With the recent escalating volatility of events in the news, the vitriolic comments that are ever present on social media, and people’s deep seated feelings and convictions on the political stage, I’ve been thinking a great deal about our individual responsiblities for making judgements, our obligations in society to stand upon our convictions and the effect of this upon our health.  Comments about my convictions or opinions that I have made online and/or via social media have at times been polarizing for a number of people.

In attempting to ground myself in regards to my positions and feelings, I came across an essay in William George Jordan’s book, The Crown of Individuality, published in 1909.   The text, over 100 years old, is some of the most profound wisdom I’ve read in understanding our character and the use of judgement.

Part of our health comes from mental and emotional stability.  I have found, in my 25 years of providing patient care, that many good people in society still lack competant ability to know how and when to make judgements.  This leads to significant stress, anxiety, and insomnia in many peoples lives.  In the long term , it effects one’s character and it effects one’s health.

Fourty percent of what I do every day relates to psychiatry and the effect of thought, decision and action upon our lives.  Often, just defining where and when judgement becomes essential can be very helpful.  William George Jordan was editor of The Saturday Night Post (1888-1889) and The Ladies Home Journal until 1891.  He was a prolific author and his comments regarding character and judgement are fitting for a read, especially on a Sunday afternoon. So, what follows is Mr. Jordan’s essay in its entirety:

“Sitting in the Seat of Judgement” by William George Jordan

Character is not a simple, uniform product. It cannot be judged as dress goods—by a yard or so of sample unrolled from a bolt on the counter. It is complex, confused, uncertain, changing, subject to moods that contradict our conclusions. While knowing all this we dare to construct the whole life and character of one we may have never even met. We build it from a few hints, slurs, idle comments, or the vague rumors or absolute lies of newspaper reports—as scientists reconstruct an unknown prehistoric animal from a few bones. One judges a painting by the full view of the whole canvas; separate isolated square inches of color are meaningless. Yet we dare to judge our fellow man by single acts and words, misleading glimpses, and deceptive moments of special strain. From these we magnify a mood into a character and an episode into a life.

There is entirely too much human judging, too much flippant criticism of the acts of others. Suspicion is permitted to displace evidence, cheap shrewdness to banish charity, prejudice to masquerade as judgment. We imagine, we guess, we speculate—then pass on through the medium of indiscreet speech and idle gossip what may bring bitterness, sorrow, heartache, and injustice to others. The very ones we condemn may be battling nobly under a hail of trial and temptation where we might fall faint in the trenches or, lowering our colors, drop back in hopeless surrender.

We have a right to our preferences, our likes and dislikes, our impressions, our opinions, but we should withhold final judgment—as an honest unprejudiced juryman keeps his verdict in suspense until he has heard and tested all of the evidence. We have no right to let prejudice tyrannize over judgment and kill—the justice of the soul. We may see an act but have no luminous revelation of the motive behind it.

We idly condemn the gaiety of some man who has suffered a terrible loss, and term him heartless. Perhaps he laughs only to keep back tears that would gush like a torrent from his heart were he less brave. We criticize the parsimony of some one when it really means consecrated generosity to some one else. Over-generous forgiving may seem weakness—when it is the “ninety times nine” of a great nature. Love at its height may seem indifference. What appears conceit may be only some one’s attempt to recover a lost self-confidence he hungers to regain.

Some one’s fretfulness, or occasional outbursts of temper, may be but sparks of protest from the hidden fires of a sad life-story or some bravely borne illness unknown but to a chosen few. Meanness may in reality be poverty too proud to confess itself. We hear one side of many a story and judge by that alone. We judge often along the line of our least mental resistance. Ignorantly we condemn a man for vanity because we would be vain had we accomplished his work. There is wide difference between putting yourself in another’s place and putting him in yours. The one is an attempt at wisdom; the other a speculation in prejudice. We misinterpret motives, do not know facts, and judge from wrong standards.

