by Lucy | Sep 22, 2016 | Well Balanced Wisdom
Have you ever felt STUCK? You know, those times when you can’t catch a break, bad things are happening left and right, and it feels like you are just being sucked into quicksand. Maybe it feels like you are surrounded by muck, grime, goo, creepy bugs, hissing snakes, and every other kind of terrible thing. Sometimes life feels like you are stuck in a swamp.
I call it the Shrek syndrome.
You can’t even see what’s a few feet in front of you because your vision is so blurred from the negativity gnats flying around your head. I’ve been there before and I know it’s really easy to stay in that place… stuck and sinking further. I also know that it is possible to dredge your way out. How? Here is what worked for me…
We can’t ignore the stress in our lives but we can change the way we think about it.
When the Shrek syndrome comes on, approach the unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. It’s not easy but the more you can turn your outlook around the faster you can get out of that nasty swamp.
I was able to stop being an Ogre when I started shining light on the things that hadn’t gone wrong… right down to the air that was filling my lungs. I know it may sound cheesy but it’s a PROVEN STRATGEY. Positive thinking has been linked to an increased life span, lower rates of depression, lower levels of distress and even greater resistance to the common cold.
Your homework: Choose at least one to try this week.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO SHINE LIGHT ON THE GOOD AND GET OUT OF THE SWAMP
Gratitude journal – daily, weekly or whatever – simply jot down the things for which you are thankful. Think… what if you woke up today with only the things you expressed gratitude for yesterday?
Positive Self Talk – We often say things about ourselves that we would never say to others. STOP DOING THAT! Place a positive affirmation somewhere that prompts you to read it out loud every day. My favorite? You are enough. And at the end of the day: You did enough. You deserve rest.
Keep a monthly log of accomplishments and hard efforts. Try a new vegetable? Jot it down! Meditate in a difficult situation. It goes in the log too! If you tried hard at something, regardless of whether you fully succeeded or not, that’s important. Both successes and efforts get credit here.
Change your perspective: Instead of saying, I’ve never done this before,” say “It’s an opportunity to learn something new.” Instead of saying, “It’s too complicated,” say “I’ll try from a different angle.”
What do you do to shake the Shrek syndrome??
by Lucy | Sep 11, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
Let me tell you about my friend Adam… He’s a really nice guy who works for a local nonprofit, enjoys outdoor adventures and exercise. Adam makes his friends and family a priority – such as taking a Saturday afternoon to help a friend unpack the umpteen boxes for her kitchen and alphabetizes her spice collection upon request.
One Summer afternoon, while talking to Adam about body image issues he told me about his annual 5k run at a nudist colony. Once I pick my jaw off the floor, I was able to listen to his wisdom. In the interview, you’ll find his inspiring words on running and the annual nude run on the beach.
Q: What do you love about running?
A: I’ve been a runner since I was 14 years old. Running long distance feels natural to me and is great exercise, but I love it most because it clears my mind. Moving through the natural world is what human beings are built to do. Running transports me physically and mentally.
Q: What’s different about doing a 5K in the nude?
A: It’s all of the above and then some. It’s exhilarating. Despite what you’d think, there isn’t any discomfort (I do wear shoes). Being nude gives you that much more feedback about your movements, unencumbered as you are by clothes. And, there’s nothing like the feel of the sun and the breeze as you run.
Q: What’s the greatest life lesson you have learned from your annual nudist running experience?
A: People assume that being naked with a group of people is awkward. This particular race is held on a nudist resort, so it’s a safe environment. Within five minutes of being there, you forget that you’re not wearing any clothes. Nude quickly becomes the new normal. It’s only awkward for those one or two who choose to wear clothes.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how conditioned we are by our clothes and our fear of judgment.
When everyone is nude, the judgment subsides, we see each other for who we are, and we’re able to connect honestly with people. It’s almost like clothes sometimes prevent us from that level of connection.
Q: What keeps bringing you back to run nude every year?
A: Once you’ve done it once, you want to keep doing it. Everyone I’ve met at these races has been fascinating and friendly. I look forward to it all year long.
Q: How can this help someone that might have body image issues?
A: Being nude in these settings is not about seeing or being seen. Staring and gawking are completely inappropriate in a nudist resort. But, it’s human nature to notice other people. And…
What you notice is that everyone is both flawed and beautiful. When everyone is nude, we’re all equally vulnerable. We all have our insecurities, but when we let go of having to hide behind clothes, it’s freeing.
And the tendency to judge based on appearance goes out the window. I think if you have body image issues, being nude in a safe, non-sexual environment with normal-bodied humans could be immensely liberating.
by Lucy | Aug 29, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
| “We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” -Dr. Wayne Dyer |
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Sometimes as proud, busy, schedules-filling Americans, we are more concerned with being productive, instead of living the good life.
Last week, I was very in touch with all of my earthly possessions (especially since they are scattered about my floor in the new apartment). I was reminded that life is about more than making money and acquiring more things. In the light of an earthquake in Italy and flooding in Louisiana, life is about much more than our earthly possessions and status.
There is a lot of pleasure and joy to be found in experiences. Simple experiences such as a pleasant dinner with your family, going to play at the pool, accidentally stumbling upon a free outdoor concert, or getting an ice cream cone on a warm summer night.
Clearly, it is necessary to make money in order to keep a roof over your head and food on the table, but perhaps there is more opportunity to simply enjoy life?
