If our bodies came with an owner’s manual, what would it look like? Would have vague suggestions of just the basics, or concrete prescriptions covering every aspect of life? Is such a thing even possible, or are bodies so unique that no advice is true for everyone? The fact is, for most people, most advice is mostly true, but the only way to know for sure, is to try.
Diversity of preference makes minds interesting and valuable to each other. The inability to comprehend and express preference is, as defined by the Novel Universe Cult, suffering. No matter our framework of Love or Power, improving the health of our minds and bodies reduces suffering across the board. On an individual level, what we endure matters, but those positive or negative effects don’t define the value of life. Life cannot be wasted. No matter what we do, merely living leads to a greater understanding of ourselves, refining our eventual preference for a framework in the beyond-life.
The following ideas aren’t required destinations to be taken altogether, but suggested directions, taken á la carte– basic words of wisdom. When we focus forward, our time and resources aren’t spent avoiding problems, but crafting useful paradigms to “crowd out” counterproductive behavior. In the long run, labels aren’t useful, and setbacks don’t matter– participation is progress. Our body’s owner manual has but one key: allow timeless priorities to consistently set obtainable goals, each a reflection of authentic preference. We neither have to take big steps every day nor worry about failure– small adjustments accumulate, creating enormous change over time. It doesn’t matter how many times we veer off course or how little “progress” we make day-to-day, only that our zombie-focus remains on target, and our participation remains intact. Instead of obsessively white-knuckling an immediate end to unhealthy behavior, the Novel Universe Cult encourages a long-term mindset– steady exposure to a healthier lifestyle, with freewill occasionally straining beyond the easy goals to more lofty ones.
Going too fast, too far, is often the worst thing to do– although for some, it’s the only thing to do. Going “cold-turkey” to end negative behavior, or “gung-ho” to enforce positive change, can be counterproductive, even toxic. For instance, switching from couch-potato to marathon runner overnight invites injury– mental, physical, and metabolic. The body needs time to autoregulate, while the brain, to rewire. Healthy change is change that endures, that cannot be derailed by relapse. Targeted goals have finite success, while useful priorities prove valuable, lifelong companions.
The next decade will pass, and the question becomes, which direction will those big and little changes lead? Let’s focus on the most effective impacts first, leaving those less important ones for later. Evolving preferences to reduce suffering requires energy to fuel freewill. Mitochondria produces reliable, sustainable energy– adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and optimally functions in a cycle, a trifecta of metabolic phases: rebuild (sleep), resupply (diet), and release (exercise). Although we’ll cover all three, to manage our metabolic health and ease the immediate suffering of all humans, we’ll start with sleep.
Read our philosophy and TOE to better understand our Owner’s Manual.
