by Lucy | Apr 4, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
You can only drift off in the now, because now is all you ever get.
–Dr. Wayne Dyer
I have recently noticed, when I’m preoccupied with my work making money or determined to finish another task on the to-do list, I am much less happy and having a lot less fun than when I am in moment of the day-to-day experiences.
This discovery is related to the mindfulness journey I started several months ago. It has truly changed my life to be more peaceful and pleasant.
Then I received this Zen proverb, which ties in beautifully to this week’s message:
The story is of an old farmer in a remote village in China. He was the only man in the whole area who was given a horse to help work the fields.
“This is good!” said the neighbors.
“Maybe good, maybe bad,” replied the farmer, “It just is.”
One day, the horse got free and ran away.
“This is bad!” cried the neighbors.
“Maybe good, maybe bad,” replied the farmer, “It just is.”
Adjusting to work without the horse, everyone was surprised when a few days later the horse returned, bringing another horse with him.
“This is good!” exclaimed the neighbors.
“Maybe good, maybe bad,” replied the farmer, “It just is.”
Hoping to train the new horse, the old farmer’s son got up to ride the horse and fell and broke his leg.
“This is bad!” cried the neighbors.
“Maybe good, maybe bad,” replied the farmer, “It just is.”
The very next day, the Chinese government sent officers to the small farming village to conscript all the young men into service to fight a terrible war. The farmer’s son was the only young man spared, since his leg was broken and he could not fight.
“This is good!” exclaimed the neighbors.
“Maybe good, maybe bad,” replied the farmer, “It just is.”
And so it goes…
Food for thought:
What are the “good and bad” attachments you are holding onto?
From Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, “become free to immerse yourself in this moment…”
Right now is called the present – it is a gift to open, enjoy, explore and nurture.
by Lucy | Mar 28, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
So take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again. -Frank Sinatra
Nothing like a long holiday weekend to throw your healthy eating habits and exercise rituals into complete disarray.
No fear my friends – It’s Monday! This is your chance at another week to take care of yourself, your body and your well-being. One of the many reasons why I love Mondays.
Depending how far you feel off the wagon may determine how strict you decide to get this week.
Remember being healthy is not a matter of depriving ourselves but instead finding balance between tasty and healthy.
I have a confession… There’s a new and effective method of eating that has helped me feel healthy and satisfied with my own food choices. I’m sorry I have not shared this with you before now, but I am so excited to bring it to you now.
Its called it the EAT method, which is explained in great detail in the book EAT.Q by Dr. Susan Albers. EAT is an acronym for Embrace, Accept & Turn. Today we will focus on “E” and learn to embrace the emotions that are tied to eating.
How?! Thanks for asking. Next time you find yourself feeling vulnerable to make a less healthy food choice first ask the following questions:
• Where am I?
• What am I doing?
• How am I feeling?
• Who am I with?
• Why do I want to eat?
Food for thought:
Sometimes we eat because were hungry.
Often we eat because were happy, sad, celebrating, depressed or overwhelmed.
Next time you are tempted to reach for the snack pack in the cupboard why not start with the what, where, how, who & whys?
by Lucy | Mar 21, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
I close each Motivational Monday wishing my readers a happy and healthy week. I genuinely want each reader to be happy and healthy every week.
I am often reading self-, professional- and health-improvement literature… Job hazard! I also talk to a lot of people about their health, which is much more than just talking about their diet.
It seems the happiest people are those who are not concerned with wanting what other people have.
Whether that’s a different physique, the six-figure job, a bigger house or a better marriage.The moments I find myself the least happy are when I’m comparing to where I think I should be versus appreciating where I am and how far I’ve come.
Show and tell…
I recently I went on a backpacking trip and got to hang out with some awesome people. One in particular is my friend Shung – one of the happiest people I know. While walking through the woods I was able to ask my friend what makes him so happy.
He has a lot of wisdom and stories but what struck me is his choice to live a simple lifestyle without many material items. Also, he does not compare himself or his life to societal expectations.
