One Day at a Time

Have you ever felt like life seems to go by so so fast. Almost too fast? I completely know the feeling and since starting my new career as a holistic health coach I have learned how to slow things down. While we like to think that we can get so much done by multitasking, sometimes multitasking is what contributes to life passing us by. Take for example, having to accomplish so much that you can barely remember what it is that you were supposed to be doing in the first place! Things begin to pile up and before you know it, you realize that multitasking might not be the answer. In that case, I typically take one task at a time going from beginning to end with the intention of completely finishing the task before moving onto the next. This has allowed me to improve my mental focus and get work done ar a steady and productive pace. The next time you start to feel overwhelmed, stop, take a deep breath, and start with one thing at a time. You''ll be amazed at your results.

Interesting Perceptions

Have you ever had one of those days where whatever could go wrong actually did go wrong? The kind when you get up in the morning and it starts with tripping over something the minute you get out of bed, followed by bumping into something before you make it to the bathroom, only to then have several things fall off the counter and onto your toe? I've definately have had those mornings. And lately I've started to view those events differentlly, sort of as a little experiment to see if I can change the course of my day. In the past I used to get upset and carry those feelings with me throughout the entire day. I just knew that day would get worse. And actually it did! For me, all of that has changed. I now view those same events as very interesting little things that I then get to choose my reaction to. Typically I can be heard saying things like, "Hmm, this is going to be an interesting day. " Followed by a smile. And of course when I have the privilege of tripping later in the day while walking to my office, I tend to smile, look over my shoulder, and share the laugh with the guy who saw me trip. It definately does make for a more amusing day and an opportunity for me to make others smile! Keep smiling.

Environment and its impact on

When I was a little girl I remember watching science fiction movies. One movie that has never left me is Godzilla and Godzooki. If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, google godzilla. Godzilla and Godzooki were basically two giant size dinosaurs who fought over a woman while throwing the woman around like she was a rag doll. I remember my brothers absolutely loving the show...repeats and all. I, on the other hand, was frightened by the movie. It might seem like a small thing but environment really does have an impact on our personalities and perceptions. When exposed to such things at early ages, children can grow up to be fearful and timid. One way to avoid this is to be mindful of what you allow your children to watch. One interesting experiment is to go without TV for a month. I tried this with my teenage son and the impact was peacefully surprising. We had time for conversations, quiet time and inquisitive family time. It truly was a wonderfully enlightening environment. Go ahead and try it. Let me know your experience and the environment you were able to create for you and your family.

Connection

Recently I had a support group call for my eating disorder group. During the call we discussed the issue of connection. It was a great conversation. Participants definately felt some level of connection to others in the group and to themselves. Connection is so very important in recovery from an eating disorder. And I believe it is through our relationships with others that we can learn how to connect with self. The next time you're feeling disconnected, try to think of just one thing that wil keep you connected.

Being instead of doing.

Have you ever had a day where you were so tired it took you some time to just figure out that sleep was the missing ingredient? I had a day just like that this past Thursday. So often we get busy with our lives and daily tasks that we forget to slow down and smell the roses. We go from task to task not even realizing that we are missing out on the small beauties in life. Yesterday after returning from my office I decided to just sit on the couch and "be." After a few minutes of just being with myself I fell into a soft slumber. It was the best sleep I've experienced in quite sometime reminding me of the importance of being rather than doing. Try it sometime. Spend a little time just "being" with yourself. Tell me what you think.

Primary Food

Not everyone knows what primary food is so I thought it was only appropriate to talk about it today. When I hear the work primary I think of going to the grocery store and buying babyfood for my boys when they were small. And of course without appropriate nutrition (meaning food) babies don't grown properly. But more importantly, without love and proper attention, an infant can develop something called failure to thrive. In my prior career as a child protective services worker I have seen infants with failure to thrive. It's sad. So what does this have to do with primary food? Let's first talk about what primary food is and you will see what I'm talking about. Primary food is anything that we take into our being that is not real food. So for example, relationships are a form of primary food. They feed and nourish us in ways that food could never do. Career and spiritual practices are forms of primary food. Ever wonder why some jobs make you feel so good and another job you might have had was toxic? Yup...you guessed it. All primary foods. The trick is to make sure our primary foods are supporting and nourishing us. If they're not then guess what? You get to change that. Of course some may say, "easier said than done." And you're right. That's why I offer health coaching. I help people make choices that support their needs and goals. If you'd like to learn more about my philosophy and my programs, visit my website for details. And have a fabulous day!

Power Naps

Have you ever wondered about the benefits of napping? If you're like me, you might have thought that napping was a waste of time. It actually turns out that short naps can help to rejuvinate your body and your mind. If you're skeptical, go ahead and try it. I often take a drive to the waterfront, which is down the avenue from my office, on my lunch break and close my eyes for just a mere 20 minutes. When I wake, I feel like I've had a three hour sleep. Give it a try and let me know what your experience is!

Set up for Success

It's a Monday and I'm setting myself up for success. This is how I like to start my weeks. Each is a fresh new beginning and sometimes a new start to maintain my eating and my mood. Today I'll be enjoying simple dishes such as fresh herb salad with baby spinach and organic dressing (that you can get at your local natural food store or in the organic aisle at Tops or Webmans) and a simple brown rice recipe that includes some olive oil and a few chopped up veggies. You can add whatever you like and it doesn't have to be fancy. Brown rice and vegetables with a salad is a fabulous start to the day. Try it and let me know how you feel!

Shopping for almonds

The other day I asked my boyfriend to pick up some almonds for me at the store. After I got off the phone from our conversation I thought...."Hmm I'd better call him and tell him to read the label." When he got to the store he called me and asked if he should get the almonds that had about 7 or 8 other ingredients listed on the label. I told him to look for a package of almonds with ingredients of just one thing.....almonds. When he returned with the almonds he shared with me how frustrating it was to find a package with just one ingredient. But with a little extra time he was able to find a package and we enjoyed the healthiest version available, plain old almonds without all the extra added ingredients.

Vibrant Health is waiting for you!

Welcome to my blog: Vibrant Health Happy Life. I am a holistic health practitioner and I support my clients in creating the healthiest and happiest version of themselves possible. Most of my work is done via phone coaching sessions and some is done via webcam. I also see clients in one of my two offices which are located in two different areas of Western New York.

Many people are confused about how to live a vibrant happy life, so that's what I'm here for. To support anyone who wants help to experience vibrant health. So what exactly do I do? I educate my clients about how to choose wisely while shopping, eating and living. In a world where supermarkets are stuffed full of things that are not fit for human consumption, it is extremely important to know what to look for and what not be putting in your shopping basket.

So here's a tip for today. When shopping for groceries this week, start to read labels. If you find more than five ingredients on the label then you may want to consider finding another option. Now I realize that this might be a challenge at first. But trust me....it does get easier and in the long run you will learn which brands are the healthiest. This will save you time at the grocery store in the future and bring you one step closer to achieving vibrant health.

Happy shopping!