Be a Feeler

Don’t be all kinky, start feeling people up, then say “Nataly said to be a feeler!”  That’s just not gonna fly.  To clarify for you dirty thinkers (no judgment here), what I mean is: what is guiding you, your heart or your brain?

I tend to be a feeler rather than a thinker.  Most of the big decisions in my life have been based on a gut instict, or a heart tug, if you will.  Usually when I have felt discomfort, or when things haven’t gone as I would’ve liked them to, it’s actually because I allowed my brain to meddle and/or hold me back (thus, not following my heart and leading me to moments in life that I call distractions from my path).  Now, this is not to say not to use your brain or to ignore it.  All of the information we receive is our body’s way of communicating with us, and that information is very valuable in our life experience.  At all times, every part of your being is working in your favor, for your safety and survival.  Sometimes, however, the defense mechanisms we have developed are no longer serving us, and, instead, they hold us back from the amazing lives we can really be living.

Take for instance, when I felt a pretty strong heart tug in the direction of my dreams that led me to quit my job.  I knew I had to take a leap of faith, but my brain didn’t understand that (and neither did most people in my life, especially my parents).  My brain contributed the opinion that I was crazy, and that what I was doing was “risky” and not “safe.”  Similarly, most people, while expressing that they would be supportive of my final decision, advised against it and encouraged me to THINK about it.  My brain, like those people in my life, was well-meaning and only concerned for my “safety” and well-being.  From all angles it was fear, a sense of self-preservation, as well as the fear others were projecting onto me based on their own beliefs and experiences.  I respected the opinions, but in the end had to do what FELT right to me.  I quit.  Almost magically, doors opened, opportunities came, and the Universe fashioned a net as soon as I decided to take the leap.  It got the message that I was ready for a greater life.  I can’t explain it, but I knew that I would be taken care of…that’s how strong the feeling was…I guess we shall call it faith.

Our brain likes us to stay in our comfort zones, because that’s where it’s “safe.”  What have you let your brain hold you back from because of false beliefs like: “You can’t do that, you’ll only get hurt.”  ”That’s not going to work.”  ”You’re not good enough.”  ”You’ll only fail.”…I have to stop writing them before I start to believe them myself!  It felt ugly writing that…but you get the point.  Even in this negative self-talk, your brain is thinking it is keeping you safe from danger, from failure, from pain.  Don’t get upset at your brain, it’s doing what it THINKS is in your best interest.  I am here to tell you that is not always the case.

I’m not immune to these heart vs brain battles.  In fact, I’m in the middle of one right now.  I’m considering going on a transformational journey to Bali:  Boundless Bliss.  This life-changing, 11-day trip is led by an amazing visionary in the field of human potential, Kute Blackson.  It is by no means an affordable trip.  Going would mean exhausting my savings.  My search for meaning, and intense addiction to self-discovery and growth make me FEEL like I need to go.  But then the chatter starts in my brain: “That’s a lot of money.”  ”What if it doesn’t do anything for you?”  ”Are you using this as a crutch to not deal with your emotions?”  ”You’re better off not going.”  ”You can self-discover without spending an arm and a leg!”  I’ve gone back and forth a million times in the past week between my fearful brain and desiring heart.  My heart believes that there is no need to be attached to material wealth, and that if you created it once, you can always rebuild it.  Based on that, spending whatever amount on this journey shouldn’t be an issue, right?  But, then, there’s all the other BS.  You know, the stuff we were taught (most often as a result of fear), or we  learned somewhere along the way; like: “Be smart about your money.”  ”Having money equals safety.”  ”Be responsible.”  So here I am, stuck between what I intuitively know versus the learned fears, and actively working on silencing the confusing chatter.

What do we do when we THINK we don’t know what to do?  We look outside ourselves.  We pray, ask friends/loved ones, and now with a lil something called technology we are able to get information in a split second.  We look for people who’ve had similar experiences, we want advice, someone to tell us it’s all going to be ok – ultimately, to guide us in the “right” direction.  That, however, only adds to the chatter.  People encourage us and we think “Yea I can do this!”  Or if they say, “Hmmm that’s risky.”  We think, “Yea you’re probably right,” and get discouraged.  What if I told you that you already know what you want, what you should do?  You do.  You just have to take the time to quiet the chatter and take a southbound trip from the head to the heart.  And, the reality is, there is no right direction; there’s just your path however you choose to create it.  Trust that you are being guided by the source of your intuition, if you just slow down, quiet down and check in with your heart.  Trust that regardless of the outcome, you will have the strength to continue on your path; not right or wrong, just yours.  Trust your heart.  Be a feeler.

