#mindsetmonday – cookies got the best of me & its OK

Recently my sister and cousins and all our respective kids held our annual Xmas cookie extravaganza. Each year we gather with our receipes and our ingredients for fun & laughter culminating in about a zillion xmas cookies on my cousin’s kitchen counter. It’s tradition, it’s fun and it’s one of the only times of the year we all are together in one room. I love it.

What I don’t love though is the aftermath of the utterly devestating sugar binge and tailspin I can’t seem to avoid each year. Although I logically know better and can avoid eating cookies without issue any other time of the year – all bets are off on xmas cookie day. Each year I tell myself – nope – not this year Shannon. You’ve got this. And each year, the dang cookies get the best of me. I think I ingested more sugar in that one day that I did all year combined – EEEEEEKKKK.

But, what IS different this year is that I told myself it was ok. I didn’t experience the usual guilt and remorse. The usual disgust with myself. The usual after-binge feelings (I know some of you know what I’m talking about here – the inner dialogues we have with ourselves at these times is brutal and horrible). I gave myself permission this year on cookie day. I gave my self permission because I know that 85% of the time year-round I make healthy choices. I gave myself permission because I know that for me to fully enjoy cookie day I want to taste test! And I gave myself permission because I know that I will pick myself back up, pull myself out of the sugar craving tailspin and get back to normal. (sidenote – this is not an easy task, once you get that sugar in you, it’s more addictive than some drugs – but you CAN do it).

This holiday season – what will you tell yourself? Will you beat yourself up? Will you go through the normal yo-yo emotions of self-hatred for eating something “you shouldn’t”? I hope not. My hope for you this holiday season is for you to enjoy yourself – you only live once for goodness sakes. And if that means having some xmas cookies (or whatever it may be) than so be it. Hand yourself out some forgiveness, grace and kindness – and then, find your support network and get back to your normal. And if your normal is not the most healthy, then in 2020 I encourage you to find your healthy!

Happy holidays!!

Advertisement

Food is Medicine #quicktipwednesday

Food is the most powerful medicine we have at our disposal. However, we often forget this basic and time-tested fact with all of the advances we enjoy in today’s day and age.

Food can also be used for prevention. With cold and flu season upon us, try out this Elderberry syrup recipe and help your family stay healthy this fall/winter season.

https://wellnessmama.com/1888/elderberry-syrup/comment-page-2/

#mindsetmonday

Monday’s are hard?

Every Monday we get a choice. It’s up to us to choose how our day will go, to choose our mood, to choose whether we will be negative and cranky or positive and happy.

Too often we choose to be unhappy about the new work week. And that choice affects our attitudes as well as the way we feel and show up during the day.

Why do we choose to create that feeling of unhappiness and irritability? Is that really how we want to feel?

Wouldn’t we rather feel happy and at peace with a sense of calm and excitement for what the week will bring?

Perhaps we should all make the conscious choice to be happy and look forward to the new opportunity coming our way and the blessing to connect with those around us.

Think for yourself – how do you really want to feel. Make the choice and then put that choice into action. You will have a much easier Monday and it won’t seem like such a burden.

Ultimately it’s your choice. And you have complete control over it!

Happy Monday

Boost your libido with food!

#quicktipwednesday

Tip of the Day: Dark chocolate, pumpkins seeds, garlic, oysters, pineapple and celery have all been shown to positively affect libido.

Grab your loved one and get your pumpkin on! Tis the season for, well, everything pumpkin.

Throw some raw pumpkin seeds in with your oatmeal. Roast them up to east as a delicious snack or include them with some sunflower seeds, almond slivers, flax meal, cinnamon and almond milk for a tasty and healthy cereal.

Be creative and enjoy!

#mindsetmonday – the truth

#mindsetmonday

One of my favorite quotes – and I’m not sure who said it initially – goes:

“The Truth is that you are whole, perfect, capable and deserving. The Truth is that you are meant for greatness. The Truth is that you are capable of doing whatever it is you want to do on your own terms.”

As human beings we are only bound by the limits we place upon ourselves. It’s the thoughts, conditioning and mindset we operate in that limits us. However, the truth is that each one of us was put on this earth for a purpose; To discover our innate talents and abilities and share them with the world. We only have one life in our physical bodies – why do we waste it in fear and limitation?

How will you be brave? What are you limiting yourself to? Life truly is what we make of it.

#mindset

Who are you. YOU – your truest self. What do you believe? What do you stand for? How do you see the world? What are you goals, your dreams? What values do you hold?

How do you exhibit those everyday? How do you show up in the world and does it align with who you are? Do you allow others to experience who you are?

If you haven’t thought about these questions in a while – it’s time to revisit them. The answers to them are foundational to your happiness in everyday life.

Remember always – be who YOU are!