Food can heal, food can make you sick

It's interesting to me how we have a disconnect with what food actually does for our body. We eat to allow each cell in our body to perform the function it's supposed to and to replicate in a healthy manor. We don't eat to satisfy some emotional need, well, we do, but that not why we get hungry. Food is ingested, broken down into vitamins and minerals and distributed to the body.

When we ingest foreign ingredients like preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, pesticides, food coloring, etc. the body doesn't know what to do with it. It either stores these things in our fat, continuing to cause us problems, or treats it like the enemy.

While studies may show small amounts of these ingredients might not cause problems, these are ingested in large amounts by being in everything we eat that is processed in some way.

The solution? Eat real food, unprocessed, like mother nature intended! It's really not that hard! As we stop eating processed foods, our taste adjusts and we start to appreciate how wonderful real food tastes!

What you see in others your see in yourself

I'm reading the book by Debbie Ford, The Dark Side of the Light Chasers. She talks about how we need to look at ourselves when we see something we don't like in others. Ugh! It's so hard!

I was fussing about a camper this weekend that brought their barky dog who annoyed everyone, I'm sure, with it's incessent barking. I was thinking, "I'd NEVER do that!". But after some thought I did have to admit that I have been an irresposible dog owner before! Drats!

The fact is, we all have the capability of anything, depending on our experiences and how we react to them. If we haven't walked in someone else's shoes, we really can't know for sure how we would be.

Just think about it the next time you are quick to judge someone else, maybe there is a lesson in it for you! Especially the people who just drive you crazy!!!

Do you need a smile?

If you want to smile, check this out, watch the whole thing!

Determination to grow

The good thing about being in a slump is coming out of it! It seems the down times are when I gather strength again to push forward towards being more of who I really am. I'm more willing to let go of ego and fear, to get more centered, to listen more to my inner voice.

As I've said before, its one thing to read all the self help books on the planet and another to actually do the work!

For me that means taking the time to meditate, or right now do Qigong and Tai Chi. Taking the time to quiet my mind and body, tuning into my body, releasing all the tension created by all those negative thoughts, releasing the stress from looking at all I don't have and focusing on the here and now.

Today the sun is shining, my son and I are heading out for a bike ride and I'm hosting a booth at the Earth Day Festival tomorrow and doing a drum circle at the end of the event! Even the weather seems to be cooperating, the prediction of rain is now pushed back until Sunday!

I have a roof over my shoulders, food on the table and my kids are well taken care of.

Letting go of the drama allows me to focus on me and the changes I need to make instead of someone else or something else that I want to change.

Louise Hay, in the foreword of Robert Holden's book Be Happy!: Release the Power of Happiness in YOU "I love learning. I know that the week I leave the planet I will be enrolled in a new course learning something new."

I feel the same, I'm a student of life, determined to learn the lessons. Don't ever let anyone put you down for always wanting to learn something new.

If you find yourself in the same position time after time, the same job situation, the same relationship issues, the same feelings, then you are to look at yourself and learn the lesson! It's been that way for me anyway.

When the familiar negative feelings start to grow inside you, catch yourself and stop, be quiet, look at what is causing the situation. Make a note, if the message isn't clear now, it will be in time. Keep making notes!

When the positive feeling start to grow, take note, remember to create more of those moments!

Blessings!

Amy

Happiness Now

Wow! I just finished the online, live Lesson 1 in Be Happy by Robert Holden through Hay House Radio. It was amazing! I mentioned this program in a previous blog.

Okay, I'm going to take you through a few exercises... have paper and pen ready...

Take a deep breath and relax, let your intuition guide you...

Happiness is... (write it down) repeat 10 times and write each answer down.

Real Happiness is... (write it down) repeat 10 times and write each answer down.

This can be emotional... hang in there.

Okay, take another deep breath... then answer these questions.

What have you learned about happiness from your life...

What is my life asking me to learn about happiness right now?

What is the ultimate soul lesson about happiness that I am to learn?

How well have you learned those lessons?