HUGS, LOVE, & LIGHT!

nv

You hear your heart, but are you listening?

I was shut off.  Disconnected.  Not being love.  I found myself in that place over the last few weeks.  It caused anxiety, angst, doubt, fear, confusion…you name it, I felt it.  All at once.  And unfortunately, my boyfriend felt it (and yet, continued to be loving and caring).  My light was definitely dimmed, and it was my own doing.  But I needed this experience in my life to propel me further on my spiritual path.  I’m addicted to self-discovery and growth, and for that I am very grateful.

I started to feel discomfort (a term I use to refer to that feeling in the pit of your stomach or that heart-wrenching feeling when something just doesn’t feel right) because I was not speaking my truth.  The longer I went without speaking my truth, the more disconnected and annoyed I felt.  This was occuring to me within my relationship, but it can happen in any area of your life where you are not being honest with yourself and/or others, and are not communicating from the heart.  The feelings of disconnection and annoyance were projected onto my boyfriend.  There were a few things that I saw in him that I did not like, and because I feared hurting his feelings, I decided not to share.  Not only did I not share, but I focused so intently on the, “I don’t like that” that guess what?  I kept seeing things I didn’t like.  Energy flows where attention goes, and I was giving so much silent attention to the things I didn’t like that they became extremely loud.  I felt I needed space, and my brain took me on a whirlwind of questions and thoughts, including, “Maybe this is not for me.”  Part of me knew I had to speak up, but just didn’t know how or couldn’t find the right time.  My heart knew what I needed to do to feel better, but yet I didn’t listen.  How often do we ignore that inner voice because of the meddling brain and all the stories it makes up as to why we shouldn’t follow our hearts?  Then we make ourselves busy or distract ourselves so we can’t hear.

Luckily, my partner, while respecting what I was going through, wasn’t giving up.  He asked what was wrong, and I have this thing about not lying…that moment became the right time.  As difficult as it was to share how I was feeling, and the things I had noticed that didn’t sit well with me (I chose my words carefully), I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  And, as difficult as it was for him to hear, he felt more at ease, too.  This opening up, however, did not resolve how I was feeling toward him.  I still felt shut off and disconnected, and I continued to wonder if this was the relationship for me.  As the magical Universe would have it, I came across an event that was happening that same night (how odd is that, right?) at a yoga studio in Hollywood, led by an amazing soul and someone I consider a mentor (even though I hadn’t met him yet):  Mastin Kipp, founder of one of my favorite blogs thedailylove.com; it just so happened that this event was called “An evening with your heart” (he’s planning another one soon, stay tuned).  I was feeling and thinking so many things-my relationship, contemplating a possible trip to Bali (a story for another blog)-that I knew it was no accident that I found this event.  Initially, fear tried to stop me from going, but luckily my heart spoke up and by-passed the brain, to send the message to my finger to click “Order Now.”  My heart spoke, and I listened.  Amazingly enough, I had already started, on my own, a process that would be helped further along by this event.  What I experienced that evening was, in short, re-connection. The breakdown began when I unplugged from my own heart, by not speaking up (something I have done much too often in my life).  When I’m not connected to myself, to Source/Universe/God, how can I possibly feel love for or connection to anyone else?  When I am not speaking my truth, and not letting my heart be heard, I am at odds with myself.  While communicating from the heart was the first step, I still needed to reconnect all the loose wiring that was causing the malfunction.  I sent my lil army of lovebugs and just like that plugged back in.  I am connected, I am love.

Take 2 minutes right now to check in with your heart.  What’s it telling you?  Are you listening?

