Beyond the Plate: Nourishing Your Inner Circle for Holistic Well-Being
Have you ever considered that the concept of "diet" extends beyond what we consume on our plates? Indeed, the idea that "you are what you eat" applies not only to food but also to: the music we listen to, the media we consume and the people we surround ourselves with. Just as we carefully choose the nutrients that fuel our bodies, we should be mindful of the influences that shape our minds and spirits. The first of these concepts that I personally focused on was the people I surround myself with.
Growing up, my mother often reminded me that we become like the five people we spend the most time with. While initially, this notion seemed unrelated to nutrition, it eventually became clear that our inner circle plays a significant role in our overall well-being. This is a concept that is spoken about as fact in psychology. Eventually I came to learn for myself that this is true: our inner circle helps shape us.
Think about it: the folks closest to us impact not only our actions but also our mindset and emotional state. If we are fed love, we learn to accept love. If we are fed fear, stress, anxiety, dysregulation and dysfunction we learn to accept fear, stress, anxiety, dysregulation and dysfunction. Just as a balanced diet nourishes our bodies (and our mental health), surrounding ourselves with positive, supportive, and uplifting people nourishes our souls. Some of us are lucky enough to have been born surrounded by people we want to be like, the rest of us have to carefully craft our circle - sometimes over decades. I was lucky enough to find at least one person that I resonated with everywhere we moved as I was growing up.
I vividly recall a friendship from my middle school years that taught me valuable lessons about emotional nourishment. This friend was unafraid to communicate her feelings and expectations, fostering a relationship built on honesty and accountability. In contrast to the toxic dynamics I witnessed at home, her friendship provided a nourishing environment where emotions were acknowledged and respected. While I very much loved and appreciated her in my life, we were torn apart by the experiences of the adults around us. I remain thankful that she was one of my five at an age where I was learning how to be a human. (And I am excited that we recently reconnected!) However, I found the most benefit in making sure one of them was me.
Nourishing our inner circle goes beyond choosing the right people, however —it also involves nurturing our relationship with ourselves. Just as we should pay attention to the quality of the food we consume, we must prioritize self-reflection and self-care. By including ourselves as one of the five people we spend the most time with, we recognize the importance of cultivating a healthy relationship with ourselves. Cultivating a healthy relationship with ourselves isn’t always easy or intuitive. If you have been diagnosed with CPTSD for instance, your brain likely makes this harder: sorting through the internal monologue that was never yours, unpacking the trauma (which, let’s be so fucking real - feels like reliving it), secretly - or not so secretly - hating yourself. All of which can manifest as poor diet, over-thinking, social anxiety, self-harm, poor self-talk, feeling lost, broken and like you can’t trust yourself.
This self-awareness serves as the foundation for setting boundaries and discerning which influences to invite into our lives. I found that meeting myself where I was - consistently - and wading through the decay of my soul helped me fertilize the things within myself that I wanted to grow. Just as we strive to consume wholesome foods that nourish our bodies, we should surround ourselves with relationships and experiences that nurture our growth and well-being. If our relationship with ourselves is unhealthy we can’t expect to choose relationships that are healthy. Not just our relationships with people but: food, music, TV shows, celebrity influences, nature ect.
In essence, nourishing our inner circle is about recognizing that diet isn't just what we eat—it's also about the company we keep and the influences we allow into our lives. By choosing relationships that uplift, support, and inspire us, we empower ourselves to lead fulfilling and enriching lives. Word to the wise: you can start crafting a social media experience that does this for you.
So, the next time you consider your diet, remember that it encompasses more than just food. Take a closer look at the people you surround yourself with—are they nourishing your mind, body, and soul? Just as you carefully select the ingredients for a nutritious meal, choose your inner circle with intention and mindfulness. After all, true nourishment begins from within.
With Love and Compassion,
Mia Marie