In the individual life we realize that there are times when everything we do or say misrepresents us. We mean kindness but somehow the words sound cross, cruel, or misleading. Without intending it we hurt those who are dearest; we regret it, know the sad effect we are creating, yet we blunder on into deeper pitfalls. We may be even too falsely proud to explain. We are all out of key. We are tobogganing down the incline of a mood. We may not understand ourselves and in a spirit of heart-hunger may long for some one sweetly and gently to comprehend us, to see us truly, despite—ourselves and our acts.

Knowing this labyrinthic quality in us and even in human nature at its best, let us throw the golden mantle of love and kindness and justice over every thought of condemnation. How can we judge others harshly when we do not know ourselves and while we suffer so much from the misjudging from others? Let us live in the open sunlight of love, shutting our eyes in charity from adverse judging—just forgetting much, forgiving much.

Let us sweetly, sincerely, sympathetically seek in the best side of some one we know—his real, fine, true self. Let us think of the fine flowers and ignore the weeds as temporary invaders. This may prove an inspiration to some one near and dear to us to live up to our ideal of him, to be worthy of the higher levels to which our faith has raised him.

Sometimes situations arise between friends that demand rapid judgment and action. Then should we check off the items carefully, considering truly both sides of the ledger of our experience. Before pronouncing sentence let us see if in our heart of hearts we honestly believe our verdict fair, just, and true. Let us be assured it is justice—not prejudice, pique, temper, disappointment, distorted gossip, or aught else that is eclipsing the justice of our judgment. Our injustice, if such there be, may change bitterly the life of both.

One of the hardest lessons of life is to learn not to judge. Perhaps ninety percent, of the adverse criticism, comment, and judging of humanity is unnecessary and serves no useful purpose. It is not our business. It is simply our mere impertinent meddling in the affairs of others, without even a hope of being helpful or useful. It is often what we would most quickly resent—were the situations reversed.

There are times in every life when we must judge, when we should judge, and when it is vitally important that we should judge wisely and justly. There are those closely associated with us in love, friendship, or business—where it may be important for us to understand their words, their acts, their motives, and their emotions in so far as they affect ours. The very attitude of not judging until it becomes necessary gives ever dignity, calmness, poise, and fineness to these enforced judgments. The judgment that has been dulled by constant misuse, like a razor that has been used to sharpen pencils, is of little value in real need.

The wisest judgment means the best head cooperating with the best heart. It is kind, honest, charitable—seeking truth, not the verifying of a prejudice. It says ever, in prefacing its conclusions on the evidence: “As it seems to me,” “If I understand it aright,” “So far as I have been able to reason it,” “Unless I am mistaken,” or similar phrases. These represent the suspended judgment—with no tone of absolute finality. They show a willingness to modify the verdict, to soften the sentence, or to order a new trial if new evidence, new illumination, or new interpretation can be produced.

So, you have the keto-flu.  No, you’re not contagious.  No, you can’t pass it on to someone else, or catch it when your friend who follows a ketogenic lifestyle sneezes.

Actually, congratulations are in order. You’ve just experienced the amazing metabolic shift that jump-starts the healing process in your body.  You’re shifting to a metabolism that optimizes the use of fat in the form of ketones.  During this transition, usually within the first week, people can experience a series of symptoms that have been dubbed the “keto-flu.”

Symptoms

What are the common symptoms of the keto-flu?

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Brain Fog
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Irritability
• Light-Headedness
• Leg Cramps

These symptoms can last 3-5 days, in some people I’ve seen it last as long as two weeks.   But, if you weren’t expecting it, and you don’t know what it is, it can be kind of discouraging.  Don’t despair, however, if you know what it is, you can usually do a couple simple things to prevent it, or at least cause the symptoms to dramatically improve.