XOXO

Rise and Shine

Time for breakfast!  Oh, no time?  At all?  Really?  I mean, breakfast IS the most important meal of the day, ya know?  How annoying is it to hear … read… that?  Well the reason it’s so annoying is because it’s true, and we don’t always do what’s best for us; so, of course, it’s annoying to be reminded of that thing that’s good for us, that we should be doing, but we’re not.  Oooooh you must really not like me right about now…but that’s ok because when you’re over pouting and stomping your feet (that’s OK, I have tantrums, too) I’ll still be here to love you up (yes, even if that means telling you the truth you don’t want to hear…read).  What’s the big deal about breakfast anyway!?

1.  Your brain and central nervous system run on glucose.  Say you got your 8 hours of sleep, but skipped breakfast, and didn’t eat (coffee doesn’t count!) for another 4 hours!!  You are running on empty!  How are you functioning at work, at school, or remembering to do everything you had to do?  Your body and brain need that fuel.  It will improve your productivity, and concentration.  Basically, without breakfast, you can’t reall shine, and lack of shine is fatal…seriously.

2.  If you want to get rid of excess weight you may want to start with breakfast.  When you don’t eat for an extended amount of time, your body goes into starvation mode, after which food will be stored as fat (a process that was necessary waaaaaaay back in the day when humans didn’t know when they were going to find food again, which I have a feeling is not a problem for many of us these days).  When you don’t take in enough calories at breakfast, you’re also more likely to eat more later in the day.

3.  If you feel sluggish in the morning, eating the right breakfast can give you the energy you need.  Without food first thing in the morning, you’re running on empty.  You wouldn’t get very far in your car when that gas needle hits the E, right?  As I mentioned earlier, coffee doesn’t count; coffee gives you a false sense of alertness and energy, why not get the real deal?

There are many more benefits to eating breakfast, but I was told my posts were too long so onto the good stuff.  What to eat for breakfast?  Not having enough time is not an excuse, by the way!  It can be as simple as some oatmeal with berries and cinnamon, whole wheat toast with some fruit, greek yogurt with berries and nuts; or if you have a lil more time, maybe a veggie omelette.  If you’re really pressed for time you’ll like what I have as my second breakfast: liquid nutrition in a cup!  Yup, a smoothie!  This is one of my favorite breakfasts, snacks, dinners… I just love me a good smoothie!  The one I made today:

1 Fuji apple
1 1/2 cups of coco water
2-3 leaves of kale
handful of cilantro
a few slices of cucumber
a thin slice of ginger
handful of pinenuts and pistachios (for my healthy fats)
a few ice cubes

I don’t have a fancy blender, like the Vitamix or Blendtec so don’t think you have to go buy all these appliances to make healthier choices.  I just leave the blender on for a little bit longer so everything is smoothed out nicely, get it, smoothie?  smoothed out?  ha.  You don’t have to try my recipe, I get a lil crazy with it.  I mean, I throw in whatever I have and blend it up.  Have some fun with it, make up your own, I’d love to see what recipes you come up with!  You can post below If you’re still thinking you don’t have time, you can even make it at night and leave it in a to-go cup ready to take when you’re rushing out the next morning.

One last tip:  try to add some greens (kale, spinach, collard, etc), rather than making it all fruit – yea it’s fruit, but still a lot of sugar.

Alright, alright…I’m done.  Really, I’m working on making these shorter… it’s a work in progress

Have an awesome and healthy day!

xoxo

 

I Accept

“How you do anything is how you do everything.”  This one, very powerful phrase was first introduced to me by my great friend, meditation teacher, mentor, and hypnotherapist, Myke Zykoff; it has made me realize so many things about myself, some of which I knew, but wasn’t consciously facing.  This has been one of those phrases that comes to the forefront of my conscience repeatedly, and that is where it is happily hanging out now.  It likes to remind me, make me aware, almost like a “hey!  remember me?”

