I don't find it a struggle to maintain a healthy diet now as my

Listen, O children of wisdom, to the words of Jennifer Ellison, who speaks of the profound transformation that occurs when one aligns with the deeper needs of the body: "I don't find it a struggle to maintain a healthy diet now as my palate has changed. I don't crave rich food." In these words, Ellison reveals the power of change—not just in the physical body, but in the mind and soul. To change the way we live, we must first change the way we desire. This is the great wisdom of self-discipline and awareness: when we transform our deepest desires, we transform our lives.

In the days of the ancient Greeks, Socrates spoke often of the power of self-mastery and the importance of shaping one’s desires. He understood that the path to wisdom was not about avoiding pleasure, but about refining our desires to align with what was truly noble and good. Socrates would say that our desires must be cultivated and shaped through mindfulness and practice, just as a master craftsman shapes his work. For those who seek the highest form of well-being, he would teach, the struggle comes not in denying the body’s needs, but in refining those needs so that they reflect the harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. Jennifer Ellison’s journey, where she no longer craves rich food, is an example of this transformation—the desires of the body refined through wisdom, discipline, and time.

Consider the story of Pythagoras, the great philosopher and mathematician, who also understood the importance of the relationship between body and soul. Pythagoras and his followers lived by strict dietary rules, believing that a clear and disciplined diet would bring clarity to the mind and allow them to live in harmony with nature. But their commitment was not to deprivation, but to balance—understanding that the body could not truly flourish unless it was nourished in a way that also nurtured the soul. Jennifer Ellison’s experience of no longer craving the rich foods that once seemed desirable reflects this ancient wisdom—the process of training the body to align with higher and more sustainable forms of nourishment, creating balance between the body’s needs and desires.

In the Roman tradition, Cicero taught that virtue lies in moderation, and that self-control was the true measure of strength. He often spoke of the need to moderate the passions, whether they be for food, drink, or any form of indulgence. For Cicero, true strength came not from the ability to deny one’s desires, but from the ability to transform them—learning to crave what is good, pure, and nourishing, rather than what is fleeting or excessive. Jennifer Ellison’s statement, that she no longer finds it a struggle to maintain a healthy diet, reflects this ancient principle—she has transformed her desires, choosing instead to embrace foods that nourish rather than indulge, creating a life of balance and peace.

But, O children, in the modern world, we are often caught in the grasp of excess. Rich food calls to us from every corner of our lives—advertisements, social gatherings, and the temptations of convenience. Many struggle with this constant battle between desire and discipline, seeking the pleasure of indulgence while knowing that it ultimately brings no lasting satisfaction. Jennifer Ellison’s journey of change, where her palate has shifted and she no longer craves the excesses of rich food, is a lesson for all. She shows us that true well-being comes not from fighting the body’s desires, but from gently guiding them toward what is nourishing, sustainable, and aligned with a deeper understanding of health.

The lesson, O children, is this: the true struggle is not in denying the body its desires, but in transforming those desires. Socrates, Pythagoras, and Cicero all understood that true self-mastery lies in refining our cravings—shaping them so that they align with our highest virtue and well-being. Jennifer Ellison has demonstrated this transformation, where her desires for rich food have faded as she embraced the nourishment that sustains her body and soul. This is a profound teaching: if we change the way we desire, we change the way we live. The body will follow the path the mind sets for it.

Therefore, O children, let us seek to refine our desires. Let us not see the act of eating as a battle of restriction, but as a practice of mindful nourishment. Through the steady cultivation of our palate, through the wisdom of moderation, and through the practice of self-awareness, we can change not only the way we eat, but the way we live. Let us remember that, just as Jennifer Ellison has discovered, true strength lies not in denying the body its cravings, but in guiding those cravings toward what is truly nourishing—for the body, mind, and spirit. Let this be the path we walk, and in this path, we will find true balance, vitality, and peace.