Cause

The keto-flu is usually caused by a shift in your body’s use of water and salt. Insulin causes the kidneys to retain sodium. When you change to a ketogenic lifestyle, your insulin levels fall to baseline and your body is able to use the sodium and potassium to remove the excess water production in each cell from fat burning. (If it didn’t, you’d swell up like beached whale.) This isn’t a bad thing, it just means that you need to add these electrolytes back into your diet in a greater degree.

The average adult human needs 3-4 grams of sodium each day and 3-4 grams of potassium each day to balance out water use and make all the cells happy.  So, what’cha wait’n for? Make your cells happy.

How To Treat It

I find that putting 1/2 teaspoon of salt (I like the Himalayan Pink sea salt because it contains sodium, potassium, magnesium and zinc) in a glass of water cures the symptoms very rapidly, sometimes within minutes. It’s amazing how fast you suddenly feel the brain fog lift and your energy returns.

Another option is using a bouillon or bone broth with your meal. This adds to the overall enjoyment of the meal and replaces these needed electrolytes in a very tasty way.

If the salt replacement doesn’t do the trick, then your keto-flu may be related to the need for more fat. Often, people who start a ketogenic lifestyle cut out the carbs, but don’t put enough fat back into the system.

On the traditional American (or insert your own country of residence here) diet the body uses carbohydrate as its primary fuel and protein for building blocks. When you cut out the carbs, your body will continue to use the protein for building muscle, skin and connective tissue. However, if you don’t give it enough fat to replace the carbohydrate you removed, it’s like running your car on fumes.

You’re body will run for a while, but not very well.  And, in some cases, you’ll feel like you were left on the side of the road with a body that doesn’t want to go anywhere.  You’ll feel like the gas tank is empty.

If you’re not used to a diet higher in fat, your body also has to “fat-adapt,” sometimes called keto-adaptation.  This is the process of your gut and cells up-regulating MCT receptors (fat channels or doorways for fat) to enter more efficiently.  This can take a few weeks, and for some a few months.  Not giving yourself enough fat in a ketogenic lifestyle can slow this adaptation process and also give you keto-flu-like symptoms.

What If It Doesn’t Improve?

If the leg cramps haven’t improved with the replacement of the salts and fat, you might consider yellow mustard.  Mustard contains sinapoline that when metabolized through the acid of the stomach in the body has a byproduct that is similar effect to that of quinine.   Patients, and myself included find that dipping summer sausage or your favorite hard cheese in some yellow mustard before bed does wonders in prevention of muscle cramps or spasm.

If the nausea turns to vomiting, or if the headache or fatigue worsens with added weakness, then it’s time to call your doctor and get checked out.  Vomiting, weakness and worsening fatigue are signs of something more serious.  If this happens, call your doctor.

What About Exogenous Ketones?

Lastly, the addition of exogenous ketones (ketones bonded to a salt) are also very helpful in this transition period.  Drinking exogenous ketones provides added ketones, rapidly absorbed into the blood stream, and second they provide some of the sodium, potassium or magnesium needed as a replacement.  You can check out my Ketogenic Kick-Start packages here.  Or, you can go to Dr. Nally’s favorite ketone store at DocMusclesKetones.com and order them directly.

Either way, I hope you find this helpful as you transition to your Ketogenic Lifestyle.

Sometimes We Have To Let Things Go

Sometimes we have to let things go.  Not because we want to, but because life changes and some responsibilities become too heavy to carry. Sometimes we have the strength to carry the weight. But, the work of carrying offsets our balance. Balancing objects can occur when the foundation is stable and boundaries are secure.  Balance is the act of putting an object in a steady state of motion so that it does not fall or shift out of balance. Instability is the opposite of balance. Frequent attention must be given to the motion of the object to maintain stability.  This applies to objects, responsibilities, actions and even health.  But, balance in life is a myth.

Think about the Chinese acrobat. She balances on one arm, . . . then slowly adds a plate that is spinning on a stick. Then another stick, and another plate . . . However, the plates don’t keep spinning on their own.  Even though the plates appear perfectly balanced, she must periodically spin them to maintain balance.