Yup, I remember you.  Thanks for visiting, I appreciate your reminders, going off like a set alarm whenever I need a shift of focus, or a call to attention.  So what led to this visit…

I had lunch with one of my favorite spirits, Stephanie (her blog is awesome BTW VeegMama check it out!).  We chatted, ate yummy vegan food, and then went off to connect with ourselves in meditation class.  As soon as I sat on the green yoga mat and began writing I had an epiphany: “I am very hard on myself.”  As we emptied our brains onto paper in the form of words, I felt a shift, a moving of internal “stuff.”  I’ve been feeling a lot of resistance lately, in many areas of my life; across the board I would say.  I recall this feeling, I’ve experienced it before, and every time it has shown up in my life it has resulted in growth, motivation, inspiration, and awareness.  I am blessed to have a sense of being an observer of myself… you know, me and my multiple personalities! HA!  What I mean is, I’m able to step back and be in complete awareness of what I’m doing, why, and where the behavior comes from (whether an outdated reaction or belief, a defense mechanism I picked up along the way, etc).  Anyway, in that moment, as I sat, cross-legged, engaged in deep conversation with my journal, I came to the understanding that I am hard on myself about EVERYTHING; because, you know, “How you do anything is how you do everything.”  Relationships.  Food.  Work.  Lifestyle.  Exercise.  Weight.  Habits.

Pause.

Just to show HOW MUCH writing is a tool for self-discovery for me, I just now, as I’m writing this, realized it all comes from the outdated and erroneous belief that I’m not good enough.  Flashing lights, angels singing, trumpets blaring…. aaaaah there’s such beauty in awareness.  Good enough for who?  For what?  Ok, well, I can go back to specific times, situations, and places that contributed to the development of this monster, from inception, but I won’t overwhelm you with the details.  But, this monster likes to poke it’s ugly head in ALL my business.  In its defense, it is a monster that I created, and invited to stay for tea; it’s a thought that, through repetition and my brain’s translation of outside information, became a belief…thus setting up shop and overstaying it’s welcome.  But let me tell ya, it is time to kick that MOFO out FOR GOOD.  I’m throwing it and all of its associated baggage on a one-way train.

You are the only one that determines how you feel about yourself.  Your outside world is only a reflection of how you feel internally.  If you’re like me, and have experienced feelings of unworthiness or not being good enough, then the universe will deliver exterior situations and circumstances that subconsciously prove this… and because our egotistical brains love to be right they will soak up this information and say “See, I told you you aren’t good enough!”

So here’s what I ask of you, right now, as you are (and I promise I will do the same):  Accept that in this moment, AS YOU ARE (had to say it again so it really sticks), YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH!  I AM GOOD ENOUGH!  WE ARE GOOD ENOUGH!  I encourage you to seek out your monsters, these outdated and erroneous beliefs that keep you from the wonderful life you deserve, and replace them with unicorns and rainbows (did I take it too far? ok FINE …Insert a magical being of your choice here).  Whenever the monster peeks its head say, “You’re crazy because I AM GOOD ENOUGH!”  Say it out loud, say it in front of a mirror, say it a million times, and think it over and over and over and over.  Even if you feel silly, even if you don’t believe it at first.  A repeated thought will, eventually, become a belief system.

I ACCEPT THAT I AM GOOD ENOUGH.

DO YOU?

De-clutter

Did your thoughts just rush to the overflowing drawers and closets at home, or the desk you can no longer find, but you know is there, in your office, somewhere, under all the piles of paper?  While de-cluttering your outer space(s) can open new pathways for energy to flow, cleaning out your internal space can do wonders on so many levels.  So, what do I mean “cleaning out your internal space…”?  My, my, my you have some good questions

Our bodies are under attack…cover, tuck, and roll…tuck, cover, and roll?  eh I tried… what’s a post without a lil drama, huh?  Our air is toxic, our water is toxic, processed foods are toxic, sugar is toxic, shall I continue?  You’re a smart cookie, you get it.  I’m not trying to freak you out, it’s the reality of the world we live in.  The standard American diet (SAD, if you will, and I’m sure the acronym is no accident) is the clutter I’m referring to when it comes to our physical space; it keeps us in a mental fog and emotional discomfort.  We are living in a time with the highest rates of obesity, chronic illness, and preventable deaths, among many other ills brought on by the SAD.  Further than the deterioration of our physical health, our food choices have also aggravated the occurence of ADD, ADHD, depression, and a whole slew of emotional/mental disorders.  The impact food has on our emotional and mental health is rarely discussed because the pharmaceutical industry and doctors benefit from prescribing medication to treat symptoms, without ever getting to the root of the problem.  So lemme break it down for you.  The SAD (standard American diet, in case you weren’t paying attention, it’s ok blame it on that chocolate bar you ate after that frozen dinner you had for lunch, making your brain foggy and hazy, it’s alright, don’t worry) consists of fast food, junk food, processed food, frozen food…all full of preservatives, toxins, sugar, chemicals, and void of real nutritional value; that is definitely a recipe for feeling like crap mentally, physically, and emotionally.  This is not just something I learned either, I have had personal experience and have conducted my own tests on the matter.  You remember that post on how I was being a b*$@# … if not, go back and read it.

