We often see in the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad the word “best.” In the “How to Eat to Live” books, we are told to eat the “best” of food. In our Lessons, we are told that we are the “the Righteous, the Best and the Powerful.” According to dictionary.com, “best” means “of the highest quality, excellence, or standing.” It describes the “number one version of something.”
How do I become the “best” me? I must get “better” every day. Every day that we wake up is a blessing and another opportunity to love and improve ourselves. Take a moment to be honest and write down what you would like to improve in yourself, starting with your thoughts. We start with thoughts because every action is preceded by a thought.
If my goal is to lose a few pounds and have more energy, what am I consuming mentally? Am I reading material or watching videos or social media that is negative or draining? How much time am I wasting over-consuming social media? Do I need to change what I am consuming to something more positive?
I enjoy listening to Final Call Radio or enlightening podcasts when I am working out. Today, many sisters and brothers have positive podcasts or videos about the Teachings. Why the Teachings? Because high-level thoughts lead to high-level communication, and high-level communication can lead to high-level activity.
In “Closing the Gap: Inner Views of the Heart, Mind & Soul of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan,” by Minister Jabril Muhammad, on page 321, Minister Farrakhan states, “… the highest form of communication is to speak on, ask questions about, argue over what God has revealed to His servant. Perfecting our understanding of what God reveals increases the level of energy. Hearing it, knowing it, and believing it, is one level, but understanding it and applying it, is the highest level of activity.”
What high-level activities can we engage in? Small deviations can eventually add up to big problems and pounds. I have gained unnecessary weight in the past by being disobedient and eating what I wanted to eat because I was stressed about something. Even though I was working out, the pounds did not come off. Remember, you cannot “outrun a bad diet.”
The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad said, “Get away from those fattening sweet pies two or three times a day,” (How to Eat to Live, Book One, page 25). Notice He used the word, “fattening” in reference to sweets. I admit that I didn’t want to let go of my everyday cookies and sugary coffee drinks, but I saw a huge difference when I did. Not only did I lose a few pounds, but my thinking sharpened, my energy improved, and my discipline grew stronger.
In the “Teachings 2.0 Volume 3B, Twitter Sayings of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan,” on pages 58-59, someone asked Minister Farrakhan: “Is getting physically strong very important to having a strong spirit? Minister Farrakhan answered, “Getting physically strong will give you more energy for your life, and that is good. But the real strength and power of the spirit that the scripture is talking about is the power that is bound up in the truth; that you are in harmony with the truth, then the spirit of the truth becomes the power that guides your life, and governs your activity, and gives you the strength to overcome the impediments that are in the pathway of progress. A strong body should lead to a strong spirit—but you can exercise, you can eat well, and have a strong body, but if you don’t know the truth and live in accord with the truth: You won’t have that spirit, or the power of that spirit that the scripture is talking about.”
May Allah bless us all with the spirit to eat well, exercise, and embrace truth so that we can all have peace, health, wealth, love, and happiness.
Sister Dr. Audrey Muhammad is an educator, aerobics instructor, and author of “Get Fit to Live: Be Your Best You!” Contact her at [email protected] and for more information, visit, www.virtuetodaymag. com. Please consult a physician before beginning any new exercise or dietary program.