I believe this concept is well summed up by Dr. Wayne Dyer in an excerpt from Change Your Thoughts to Change Your Life:
“Be a good animal and move freely, unencumbered with thoughts about where you should be and how you should be acting. For instance, imagine yourself as an otter just living your “otterness.” You’re not good or bad, beautiful or ugly, a hard worker or a slacker… You’re simply an otter, moving through the water or on the land freely, peacefully, playfully and without judgments.”
Food for thought:
Take a moment to be present today. Notice a beautiful flower or delight in a pleasant conversation at the office.
As a client reminded me last week, “After all, doing nothing is one of the best parts of being human.”
Recipe of the Week: CrockPot Thai Steak Salad
With back-to-school routines on the mind, we all need a little more help in the kitchen. That’s where the slow cooker comes in handy!
Normally, we think CrockPots are for cold weather… Put the tender cooked steak with a peanut-hoisein sauce on chopped greens and bam! You’ve got a yummy summer-time dinner.
This week’s recipe, CrockPot Thai Steak Salad is brought to you by thefoodcharlatan.com.
by Lucy | Aug 17, 2016 | Well Balanced Wisdom
It’s 8pm. My husband is working the late shift. I just put the kids to bed. It was far from the peaceful scene I once pictured in my head before having kids. You know… sweet snuggles, fun bubble baths and sweet hugs and kisses before I leave the room. Don’t get me wrong there was some of that but not without plenty of struggles. Like the sprinting after my child who is running from me the moment I mention bath time, the frantic ‘oh crap where’d the paci go’ search, the argument over which pajamas to put on (the clean ones or the ones she has worn 5x in a row already), the shame from losing my temper, the cries for attention when I only have 2 hands and 1 lap, and the long lasting pleading, screaming, whiny finale I hear when I finally say, “it’s time to go to bed.”
Sigh. I close the door. While I still hear crying I walk down the stairs and look around at my messy house. I see dishes to do, toys to clean, emails to return, projects to work on…. ugh..I just can’t. It’s too much and I feel like I just ran a marathon! So, I open the pantry and I treat myself to some cookies. Just one more. And another. I can’t stop. Oh look… the package is gone. This is embarrassing.
Hello. My name is Kristen and I am a recovering perfectionist. I never thought I would admit to overindulging in a moment of weakness. To start out my blog post telling you about the far from perfect bedtime scene in my house. But I can share this with you now because I’ve learned to have compassion for myself, to realize that I’m only human, to look at my failures as lessons and to not let my failures define me.
Turns out that a requirement for being a human is to be imperfect. Which means FAILING is just part of the whole process. Well-balanced eating (and well-balanced living for that matter) is not fail proof because at the end of the day no matter what plan we decide to follow we are only human and this is real life.
Too often we expect the journey to be picture perfect and we don’t plan 
for the struggles. It doesn’t matter the number of mistakes, slips, failures – no matter what you call them – that you have, it’s how you embrace them and what you do next that matter the most. Lucy and I like to call them LESSONS because there is always something you can learn or a way you can grow from something not going the way you hoped. We can get a lot further if we embrace the struggle, have compassion for ourselves and never let our set-backs define us. Learn, love, grow and keep on, keeping on. What “lessons” have you learned lately?
Here is some food for thought:
What areas in your life did you imagine to be picture perfect?
What mistakes, slips, failures in your life can you embrace a little more? What lessons can you learn?
Do you beat yourself up for making mistakes? What can you do to show yourself more compassion when you mess up? (Journaling and positive affirmations work wonders for me!)
Are you letting your mistakes define you or hold you back? Instead, what can you do to grow?
by Lucy | Jul 25, 2016 | Motivational Mondays
Last Friday I was thinking about how I ought to start drafting Motivational Monday, but I just couldn’t get inspired. Sure, I have a few ideas and stories I want to share with y’all – it’s just finding the time, motivation and energy that’s the problem.
According to Darren Hardy, we are up to 30% less productive during the summer months than any other time of year. As far as I can tell, this seems pretty accurate, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Of course, the boss lady is still going to expect you to show up for meetings and answer emails, but why not play hooky a few Friday afternoons just because?
Kristen and I were discussing “summer vacation brain” (as I keep calling it) and she made a good point… Isn’t nice to have a season that is all about playing with friends, cooking outside on the grill and getting rest & relaxation?
I’m thankful this concept is starting to sink in for me! Below I thought it would be fun to share a few pics of how your WBN team enjoys R&R in the summer.
Whether it’s a simple Saturday morning trip to the Durham Farmer’s Market, enjoying indoor s’mores (easy to make on a gas stove top!), or taking a northern Michigan road trip adventure, Well-Balanced Nutrition loves summertime!
For those of you not on Snapchat with me, you may not know about my obsession with picnics. I find great joy in eating outside – plus it’s way easier to be mindful! This photo above is from a particularly delightful lunch at Atlantic beach with my old friend Harry Potter.
Food for thought:
•Food adventures at the Farmer’s Market
•Long weekends at the beach
•Field trips to the library
•Stopping by a lemonade stand
•A froyo date (topped w/ fresh berries, of course!)
•Reading a good book with a cool drink by the pool
How are you enjoying summer vacation?
Speaking of summertime food adventures, what’s a summer vacation without delicious corn-on-the-cob?!
This week’s recipe, Perfectly Grilled Corn on the Cob is brought to you by Bobby Flay with FoodNetwork.com.