Okay, the point is that life will keep trying to teach us lessons and until we learn them, we will keep repeating those situations that are trying to teach us the lessons. We will find ourselves in the same type of relationships, we will find us in the same type of jobs, with the same type of bosses, in they same type of financial situations, etc.

Pretty much, happiness is experiencing our true selves, and sharing happiness with others. When we look to some future circumstances for happiness to arrive, we are missing out on the true happiness of living in the moment. Happiness is now. It's how we see what is happening right now.

More money, different life circumstances, better education will not make you happier! The best predictor of future happiness is how happy you are now! Everyone can be happy!

So there you have it. Rober Holden's part 1 of an 8 part series on Happiness Now! Click for more info. Happiness Now! You can purchase the book and the rest of the series.

The series consists of logging in to Hay House and clicking the link for the Hay House Radio program. Once you purchase it, it will show up when you log in. It's 2 hours each. Yep, a lot. I loved listening to Robert and trust his expertise. He is a PhD in psychology. I look forward to the next session. He uses live callers for sample exercises.

So, bottom line. Happiness is a choice, it's already with you, you just have to stop all the excuses and be still and be yourself. Appreciate the good parts of you, accept the bad parts and live in the now. Quit waiting for things to get better. Make it good now!

Earth Day is coming up. Take a moment and think about all the things the earth provides for us and what would happen to us if we don't take care if it!

Better yet, step outside and look around. Take another deep breath and be still. Listen, feel, appreciate, love.....

Peace!

Amy

How to Meditate

There are many meditation methods, here is what I like to do.

Begin by sitting comfortably with the back straight, some portion of your body on the floor. Think about increasing the space between each vertabre. Make the small of your back flat like you were sitting up against a wall.

Take 3 deep breaths:

Exhale completely, where your stomach pushes in, releasing all air in your lungs. Now, when you take your next breath, you will start by filling up your diaphragm in the stomach area first, then enlarging your ribcage and filling the lungs completely.

When you breath in, imagine clean, fresh, healing energy filling your body. When you exhale, imagine all the toxins in your body, including all stress, negative feelings, bad food, chemicals you have been in contact with, etc., all leaving your body out the bottom of your feet. Whoosh! Out they go!

Now breath normally. Feel where the air hits your nose, at the nostrils, inside your nose, at the back of your throat. Just focus on that. When thoughts enter your mind, and they will, just allow them to drift away and come back to your breathing.

Relax, enjoy feeling calm and still for as long as you can. Start with short periods if you need to, 10 minutes a day, slowly increasing.

Before you get up and get moving again, take a minute to listen to your body, what is it telling you? Imagine that peaceful, calm feeling being with you to some extent all during your day.

At the end of the day, take note of how your day went. For a real boost, journal 5 things you are grateful for!

More on meditation later...

Blessings!

Amy

Making changes, starting with Meditation

So, how do we start to make changes in our life? A great place to start is mediation. It helps our minds stop and learn to focus internally. Healing begins within.

I'm always surprised at how taking a few minutes at the beginning of my day can set the tone for the whole day. I've set the intention for my day to be peaceful and calm. Practice brings about slow change.

It helped me to have a program to follow.

Matt Clarkson offers several great programs on meditation and Qigong. They go beyond just how to meditate, but includes wise insights on becoming more centered. You can get started with a free email course on meditation at : Free Program After signing up, go ahead and take a few minutes to listen to the mp3 meditation session to get a sense of what to expect. He is also offering discounts at this time for the full programs.

Meditation takes practice and commitment. How much do you want to change? Start slowly, just 5 -10 minutes per day at first. I find once I get started, I don't want to stop! So, the hardest part is taking the time to sit down and be still.

Our brains actually develop new neuropathways that are like cutting new paths through the forest. The more we travel the path, the easier it becomes!

This is your day, make the most of it!

Amy

Eating Local

We are learning more about how conventional farming depleats the soil of essential nutrients and how growing organically encourages soil amending in a healthful way that is passed along to us! Many of us have lost track of how to eat seasonally, don't want to hear about the horrific treatment of animals on large indoor farms, and aren't sure where to start to cook simple healthy meals. Here are several books I have found very helpful:

First of all, get inspired by this Barbara Kingsolver book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.). It's a great read about how her family made the transition to eating seasonally and locally!