My latest experiment on myself was a detox program.  A good friend of mine, Cirenia, is a Detox Coach (hey, we can all use a health coach, even me) and I decided to sign up for her program.  Now, being that it is HER program, I cannot give you all of the details, but you can click on her facebook link if you’d like to get in contact with her, I totally recommend her.  I will say that a lot of it consisted of raw fruits and vegetables.  This 4-week detox took me to a whole other level.  It literally helped me clear the clutter of my body and mind.  As a result, I think clearer, my memory has improved (even for random things, like where I parked my car), my energy has shot through the roof (as if that was possible, right?), I lost about 10 lbs, my skin looks amazing, my mood is more stable.  I can go on with the benefits I have experienced; in fact, I’ll share that someone told me it seemed like I had tapped into some internal light, like I was now a beacon.  I’ve always known I have a lot of light and love to share, but this took me to a whole other level.  What happens when you clear clutter?  It’s easier to find things, and there are no distractions; and with no blockage, your light shines brighter.

Right now, evaluate how you feel.  Are you tired?  Depressed?  Can’t think straight?  I can almost promise you that if you were to clean up your diet for AT LEAST 1-2 weeks you will tap into a better you on so many levels, that you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.  So here’s what I propose:  this week add in as many raw fruits and vegetables as you can, and eliminate all the yucky processed foods keeping you in a slump.  You can juice, eat them raw, make salads (you can use olive oil, lemon and balsamic as dressing).  You can eat whenever you want, as long as it’s raw fruits and vegetables.  If you’re brave enough to turn up your light, try it for next week, too.  I will be expecting your comments to see how it went…I’m holding you accountable, but I KNOW you can do it.  Now go clear your clutter and as always, shine bright…

XOXO

Love 101

I usually wake up with a lot of love in my heart, and today was no exception.  I love to love people up.  When I am kind, caring, and loving toward others is when I feel most alive, most in alignment, and most connected with Source/Universe/God (whichever your belief is, for me it’s Universe).  On Valentine’s Day we are reminded to show our loved ones how much we care (if we haven’t been doing that already all year long).  But, when was the last time you remembered to love YOU?  To show yourself how much you care for YOU?

The past year has been one of evolution and growth for me, during which, I learned the importance of self-love and self-care.  Sure, we all know the cliché sayings along the lines of, “You have to love yourself before you can love someone else,” and yea, that’s a beautiful idea, but so are all the million and one things that we “know” but never put into practice for one reason or another.  In my experience, I learned that I was looking for someone or something to feel whole, fulfilled; and what I found was that I was still empty.  Many times we find things and people to fill our lives and souls because we are afraid to be with ourselves, to sit still, to be with our own thoughts; we are afraid of what we might find, so alas, we stay in relationships and situations that don’t feel right because at least it’s better than being alone.  In the end it’s all clutter, stored upon unstable shelves…and sooner or later it will inevitably fall apart; that, or, no matter what temporary external satisfaction you find, you will, nonetheless, be perpetually unfulfilled.  But hey now, I didn’t mean to sound all emo and grave on such a beautiful day…

One of the most amazing lessons the Universe has taught me was that love comes from within.  We are all whole, in this moment, as we are.  You, me…independently of each other, we are whole.  You are not broken, you are not just a piece of the puzzle…with all your intricacies, layers, and beautiful qualities, perfect in your imperfection, you are already complete.  When I realized this, I began my adventure of self-discovery.  I nurtured my mind, body, and soul.  I learned what was important for me, what my priorities are, what I am not willing to compromise, and things I love to do.  I went to Disneyland by myself, started working out every day, went to restaurants by myself.  I continue to give myself the time and care I deserve on a daily basis, I dedicate love songs to myself, and, I’ll even confess to you that last Valentine’s Day I bought myself a card and wrote a love note to myself because, who better to profess undying and unconditional love to me, than ME.  Loving myself up, is just as important, if not more, to me as loving everyone else up.  And that is how I let my light shine.  So today, while we continue to show our love for the special people in our lives through kind gestures, words, flowers, chocolates, and dinner, I ask you to do something extra special for the most important person in your life:  YOU.  Love yourself up, you’re worth it, you deserve it.