Shung lives a life trying to provide more for other people than for himself. He takes great joy in doing something nice for a friend, family member or stranger. When I asked him about my theory that we were all put here with “a Devine purpose” or special gift from God, Shung replied that our purpose is to love and take care of one another. (talk about a humbling moment)
In doing good for someone else we end up receiving a gift as well… Gratitude and the joy of knowing you brightened someone’s day.
Food for thought:
The best part of doing something for somebody else is: it doesn’t need to be complicated!
Simply taking time to hand write a thank you note, treat a friend to coffee or bring in a healthy and delicious snack for your coworkers.
What can you do for someone else this week?
by Lucy | Mar 14, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
| We RISE by LIFTING others. -Robert Ingersoll |
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It’s that moment Monday morning when your office-mates ask “how are you?” Or “how was your weekend?”
It’s pretty ingrained in each of us to say “good” or “I’m fine, how are you?”
Anyone who knows me, knows I’m an open book…
If I’m running on the treadmill and the gal next to me asks how I am, I will likely tell her the truth. I’m running because I’m mad, overwhelmed or stressed out. This is one of the only occasions you’ll find me running (other occasions include a bear chasing me in the woods).
Not everyone wants to tell their coworkers or fellow gym buddies the depths of their emotional state; however, I think we would all benefit from being more honest with ourselves and each other.
Talk it out!
Five reasons why lying isn’t getting you anywhere:
5. You put off until tomorrow what could be done today. Often we are lying to ourselves about out choices when we have a 3rd serving of pasta and tell ourselves “it’s OK because I’m not going to eat any carbs tomorrow.”
4. You rob yourself of potential healing opportunities. We deny help when we [stubbornly] decide to fix it on our own instead of asking for assistance.
3. You are not being genuine and therefore cannot be trusted. Have you ever wanted someone to open up to you more and wondered why they didn’t? It might be that they didn’t feel they could trust you because you were too guarded.
2. You are more free when you are more honest. A more healthy relationship with others leads to a more healthy relationship with food.
1. People admire honesty! It takes courage to be vulnerable. We worry about being a burden on one another or looking weak. Remember the last stranger you sat next to on an airplane and decided just to tell them everything and had an amazing conversation because of it?
Food for thought:
You don’t need do life alone. How can you open up a little more this week?
Be a support for others by letting them in.
by Lucy | Mar 7, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
This adult thing is sort of exhausting, right? There are the family responsibilities, household responsibilities, work responsibilities and let’s not even talk about doing taxes…
Last week I had the opportunity to give three presentations, which is one of my favorite parts of Well Balanced Nutrition. I love an audience and I also enjoy the community atmosphere; however, they demand a lot of my energy.
After presenting at North Carolina Central University on Wednesday, I had a few hours before my next appointment and treated myself to a stroll around campus including a 20-minute stop in their lovely art museum.
I went home and was able to get 3-4 items off my to-do list before the afternoon meeting. I realized without taking the time for myself I probably would have accomplished the same amount of work, but with less concentration, peace and clarity.
How are you pressing the reset button during your workday? Below are a handful of suggestions pulled from my own experience and what I’ve learned from others.
Take a mid-day walk – My personal favorite! I always used my lunch break in the clinic for a 25 minute walk, which my staff knew was mandatory or else nobody wanted to be around me that afternoon.
Chitchat breaks – Allow yourself 10 to 15 minutes of gabbing with your coworkers about something completely unrelated to work.
Mindful breathing, meditation or stretching – Take a few minutes to close the door, dim or turn off the lights, bring the attention inward to the breath… Start with 10 slow inhales and exhales – filling up the lungs as far as possible and slowly exhaling it all out.
Bring a book – Grab something entertaining, delightful or fascinating for you to enjoy on a lunch break or for mid afternoon pick-me-up.
Music! – My personal favorite is the instrumental Disney station on YouTube, but you pick whatever works best for you :-).
Tea time – Instead of the usual afternoon hunt for sugar, try a hot (or cold) cup of tea and spend a few minutes savoring the flavor before turning back to the emails, IM bings, and projects.
Food for thought:
Today I give you permission to take 20 minutes to do what ever you want during the work day.
I don’t know your boss, but I imagine if they knew how much more productive you will be at the end of these 20 minutes they will totally agree with me.
In case they don’t – just blame it on Lucy (I can take it!).