This book In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
by Michael Pollen I haven't read yet, but I saw him talk locally at Butler University, it was fantastic and inspirational as well. He is so well versed on the system of big farms, the government and how things work, it makes me feel confident that eating locally and organically is the way to go. It's the best thing for all of us. Worth making the effort.

Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone is one on my list to buy. Great reviews. Lots of info about storing, etc. Those darn winter squash are so hard, it's hard to know what to do with them!

The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution by Alice Waters is one on my shelf. This is a real how to for basic cooking from scratch.

The World's Healthiest Foods, Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating by George Mateljan is a very comprehensive guide for every detail of vegetables, fruits, beans, etc.

Well, cooking from scratch, cooking more veggies, using new grains is all a challenge when you haven't been doing it all along. But, try making small changes at at time. Visit your local farmers market, join a CSA and have fun with it. Have your kids, spouse, friend join in with you.

Taking the time to cook food grown locally from their garden or yours provides a connection with the earth that our souls have been missing. Joyfully cooking healthy foods for yourself and your family is very rewarding. When people comment how my kids love eating veggies, it makes me proud! The important thing is that they have a foundation for a healthy future. You can too!

Enjoy!

Slowing Down- It's okay, really....

Picture yourself relaxed, focused, at peace, enjoying fully the one task you are doing. Wow, what a concept. When is the last time you were able to do that?

I think we need to adjust our idea of time. Having the sense that there is never enough doesn't seem very healthy or productive. Is it possible to imagine having all the time we need? Yes, just do it, adopt that attitude, that belief and see what happens. Yes, it takes a lot of practice.

If we start our day with 100% of our energy, what do we need to do to maintain that energy all throughout the day? Identify your energy drains. Be prepared to handle them differently. Plan ahead.

Can you make a committment to do one thing at a time? After all, you now have all the time you need!

What does it mean to you to slow down? What would happen? What are you afraid will happen if you just stop? Stop and be quiet. Stop everything and just listen. Listen to what your body is telling you, what your heart is yearning for, what your spirit needs.

Only by stopping and being quiet can we hear. Only by facing these needs can we know what step to take next. It's worth it.

Stop now, take several deep breaths. Breathe in positive, refreshing energy, breathe out negative thoughts, negative energy, stress, etc. Let it go, relax, be quiet. Relax your face. Be at peace. Feel the breath as it enters and exits your nose. When thoughts enter your mind, and they will, just let them go and focus back on your breathing.

It gets easier as you practice. Your body learns how to be quiet and relax.

Enjoy!

More Voluntary Simplicity

I've always admired my mother's ability to flow through her day. She seemed to have as much energy at the end of the day as she started with. She didn't seem to get rattled much and always has somewhat of a plan for her day.

I like the idea of loosely listing priorities for my day in advance. That way when things come up, as they usually do, I'll be able to make better decisions on how to deal or not deal with those interuptions. I can ask if this is something worth dealing with now, or saving for another time.

Email seems to be the exception to the rule. There are usually too many of those to cope with. Probably better to get off some of those lists all together. Make a decision to limit time dealing with email.

Being in control of my life instead of letting life control me sounds like a much better way to go about each day! How empowering!

If you would like help getting started on setting some goals and priorities, call to set up an appointment! 317-441-2111

Blessings!

Amy

Making Changes

Change is often difficult, it's taking the first step into the unknown that often holds us back. But there seems to be this inate drive within to push forward, to grow, to spread our wings a little wider.

Today I want to talk about changing from doing to being. I'm thinking about all the reading we do for self help. I know I've been doing it for the past 20+ years! It seems a little soaks in at a time. If we keep at it, change does slowly take place. Being patient with ourselves isn't easy either. Persistance does pay off though.

I want to say there comes a time when we have to put the books down and live what we have been reading about. While that is true to some extent, I think it happens piecemeal. We often can't change all at once.

We do have to make the effort to put into practice what we learn though. Reading about meditation will not help us be more calm!

