The Ayurvedic Rule Of 80/20

Welcoming The New Year

It’s New Years Eve! A time for renewal and for leaving the events of the past year behind. A time for taking the lessons we've learned and trying to apply them to the new year ahead. As each new year approaches, we are accustomed to questioning ourselves and others about our “New Year’s Resolutions.” What are our goals for the new year? What will we change? What will we do differently this year? What will we quit and let go of? Which people, activities, places, foods and habits no longer serve us and which ones do we spend our time, energy and resources on cultivating?

The Habit Of Falling Off The Wagon

Although our intentions are often in the right place and the things which we set out to accomplish as our “resolutions” are things we do truly desire, we often find ourselves and others “falling off the wagon” soon after. Often when February and March roll around we’ve long let go of our willpower to see these goals through. We fall back into the sleepiness, mindlessness and ease of our old patterns and habits. Then we wait for the next collective cultural push, such as "getting your beach body ready for the summer."

The Pedal To The Metal Mindset

The reasons for this phenomenon, setting goals and shortly after abandoning them, are many. The western narrative says, "Go hard or go home!” “Going all in!” “Quitting cold turkey!” “Giving it our all!” There’s a general attitude of achieving our goals at 100% performance. We seek perfection as the means to accomplish what we set out to do.

Many modern first world cultures have incorporated the unrealistic mindset of “All or nothing!” When one sets out to do something, they must do it 100% of the time or will have somehow failed. When we set out to quit something, we wage war against it; if we even once succumb to it, we have failed.

Yet the powerful wisdom of Ayurveda sheds light on navigating through the modern Western mindset.

Taking An Ayurvedic Approach To Resolutions

Ayurveda emphasises the 80/20 Rule, which declares: in the natural world there is no such thing as 100%. That the pursuit of perfection is the actual set-up for failure. The seeking after this unrealistic notion that we can take on anything 100% of the time, is what leads to actual failure in the bigger scheme of things. Ayurvedic wisdom shares that taking small, manageable steps and aiming for 80 rather than 100% is the more natural and sustainable way to transform the things we desire to change.

Seeking Our True Nature, Sustainably

Ayurveda believes that the drive to change is actually an emergence of the blueprint of who we are, driving us to return to our natural state. Balance is seeking us and we are traveling without a road map back to where we are being called. Ayurveda, Yoga and Tantra were designed to be practiced together as a guide towards this balance physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. If we follow this old and tested wisdom we will find that making small, slow changes rather than big drastic “all or nothing” resolutions, is the way to long-term sustainable success and healing.

Ayurveda: Always Start With The Gut

If you find that you have a long list of resolutions: "I will go to the gym 5 times a week, cut all sugars and carbs, sleep by 9 pm everyday and lose 25 lbs by summer" Try tackling these resolutions in small and manageable bites. From the point of view of Ayurveda, diet (ultimately anything that is disturbing the chemical, hormonal and gut flora balance in the body) should always be tackled first.

"All disease starts in the gut" - Hippocrates

In Ayurvedic wisdom (predating Hippocrates by over 2500 years) every dysfunction and imbalance must first be addressed by balancing digestive functions. Nowadays, this is finally being proven through modern science through which it has been found that a strong, balanced and healthy microbiome is essential to all health functions in the body, including mental and emotional wellness.

Sustainability Vs Deprivation

So if we were to tackle something off the previous hypothetical list of resolutions and apply ayurvedic wisdom, we would probably address the matter of excessive sugar consumption first and foremost. Yet, instead of "quitting" sugar completely and waging war against a specific food ingredient (just to find oneself uncontrollably binging on sugary treats a few weeks later) we instead could apply the 80/20 rule. Where we aim to have 80% less sugar, allowing 20% of the daily calories to have sweetness, or designating 2 days of the week to include sweet foods. In addition, we would work on making mindful decisions around what types of sugars are chosen for consumption. Choosing fruits, dates, or low glycemic options such as organic unrefined coconut sugar or sweetening alternatives such as pure organic stevia. Choosing refined, bleached, and over-processed white sugars or processed sugar substitutes is a highly toxic choice for the body and has many adverse health effects. Lastly, ayurveda would explore the physical, emotional and mental reasons at the core of why we are craving so much sweets and balance this with foods, herbs, mindset and physical practices.

Give Yourself The Gift Of Support

We all need support and help setting manageable goals meant for our unique body types, as well as guidance navigating blocks we experience when it comes to meeting our physical, mental and emotional goals. Get the support you deserve and need from experienced and knowledgeable practitioner. Successfully empower yourself to access the natural healing power of your body by giving it the right foods, implementing the proper routines, and integrating an uplifting mindset . Through learning the how to align yourself with practices and wisdoms of Ayurveda, and Yoga, and integrating modalities such as Neuro Linguistic Programming and other modalities you can come back home to yourself. Rediscover your vitality and radiance with our hands on individualized services. Live the life that you dream to live yet has so often seemed out of reach. Click here to to find which of our powerful sessions can help you get where you'd love to see yourself this year and for years to come ahead. Have a Happy New Year and stay tuned for vata season tips!