Happy Love Day!
xoxoxoxo

Minions

That’s how I feel about cravings…like they’re little minions (and not the cute ones from Despicable Me) sent from the diet-sabotaging gods to infiltrate your fortress of health.  Ok, maybe a wee-bit dramatic.  But, seriously, aren’t cravings annoying?  You’ve made the decision to eat healthier, and you’re doing great; then, BAM!  10:30pm, sitting on the couch, unwinding after a long day, and your mind goes to whatever yummy snack you know is sitting in the freezer, fridge, or pantry.  You ignore it.  Even have that internal battle with the minions, “No, go away!  I said NO!  I’m not gonna do it!”  Yup, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  Ok, so what to do about it?  Duh!  Kick the minions out, one by one.  HA!  Well, something like that.  Here’s the good news, it’s all mental (well, most of the time; that is, when you’re not REALLY hungry).  Usually, it’s just a habit.  You can control your mind, and you can break habits.  There it is.  You’re welcome.  Now go fight off the minions!  Ok, ok…I’m kidding.

First, you have to deconstruct your cravings.  Meaning, become familiar with your body, your triggers, and why it is that you crave things; find patterns where there are some.  I’ve learned that when I get home from work at around 11pm, I want to eat something; and after a meal I want something sweet.  Both of those are habits.  I know I’m not really hungry, I’ve just become accustomed to eating when I get home from work and having dessert.  Of course, you have to be able to eliminate undereating, and vitamin/mineral deficiencies as the sources of these cravings.  When you don’t eat enough throughout the day, specifically an adequate combination of protein, fat, fiber, and carbs, you are going to have cravings; same goes for any vitamin/mineral deficiencies you may have (craving salt/salty snacks, for example, can, in some instances, be related to an iron deficiency).  If you’re able to rule those out, it’s time to put minion-fighting ninjas in place (you know, a plan).  Here are some easy tips:

1.  Drink water (often we confuse thirst with hunger)
2.  Read a book, call a friend, or watch a movie (distract yourself long enough to know if you’re really hungry…many times you’ll notice the craving passes)
3.  Take a shot of apple cider vinegar, raw/organic honey, and sunflower oil (1 oz. of each and mix): apple cider vinegar helps balance your body’s pH, supports healthy digestion, and can help curb cravings for sugary and high fat foods; sunflower oil is high in fat (but the good kind! and not eating enough fat can make you have cravings), a great source of vitamin E, antioxidants and provides natural energy; in addition to being anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, honey also regulates your blood sugar
4.  Have healthy snacks on hand ALL THE TIME: my favorite snack, as you already know, is half of an avocado sprinkled with sea salt.  Think easy, healthy things you can always have on hand: nuts, seeds, raw fruit and veggies, baby carrots and hummus.
5.  Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast!  Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day (when I skip breakfast, it doesn’t matter what I eat throughout the day, I’m always hungry at night)
6.  Eat smaller meals, frequently (ideally, you should be eating every 3-4 hours and I don’t mean eat a super-sized Big Mac meal every 3-4 hours.  Small, healthy, balanced meals)
7.  Meals should have a combination of fiber, carbs, healthy fat, and lean protein (for example, a grilled chicken salad with olive oil: chicken – lean protein, veggies – carbs and fiber, olive oil – healthy fat)
8.  Write.  Many times taking out some blank sheets of paper and writing (yes pen and paper, not Iphone notes) and working through your emotions, or whatever is going on in your head at the time is all you really need.  Venting on paper is always a great tool.  Maybe you’ll realize you didn’t need that snack after all.