Make a pledge to integrate something you have learned into your daily routine. Studies show it takes about 30 days of doing something new for our brains to develope new neuropathways to a behavior so that it becomes habit.

Let me know how it goes, or if you need help!

Blessings!

Voluntary Simplicity

I've started a Voluntary Simplicity workbook group. The workbook is from the Northwest Earth Institute, a great organization offering many different series concerning food, nature and humans! I highly recommend them. They are free except for the cost of the workbook.

Simplicity has so many meanings and it is different for each person. A very personal thing, I'd say.

Simplicity doesn't necessarily mean never buying something new, or fixing everything yourself, or not having the things you really want.

I think the main idea for me is to be able to go through my day feeling relaxed, focused and enjoying what I'm doing. Boy, that would require a lot of behavior change! But, stop for a minute and imagine what that would look like for you!

Yes, we would have to make a concerted effort to catch the stressors before they grab hold of us, saying no to things that would knock us out of balance, watch what foods we take in and really think before we act, deciding if what we are about to do will add to or take away from our peace of mind.

Will there have to be exceptions? Of coarse! How we react to unexpected events will make all the difference. We can always choose to react differently. Take a few deep breaths and realize it isn't the end of the world and we will be okay.

Adding that inner smile can help too. With some effort, we can change our mood by being willing and thinking of something that makes us smile and capturing that feeling and hanging on to it. We can then proceed with a positive attitude and not let things spoil our day!

The Placebo Effect

I've been wondering lately why we don't put 2 + 2 together when it comes to the placebo effect. We know that many of our pharmaceuticals have little more effect than placebo's, if that. So why don't we realize how powerful our minds are over our bodies? If a vast majority of people can actually improve their medical condition by taking a sugar pill, thinking that it will help them, why don't we tap into that power of the mind more often and with more focus? Hummm...

Do you take the time to be grateful for your body and all it does for you? Try taking a few moments to quietly visualize your body from the brain down through your digestive tract, muscles, nerves, veins. Create a mindset of thankfulness. Smile and be appreciative! See you body and completely healed, working perfectly. Nice...

Buying Local

Spring is just around the corner! Are you ready? It's time to think about joining a local community supported agriculture farm delivery or CSA. There are so many popping up, even in central Indiana! I love supporting local farmers. There is a conflict between local and organic choices in the winter time. You have to make your own decision on that one. For some it's more important to have no pesticides and GMO's than it is to conserve gas consumption with transporting from Florida or California in the winter. You can try to limit those choices by eating in season. But, it's not easy to make that transition overnight. It often takes time to get to know the seasons again and what grows during them in your area and what is available over the winter. But, it can be fun and a great learning experience! Try to learn a bit each year about how to blanch and freeze, can or having a cool place to store root veggies. Get the family involved! It's good for you and for your local economy!

Energy around decisions

After talking with my family, I've decided that now isn't the right time to embark on such an intensive program as the RD one is. Instead I'll enroll in a great whole food nutrition program at Bauman College. I really believe in their philosophy and am excited to get started.

I found my energy level rose considerably after making this decision. I consider that affirmation that I'm on the right track for me, right now.

Have you noticed a change in energy when you have made a decision?

Sometimes depression hits because we are not ready to make a decision and are staying in an unhappy place.

How about trying a decision on for size? Try to imagine what it would feel like if you went in one direction. Then try to imagine going in another direction.

While we always need to be careful about taking the easy way out, deep down we know if we are going in the right direction or not.

Give it time....

Peace Begins Within

I keep hearing about "being" instead of "doing". I've spent my whole life trying to stay busy. I think I've done this because when I stopped doing, I realized how my life was unsatisfying. I remember as a child wanting to make a difference in the world, wanting to join the Peace Corp, help animals, the underprivileged.

Today I'm starting to learn how to be quiet, still, to listen to my inner wisdom. Instead of seeking the answers outside of me, I'm beginning to trust that if I take the time to go inside I will find the right answer.

By moving towards those things that get me excited, energized, feeling good, I am becoming more pleased with the life I'm creating. I'm not just letting life happen anymore. I'm intentionally making the life I want, step by step.

