father had called her right after talking to me, confiding that he was eating 50% raw and sounding very proud of his daughter. Another relative of mine makes such a disgusted face every time I mention the benefits of raw food that I feel ridiculed. Then later, his wife tells me that he demanded raw salad for lunch. The initial negative reactions usually come from your loved ones as an attempt to defend themselves from the unknown. As you learned in Step 4, try to be a positive example instead of attempting to change others.

When you become a living example of the raw lifestyle, you literally influence thousands of people. Think of me, for example: what if I had not gone on the raw-food diet? What would have happened to all of my future students? Many of my former students are now making their living by teaching raw-food cla.s.ses. You never know when the seed you have planted is going to germinate, sprout, and then blossom forth to inspire others. How many people can you influence in your lifetime directly and indirectly? Eventually, I think, the whole planet. Is it worth a try?

Part 4

RECIPES.

Raw Family Green Smoothies

Below are five green smoothie recipes. They are merely basic ideas for your green creations. Feel free to subst.i.tute your own choice of greens and fruits for the ingredients. Enjoy!

AppleKaleLemon

4 apples 1/2 lemon (juice only) 5 leaves of kale (remove white stems for better taste) 2 cups water

PeachSpinach

6 peaches 2 handfuls of spinach leaves 2 cups water

MangoWeeds

2 mangos 1 handful of edible weeds, such as lambsquarters, stinging nettles, purslane, etc.

2.cups water

StrawberryBananaRomaine

1 cup strawberries 2 bananas 1/2 bunch romaine, or 67 large leaves 2 cups water

PearChardMint

4 ripe pears 5 leaves of chard 1/2 bunch mint 2 cups water Each of these recipes makes 3 cups of green smoothie.

Raw Family Green Soup

1 large handful of greens (kale, spinach, chard, or any other) 1 bell pepper with seeds (or 2 tomatoes, or 1 cuc.u.mber) Juice of two or three lemons 1/2 large (or one whole small) avocado Add water as needed and blend to a desired consistency. We like to eat this soup with dulse leaves, grated carrot, or sprouts.

Serves 34.