Peace out cravings-minions… you’re not welcome here.
Fight on ninja health warrior!

XOXO

Easy Does It

Raise your hand if you like to psych yourself out.  You know, make up excuses and reasons for not doing something that’s good for you, or telling yourself how difficult it is.  Uh huh, yea, let’s be honest here.  Sure, it’s easier to keep doing what you’re doing.  BUT if you’re expecting different results (say, weight loss, for example), that, my friend, is the definition of insanity.  We do this a lot when it comes to eating healthier.  How many excuses have you had for NOT making the changes you know would benefit you?  ”It takes too much preparation.”  ”I don’t have enough time.”  ”It’s too expensive.”  ”I can’t do it.”  ”But vegetables are gross!” “I’ll start on Monday.”  We always want to start on a Monday, what’s that all about?  Why not now?  Why not today?

There are many misconceptions about making healthier choices: it’s too difficult, healthy doesn’t taste good, the list goes on.  Again, we psych ourselves out; but, really, it’s self-sabotage.  Maybe because we’re afraid of change, or because, deep down, we don’t believe we deserve better.  Stepping out of our comfort zones takes courage, but, the reality is, that it all comes down to baby steps.  Weight loss, and a healthier lifestyle don’t have to be about eating lettuce all day, or NEVER having dessert again.  Finally, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel!!  Yes, you don’t have to excommunicate dessert.  If you really want to make lasting, sustainable changes, they have to be realistic and enjoyable.  Weight loss and being healthier is not about torture.  So, here’s the tough love:  let’s get real, stop being scared, and get on a path to a healthier, happier you.   Not on the 1st of the month, not on Monday, TODAY!

I’m sure the next question is, “But where do I start?”  Start small  If you’re getting into a mid-day slump and want to reach for that caffeine- and sugar-filled soda or latte, go for an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-filled green tea instead.  Keep your snacks simple, too, so that you don’t overwhelm yourself.  One of my favorite snacks is half of an avocado, sprinkled with sea salt.  I cut it open, and eat it right out of the peel.  Avocados, aside from being the healthy kind of fat (monounsaturated), are also a great source of vitamins A, B, E and K, as well as minerals, such as potassium, iron, and zinc.  I can go on about avocados, if you haven’t figured it out yet, I LOVE them!  Alright, done with that…. Anyway, check out the pic below, that is another one of my favorite snacks, and it’s super easy, and filling!  Here’s the really basic recipe:

1 Sprouted grain English muffin (Ezekiel brand)
Tomato
Basil leaves
Baby spinach
Avocado
Vegan cheese (pepperjack-style shreds -Daiya brand)
Sea salt
Black pepper

I toast the English muffin, then sprinkle the cheese on top.  I like the cheese melted, so I put the muffin with the cheese in the toaster oven for a bit.  I slice up the avocado and layer it on top, followed by slices of tomato, shredded basil leaves, and baby spinach.  I top it off by sprinkling some sea salt and black pepper.  Aside from not taking much preparation and being super yummy, I love this snack because I get my healthy fats, veggies, protein, fiber, and carbs.

I don’t like to complicate my life, and I’m sure you don’t either.  So, don’t.  Keep it simple.  You’d be surprised how easy it is when you make small changes that you can stick to.  What healthy, small changes can you make today?

I believe in you

XOXO

Attracting

We are all in a perpetual state of attraction.  Whether we are aware of it or not, our thoughts are powerfully charged magnets pulling into our life experience that which we are most focused on.  When we are not proactive in our thought-choosing process, we begin to experience less than pleasant situations, circumstances, etc.  Many times, when we experience something deemed unfavorable, we are left wondering things like, “Why me?” “How did this happen?” and other similar thoughts.  Because I know I am a powerful being (YOU are, too!!) creating my life thought by thought and choice by choice, I ask myself: “What was I thinking (and as a result, doing) that attracted this into my experience?” or, simply put, “How did I attract this?”