Even if some of the things I do don't end up being "successful", everything I do is a learning experience, therefore beneficial. I'm finding what works and what doesn't. I'm gaining energy and strength along the way.

Make a list of things you love. You might have to think back a long ways to come up with this, but it will come. See how you can integrate these things in your life today. It might be as simple as taking that cooking class you always wanted to take, or dance class. Or maybe taking the Master Gardner program. Or volunteering for a cause you care about.

You don't necessarily have to make doing what you love a career to have a passion filled life, but you can! It's never to late be become involved with your own life! No more excuses!

Peace!

A Historic, Hopeful Day

This is an exciting day. It's easy to get caught up in the swell of emotion and excitement of this inauguration day. I want to soak in as much as possible. I want the inspiration to last. I find I'm more convinced than ever that my role is to let people know of an alternative way to live. That nature has provided the perfect food for our bodies. That the planet give us life and we must take care of it. That we are all people, with the same cares and worries. That there are more important things to think of than what the other person is doing wrong and that we are right.

Here's to hoping that we all are able to quiet our minds enough to listen to our guiding light that tells us what gifts we have to offer the world. That somehow we are able to let go of the busyness of our lifestyle to focus on what our soul tells us in important.

The new administration will need all our support, mentally, emotionally, physically. Speak positively, send good thoughts and do good deeds.

Peace!

Meditation

I wonder why it's so hard to settle down enough to meditate? I think even the cave man would have had a hard time stopping to relax and clear the mind.

There is that connection to balance again. It seems to be everywhere. Because we are programed to always be active doing something, that it's good to take the time to do nothing! A respit. A time to reconnect with our core. A time to check in with our bodies to listen. A time to check in with our intuition for guidance.

It may be hard at first to stop and take the time to do nothing. But we really aren't doing nothing, we are doing something very good for ourselves. Developing a practice of preventative medicine.

It seems that when we do meditate, we don't want to stop and return to the more awakened world.

We don't have to stop thinking during meditation, it's okay and natural to have thoughts while meditating. When you find your mind wandering, just bring it back to noticing your breathing, without any judgement about wandering. It takes practice, but this is a practice in focusing, something we probably could all use help with!

Meditation gives our bodies a chance to really relax. When we are done, we feel revitalized, rejuvenated, replenished, awake and with energy. Sounds good to me!

May you make the effort, mark it on your calendar, take the time, just do it!

Blessings,

Amy

Breathe

While we normally don't think about something that is automatic, such as breathing, we might consider the health benefits of focusing on it more!

Stress causes us to constrict, our posture and our breathing. Oxygen is critical to our cells. Lack of it can reproduce danaged cells, free radicals, that can eventually cause disease.

Try to develope the habit of checking in on your breathing throughout the day. Take a few minutes to stop and take a few deep breaths. In times of high stress, this can actually lower our heart rate and blood pressue and help us focus better.

If you feel out of sorts, try imagining yourself as a big, strong, sturdy tree, with roots reaching deep into the earth, creating a sense of being grounded.

Remember to breate through your belly first, then up through the chest, expanding the lung more fully and exhale more deeply.

If you are committed to lasting lifestyle changes and need a bit of assistance getting started,
call Amy now to set an appointment! I am you personal trainer for your life!

317-441-2111

Lifestyle Changes for the New Year

Are you ready to make some healthy lifestyle changes but can't figure out where to start? You aren't alone. It's takes a brave soul to decide to make changes in your life. Either that or someone who is sick and tired of being sick and tired!

A coach can help. Knowing you need to make changes and doing it are two very different things. Having a coach means having someone to help you set goals, hold you accountable to decisions you have made, help you brainstorm, give you feedback and in many cases, ask powerful questions to pull out your inner wisdom.

Change involves:

• becoming educated
• prioritizing
• setting goals
• identifying road blocks
• staying with the process
• achieving success

If you are ready to make some changes and need someone to help you through the process, call now to schedule an appointment. It's not a hard as it seams when you have someone on your side. Think of it as having a personal trainer for your life changes.

Call now for a 1 month special: 4 50 minutes coaching sessions for $200, a savings of $40.

Amy Hayden 317-441-2111