There comes a point where more than three or four plates is too much to manage. Many of us live our lives afraid to add a plate, and on the flip side, many of us try to spin too many plates. The stress of too little or too much interferes with relationships, sleep, health and sense of well-being.

Life-Balance Is A Myth

Our lives consist of attempting to balance multiple “plates” in the form of responsibilities or activities around us.  Attention is taken from one activity and focused on another until that responsibility or activity is back in balance.  This is why balance in life is a myth.  We move from object to object, responsibility to responsibility.  None of those objects ever remains completely balanced at the same time.  As we focus on re-balancing one task, the others slow and begin to fall out of balance.  As a husband, father, physician, speaker, entrepreneur and son of God, I wear many hats. I’ve frequently felt like a lone fireman, running from fire to fire with a garden hose, attempting to reset the balance in my responsibilities and put out fires.  I know you do too. We’ve had these conversations in my office.

Life-balance is a myth I bought into. It was placed on sale by life’s “well meaning middle-managers” in school and business. I kept thinking that at some point I could attain a perfect balance in all of my care-giving, parenting and relationship activities. Recognizing this myth has helped me make some very important decisions.

Learn To Say “NO”

I am a recovering “nice guy” and part of the “nice guy syndrome” involves understanding the myth of life-balance. Learning to say “no” is not easy.  I am learning to set boundaries. I am learning to stabilize foundations.  As a healer, I have an innate desire to help everyone, literally everyone.  This desire to help frequently comes at the detriment of family and those close to me.  The work of healing is seen as a “noble calling” in our society.  Because of this, I justified the need to help everyone with large amounts of time at my own expense.  I’ve spend hundreds of hours answering questions about health and weight at the expense and burden of myself and my family.  Saying “No,” even when an activity offsets needed balance is not easy for some of us.

Good, Better & Best

Part of that boundary setting is looking at those things that are “good, better and best.”  It requires looking at the objects, responsibilities and warming fires around us and deciding which ones are good, which ones are better and which ones are best. Balancing some objects and responsibilities are good, but may actually be taking time away from some of the better or best things we could be doing.  As we consider various choices in our lives, we need to remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Even though a particular choice may be more costly, the much greater value may make it the best choice of all.  I’ve had to sit down with myself and my family, and make some challenging decisions.

I am learning to set boundaries.  Looking at what is most important in my life at this time isn’t easy.  However, it’s been made loud and clear to me that we must be able to forgo “good things” to do those things that are better or best.  In medical speak, continually fixing and fine tuning the thyroid hormones doesn’t help when leptin is out of balance.

How Many Psychological Carbs Are In Your Life?

Many of us must realize that many of the good things are “psychological carbohydrates.”  The carbs smell good . . . And they taste great.  But, forgoing the carbs brings the greatest return in areas of our lives that are most important. Those things that are better or best are more effective at strengthening our lives and those of our families.

Pick The Best Things In Your Life To Balance

One of those decisions is to leave KetoTalk.com.  The choice to leave relates specifically to selecting the best things that allow me to focus my time, energy and skills on being a good husband, father, physician and entrepreneur.  I’m sure the rumors will surge, and cyberspace will fill with speculation.  The truth is that I still have a wonderful relationship with Jimmy Moore, that has not changed.  He and I are still great friends.  Leaving KetoTalk was a very difficult decision.  I will continue working with him on my upcoming book The KetoCure, and we will still be working together on the KetoLiving.com line of supplements.  Non-of that will change.  What will change is my focus on activities that bring the best value to my patients and my practice while at the same time bringing the greatest value to me and my family.

I love people. I love to help people. Working with thousands of amazing souls in this ketogenic journey, is an immense blessing.  Unless I am assasinated by a rogue high-velocity vegan cucumber, I’m not going anywhere. You can find me and work with me here at DocMuscles.com.

How many plates are you spinning?  Do you need to let something go?  Is the good in your life keeping you from the better or the best?

So, don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened and we became great friends.