That is precisely the question I asked myself after my last failed relationship.  Because of my inquisitive and introspective nature, I like to get to the bottom of things for my own understanding.  Even though that relationship ended about a year ago, and I am in a great place in my life, there was something unsettling about it; about how it ended.  I felt I had to figure out how I attracted that into my experience.  The logical part of me knew that it HAD to end for my personal and professional growth.  Without getting into the intricacies of the relationship, it just wasn’t for me; and many times throughout those 3 years, I felt it, but ignored the gnawing discomfort.  Nonetheless, over the past year, on different occasions, I found myself thinking, “How did I attract that?”  Particularly because my ego felt I did not deserve what happened and how it happened.  Additionally, part of me was fearful that, if I didn’t figure it out, I would continue to attract similar situations.  Which, I thought I was doing, considering the dating experiences I was having as of late.

Today, I released some knowing that was in me all along (as Myke Zykoff, my great friend, life coach, and meditation teacher, says).  Perhaps this happened because I’ve been on a detox for the past week; one of the spiritual/emotional side-effects of cleaning house.  Whatever the trigger or reason, I realized I didn’t attract the end or failure of that relationship.  You see, I believe in a sweep-me-off-my-feet, intoxicating, passionate, fairy tale kind of love.  I also believe that there are good men.  That relationship had stopped being what I wanted well before the 3 years were over, and it HAD to end because it wasn’t what I believe love should be.  About a year ago, I began really tuning in to my magnetic power.  The calling for what I wanted (and what I no longer was happy with) became so strong that MANY things had to change or end: my old job, my relationship, in order for me to continue on my path of attracting and manifesting what is really in my heart.  In retrospect, the whole situation screams to me “DISTRACTION!”  That’s it, that’s exactly it!  I was getting sidetracked and staying in relationships and jobs that didn’t feel right, and that no longer served me; but those choices to be there were only delaying the process of manifesting what I really wanted.  In whatever way it had to happen, I had to be freed from that relationship.  Even though, on the surface, I thought I wanted to be there, turns out the Universe knew better.  I was there for the wrong reasons; same reasons I stayed at my old job: safety, stability, comfort, and fear of change or the unknown.  But, finally, the Universe gave me the nudge, I jumped, and a net appeared.

Now, rather than thinking, “How did I attract a failed relationship?” I am seeing it as, “I’m attracting what I want and what serves me, so, logically, what doesn’t serve me will have to fall to the wayside.”  Whatever may have ended, happened, not happened in YOUR life know that it’s not happening TO you, it’s happening FOR you.  Rather than asking yourself, “Why me?”  Believe that there is a reason, a lesson, an opportunity.  Then, continue on your merry way to attracting what your heart really wants.

XOXO!

Case Your Cups

I basically live out of a suitcase.  What I mean by that is, because of my job and the gym, I walk around life with a lot of bags, extra clothes, shoes…and, of course, undergarments.  I have a garment bag for my work clothes, but my undergarments were usually just placed in one of my many bags.  I noticed, though, that my bras (guys don’t stop reading now, because this post can benefit you, too…you’ll see why) were getting really damaged.  They were getting dirty, smashed, wrinkled; and, I found myself making frequent trips to Victoria’s Secret.  That is, until I found there was a way to protect my bras from damage: CupCase Your Bras™.  This handy-dandy lil case looks like two oversized cupcake baking cups (of course, made of more durable material) that zip together to make the perfect carrying case for your undergarments.  It’s awesome for traveling, packing your overnight bag if you’re not planning to come home (uh huh, you know what I’m talking about), or even for daily trips to the gym (rather than tossing your bra into your gym bag).

*Photo courtesy of www.cupcase.com

I’ve been using it for the past few months and I LOVE IT!  I use it pretty much every day.  I can fit up to 3 bras in it, and also put smaller items inside (hair pins, jewelry, underwear etc).  It definitely saves me money because, for less than the price of some undergarments, it keeps my bras free from damage, and they last longer (sorry Victoria’s Secret…LOL).  I’m all for cost-effective options that make life easier, and this is definitely one of those.  (GUYS, pay attention, I’m helping you out here!! ——–>>>>) And hey, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so here’s an idea: how about getting that special girl in your life one of these awesome cases?  But here’s the real romantic (or sexy, if you will) part, what if you buy a nice bra you’d like to see her in and give it to her with this case as the “box”… I’d say that’s a pretty awesome idea, huh?

Until next time…
XOXO